THE Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) has achieved a pivotal breakthrough in the Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project with the successful completion of the final leakage test on Sluice 6 of the dam’s spillway.
The leakage test is part of the US$294 million Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project funded by the European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, the government of Sweden and ZRA on behalf of the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, through a combination of grants and loans.
Conducted on Thursday last week, the test confirms the full operational status of all six refurbished spillway gates, marking a critical step in ensuring the dam’s structural integrity and long-term resilience.
In a statement, ZRA said: “The successful completion of this final test confirms that all six refurbished sluices are now fully functional — a critical milestone in strengthening the dam’s integrity and ensuring the long-term safety, resilience and reliability of this vital regional power source.”
The latest leakage test involved releasing approximately 1 500 cubic metres of water under expert supervision, confirming the sluice’s full functionality without any leakage issues.
ZRA expressed gratitude to the team of engineers and specialists behind the project, describing the milestone as “another historic step forward in securing Kariba Dam for generations to come”.
Kariba Dam remains the largest man-made reservoir by volume globally and continues to be a symbol of regional co-operation and sustainable development.
- Mavhunga puts DeMbare into Chibuku quarterfinals
- Bulls to charge into Zimbabwe gold stocks
- Ndiraya concerned as goals dry up
- Letters: How solar power is transforming African farms
