The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has allocated 27 billion cubic meters of water to Zimbabwe and Zambia for hydropower generation at Lake Kariba in 2025, with hopes of favorable rainfall during the 2024/2025 season. In a statement released Friday, the bi-national authority, which oversees the Zambezi River’s waters, confirmed that the allocation would be evenly split between Zimbabwe’s Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) and Zambia’s ZESCO Limited.
Lake Kariba is home to the Kariba Dam, where ZPC operates on the south bank and ZESCO on the north bank. ZRA Chief Executive Munyaradzi Munodawafa explained that the increase in water allocation, from 16 billion cubic meters in 2024, is due to optimistic forecasts from climate experts predicting normal to above-normal rainfall for the coming season.
He added that the final review will consider actual rainfall, river inflows, and water levels at Kariba Dam, with Zimbabwe’s rainy season typically running from October to March.
Power generation at Kariba has been reduced due to low water levels caused by an El Niño-induced drought during the 2023/2024 season. This led the ZRA to limit water allocation, resulting in power cuts for both Zimbabwe and Zambia during peak hours.
