Managing Lake Kariba sustainably: threats and challenges

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to communicate and share experiences with stakeholders on how the sustainability threats and challenges associated with managing Lake Kariba and the Kariba Dam wall are being managed by the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA).Design/methodology/approachThe case study area is Lake Kariba and Kariba Dam wall located in the mid‐Zambezi river basin. The data and information for the case study is from ZRAs own records.FindingsThe case study concludes that the threats and challenges so far experienced have been mitigated adequately with management programmes and tools having been put in place. However, a lot still needs to be done to improve the socio‐economic living conditions of the displaced Tonga/Korekore people.Originality/valueLake Kariba was created in the late 1950s to provide water primarily for hydro‐power production. However, this water resource now serves many users and has its sustainability threats; invasive weeds, water pollution, cyclic drought and flood events, the competing uses and multiple legislative provisions. The Kariba Dam wall, as an engineering structure, has its own sustainability challenges; effects of alkaline aggregate reaction, the spillway plunge pool stability and the general ageing of the dam structure. The Tonga/Korekore people, who were displaced on both banks of the Zambezi River when Kariba Dam was built, still feel short‐changed. Stakeholders will be able to associate and relate to similar threats, challenges and experiences and use the management solutions being applied at Kariba. The opinions and conclusions drawn in this case study are those of the author.

Changing fish stocks in Lake Kariba: climatic or human-induced impact?

“…My criticism is based largely on the publication by Tumbare (2008), who was Chief Executive Officer of the Zambezi River Authority at the time. Regarding the major threats and challenges to the operation and management of Lake Kariba, he cites eight issues, the first two being "the invasive weeds on Lake Kariba" and "pollution of Lake Kariba's water resources".…”

Developing Hydrodynamic and Sediment Transport Modelling on Lakes: A Preliminary Study

“…According to research in Kariba Lake [12], the main pollutant source in lakes comes from urban and industrial activities, mining, agro-chemistry substances, and aquaculture. The other research in Colac Lake mentions that the pollutant comes from water inflow, outflow, and sediment input [13].…”

Substitution of Small Dam System in Water Conservancy Construction

“…The following is a detailed data [4] of the reservoir. , ,... p y y y as p principal components index variables to replace the original m principal components, then we can make comprehensively analyzed to p principal component [6].…”