Kariba Water Levels Rise as Zambezi Catchment Sees Stronger Rains

The Kariba Reservoir is continuing to recover, with water levels rising steadily as improved rainfall across the Zambezi Basin drives stronger inflows into Zambia's most critical hydroelectric resource.

According to the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), the reservoir stood at 477.74 metres above sea level as of 10 March 2026, with usable live storage reaching 15.57 percent — equivalent to 10.08 billion cubic metres of water. This marks a notable improvement on the same date last year, when usable storage stood at just 9.87 percent.

The recovery is being driven by intensified rainfall activity across both the upper and lower Kariba catchments. River flows at the Chavuma gauging station reached 3,058 cubic metres per second — nearly 50 percent higher than the 2,088 cubic metres per second recorded on the same date in 2025.

Similar gains have been recorded at Victoria Falls, where flows reached 1,645 cubic metres per second, almost double the 871 cubic metres per second measured a year ago.

The ZRA said the positive trend is expected to continue through the first quarter of 2026, with further rainfall projected across the basin in the weeks ahead.

The Authority, jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, continues to monitor conditions closely to guide water utilisation at the Kariba hydro power stations.