HARARE, Mar. 19 (NewsDay Live) – The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has launched the 21st Joint Mission of the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) in Siavonga, marking another milestone in efforts to secure the long-term safety and performance of the Kariba Dam. 

The KDRP is a joint initiative between Zimbabwe and Zambia aimed at strengthening the dam’s structural integrity, safety and operational reliability—critical for regional hydroelectric power generation. Key works include reshaping the plunge pool downstream of the dam wall and refurbishing the spillway system to meet international safety standards. 

The mission brings together stakeholders from both countries, including government officials, contractors and technical experts. ZRA said spillway refurbishment works are addressing previously identified structural vulnerabilities, with overall progress on track. 

Phase 1 is nearing completion at 99.99%, while Phase 2 has reached 50%. 

Routine inspections confirm the dam remains stable and is operating smoothly, helping protect downstream communities while supporting regional energy security. 

ZRA acknowledged the continued support of cooperating partners, including the World Bank, African Development Bank, the European Union and the Government of Sweden, which is critical to meeting the revised completion target of December 2026. 

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The project is expected to significantly extend the dam’s lifespan and ensure sustained power generation and water management capacity. It is being implemented through two main components: plunge pool reshaping—entailing excavation of about 300,000 cubic metres of rock—and spillway refurbishment, which includes replacing six sluice gates and installing new embedded components. 

Delegates to the mission conducted site inspections and engaged with project teams to assess progress and implementation. 
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