Zambezi River Authority reports slight rise in Lake Kariba level

Kariba creeps upward, not a comeback, just enough rain to stop the bleeding.

Lake level update from the dam managers

• Zambezi River Authority flags a minor rise.
• Rainfall around the catchment drives the bump.
• Situation framed as stability, not recovery.
• The season is still playing out.

Where the numbers sit right now

• Kariba Lake reads 477.04 metres.
• Usable live storage hits 6.88 BCM.
• Power-ready volume stands at 10.63 percent.
• Data logged on January 27, 2026.

How does that compare backward

• The same date in 2025 showed weaker storage.
• The level then sat lower at 476.37 metres.
• Power-use share barely cleared 6 percent.
• 2019 still dwarfs everything on record.

Design limits and reality check

• Lake runs between 475.50 and 488.50 metres.
• Freeboard allowance set at 0.70 metres.
• Current position stays inside safe bounds.
• Hydropower remains constrained, not thriving.