Water levels in Lake Kariba have continued to rise marginally, supported by a steady increase in inflows from the upper catchment of the Zambezi River.
According to the latest data released by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) on Monday, 19 May 2025, the lake level currently stands at 477.99 metres, an improvement from the 477.39 metres recorded on the same date in 2024.
This increase reflects a positive shift in the lake’s usable live storage volume, which has grown from 8.48 billion cubic metres (BCM) in 2024 to 11.23 BCM in 2025.
As a result, the proportion of usable live storage available for power generation has risen from 13.10% last year to 17.33% this year.
The Kariba Lake is designed to operate within a regulated range of 475.50 to 488.50 metres, with a 0.70 metre freeboard reserved for dam safety.
Lake Kariba remains a critical shared resource for both Zimbabwe and Zambia, serving as a key driver of electricity generation in the region.
However, despite the recent improvement in water levels, concerns persist regarding the long-term reliability of inflows, particularly in light of changing climatic conditions affecting the Zambezi River Basin.
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