LAKE KARIBA: ZAMBEZI RIVER AUTHORITY SETS 2027 WATER ALLOCATION
The Zambezi River Authority has approved 23 billion cubic metres (BCM) of water for power generation in 2027, shared equally between ZESCO Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company.
Key updates:
• Each utility will receive 11.5 BCM in 2027.
• The revised 2026 allocation remains unchanged at 36 BCM.
• As of 14 October 2026, Lake Kariba stood at 480.65 metres above sea level, with 23.77 BCM of usable water, representing 36.68% of usable storage capacity.
• The 2026/27 rainfall outlook indicates an increased likelihood of below-normal rainfall linked to El Niño conditions.
The Authority continues to monitor water availability and utilisation daily and coordinate with both utilities to support sustainable management of Lake Kariba.
Read the full press statement in the images below or visit
https://www.zambezira.org/media-centre/press-release.
