Located in the Zambezi basin, on the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, the Kariba dam is among the largest in the world. Its level is now historically low, with less than 3% of its capacity available, according to the authorities.
With our correspondent in Johannesburg, Claire Bargeles
The populations of Zimbabwe and Zambia find themselves partially in the dark. In question, lack of water at the Kariba damof which the two countries are bordering, which prevents their hydroelectric power stations from functioning properly.
The crisis is especially felt in Zimbabwe where the country has to cut the power up to 19 hours a day. Residents are now getting into the habit of getting up at midnight to get some electricity and do their daily chores. Businesses are also suffering from the situation and have to run expensive generators, while the country is already experiencing an endless economic crisis.
According to Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Kariba dam provides almost half of the country’s electricity. A reduction in its capacities therefore “ immediate consequences “, he specifies. Zimbabwe also has coal-fired power stations, but the largest, that of Hwange, is not producing its maximum capacity either, because of its aging installations, although renovation work is underway.
On the other side of the border, in Zambia, the government also plans to introduce cuts from Thursday, December 15, up to six hours a day, to compensate for the lack of production at its Kariba power station.