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The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has allocated a total of 30 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water for power generation at Lake Kariba for the year 2026.
ZRA Acting Chief Executive Officer, Christopher Chisense, said the allocation was in accordance with the agreement between Zambia and Zimbabwe.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Wednesday, Chisense said the allocation would be equally shared between ZESCO Limited and the Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC), with each utility utilising 15 BCM.
He explained that the allocation was based on the forecast of normal to above-normal rainfall for the 2025/2026 season, as projected by the Southern Africa Climate Outlook Forum and further downscaled by the Meteorological Agencies of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
“The 2026 allocation marks a two billion cubic metre increase from the 2025 allocation, which was initially set at 27 BCM and later revised to 28 BCM,” Chisense stated.
On the hydrological performance of the 2024–2025 season, Chisense said the Kariba Catchment and the broader Zambezi River Basin received normal rainfall.
He noted that while lake levels remained relatively lower compared to historical averages, they recorded higher usable live storage than during the same period in 2024, which was negatively affected by drought conditions.
Clarifying the Authority’s role, Chisense said that while ZRA allocates water for power generation, it neither generates electricity nor manages load distribution.
“Actual power generation outcomes will be communicated by the respective utilities — ZESCO Limited in Zambia and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) in Zimbabwe,” he said.
Chisense advised members of the public to consult the two power utilities for updates on electricity supply.
He further assured that ZRA would continue to closely monitor rainfall, inflows, and lake levels through its hydrometric network, which includes 13 monitoring stations across the Kariba catchment.
“Regular updates will be provided to stakeholders and the public as the 2025/2026 rainfall season progresses,” he added.
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