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El Niño drought leaves Zimbabwe’s Lake Kariba only 13% full: a disaster for people and wildlife

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By Joshua Matanzima | The Conversation

Water levels at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe have dropped dramatically because of the latest El Niño drought.

The country’s president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, has declared a national disaster.

Historian and social scientist Joshua Matanzima grew up at Lake Kariba and has spent the past 10 years researching socioeconomic life there. He discusses the impact of the latest drought on the people of the area.

Where is Kariba Dam and what purposes does it serve?

The 280 kilometre long, man-made Lake Kariba is part of the Kariba Dam, which was built between 1955 and 1959 in the Zambezi river basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe. The dam provides hydroelectric power to the Kariba north power station on the Zambian side and Kariba south power station on the Zimbabwean side. These provide most of the electricity for the two nations.

The remote Kariba Dam, about five hours’ drive from Zimbabwe’s capital city, Harare, and a three hour drive from Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, also supports fisheries, conservation, tourism and recreation. Over 100,000 people live in Kariba town and the Nyaminyami and Binga rural districts. It is also a religious site and locals believe it shelters their ancestors and Nyaminyami, the river god.

Water levels have been falling. What are the causes?

Since the early 2010s, the El Niño weather pattern has induced droughts and heatwaves in the Zambezi region, causing a drop in the water levels at Lake Kariba. EL Niño is an unusual warming of surface waters in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean that brings hotter temperatures and much lower rainfall to southern Africa for five months at a time.

By 8 April 2024, the Zambezi River Authority, which owns and manages Lake Kariba, announced that water in the lake had dropped to just 13.52% of its capacity. Water levels in the lake fluctuate according to the rainfall – this time last year, the lake was 21.94% full, but levels dropped as low as 12% in 2015.

What are the four biggest effects on local communities?

Low water levels in Lake Kariba have had a huge impact on the people in the area. The key areas of concern are:

A man in a yellow tshirt, the author of this article, sits on a rock on sandy terrain taking notes as four other men, all fishermen, describe their plight with Lake Kariba's water levels falling

Survival. Many people survive directly off the lake, by catching and selling fish. The drought reduces fish spawning areas, which means that fishers who live near Lake Kariba catch very few fish during times of drought. My research has found that during times of drought in Kariba, crocodiles take fish from the fishers’ nets and destroy the nets. In retaliation, fishers attack crocodiles with spears and logs, exposing themselves to crocodile attacks.
Human-wildlife conflict. The area is already a hotspot for human-wildlife conflict. A drop in the water levels results in increased competition over water resources between people and wild animals, resulting in human-wildlife conflict. Animals that normally drink water from far-away river estuaries start approaching the parts of the lake populated by humans. Clashes between elephants, buffalo, baboons, lions and humans increase as they have to share reduced waterscapes.
Poaching. There’s also an increase in poaching as impala, kudu, waterbuck and duiker move closer to human settlements to seek water and people seek more sources of food and income due to the economic downturn caused by the drought.
Tourism. Numbers drop off. Game drives along the lake to the estuaries, which have unique flora and fauna and allow tourists a closer view of wild animals and birds, come to a standstill during times of drought. Tourist fishing in the estuaries dries up. The opening of the floodgates at the dam walls, which were a drawcard for tourism, stops as the water levels are too low for this.
Long walks to collect water. Water level reductions burden women and children from surrounding fishing camps and villages who fetch water for home use from the lake. In my research, residents of the area say that water levels have dropped so much that fishing camps are now up to 2km further away from the lake than they were before the drought. Women and children from fishing camps have even been injured and killed by wild animals as they fetch water in the lake.
Trade is disrupted. Cross border traders based in Kariba who do business between Zimbabwe and Zambia are also affected. Kariba traders often cross the border to sell fish in Zambia, but with low catches this is no longer possible. Also, most traders depended on income from fishing to purchase goods from Zambia for resale in Zimbabwe.

What can the government do to help?

Proactive measures are required to minimise harm to lives and livelihoods. Over the long term, droughts could become more severe and the Kariba Dam could stop producing as much power. The Lake Kariba region is a very hot and windy region that can support both onshore and offshore wind turbines and solar parks. The government must plan for this, so that local communities can have sustainable electricity with renewable energy projects that support alternative livelihoods.

A stone carving looks out over a giant dam — Nyaminyami, the river god of the Zambezi, looks out over the Kariba Dam when the lake was fuller. GavinD/Getty Images

The national parks authorities in both Zimbabwe and Zambia also need to put in robust measures for decreasing the number of human-wildlife conflicts. This can be done by identifying areas of high animal activity at the lake and directing humans away from this. Communities are also unaware of the relationship between a drop in water levels and human-wildlife conflict, and more awareness should be created about this.

The water governing authorities in the Zambezi area should also draw on local knowledge and practices in times of drought. For example, the authorities could promote the rainmaking ceremonies by local traditional groups of the Tonga, Shangwe and Korekore. These groups have lived in the area for centuries and believe that water drops are a result of angry ancestral and water spirits, including Nyaminyami, the river god. The governing authorities may want to fund more of such ceremonies as local communities lack funds to enact the ceremonies.

Joshua Matanzima is a Researcher at The University of Queensland.

education

Suspect nabbed for poaching Zebra in wildlife ranch

29th April 2024

Courts & Crime

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By Staff Reporter

THE Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of a Chiredzi villager in the Lowveld for allegedly killing a Zebra.

The 23-year-old suspect, who is expected to appear in court, was found in possession of 15 kilogrammes of dried meat of the Zebra.

“On April 27, 2024, police in Chiredzi arrested Digital Dhliwayo (23) in connection with a case of poaching a Zebra at Humani Ranch.

“The suspect was found with 15 kilogrammes of semi dried Zebra meat at Mabhiza Village, Humani and he confessed to the police that he killed the Zebra at the ranch on April 25, 2024,” said police through a social media post.

education

Kenya delays schools reopening due to El Nino-induced floods

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By ENCA

KENYA said Monday that it would postpone the reopening of schools by one week due to “ongoing heavy rains” that have triggered deadly floods in the East African nation.

Schools were originally scheduled to reopen on Monday, following mid-term holidays, but the torrential monsoon downpours have affected many educational facilities, prompting the education ministry to delay the resumption of classes.

“The devastating effects of the rains in some of the schools is so severe that it will be imprudent to risk the lives of learners and staff before water-tight measures are put in place to ensure adequate safety,” Education Minister Ezekiel Machogu said.

“Based on this assessment, the Ministry of Education has resolved to postpone the reopening of all primary and secondary schools by one week, to Monday, May 6, 2024,” he said in a statement.

Seventy-six people have lost their lives in Kenya since March, as heavier than usual rains batter East Africa, compounded by the El Nino weather pattern.

Flash floods have submerged roads and neighbourhoods, leading to the displacement of more than 130,000 people across 24,000 households, many of them in the capital Nairobi, according to government figures released on Saturday.

Sixty-four public schools in Nairobi – nearly a third of the total number – have been “substantially affected” by the flooding, Belio Kipsang, the principal secretary for education, said Friday.

In eastern Kenya, a boat carrying “a large number of people” capsized on Sunday in flooded Tana River county, the Kenya Red Cross said on X, adding that 23 others had been rescued.

Video footage shared online and broadcast on television showed the crowded boat sinking, with people screaming as onlookers watched in horror.

The monsoons have also wreaked havoc across neighbouring Tanzania, where at least 155 people have been killed in flooding and landslides.

In Burundi, one of the world’s poorest countries, around 96,000 people have been displaced by months of relentless rains, the United Nations and the government said this month.

Uganda has also suffered heavy storms that have caused riverbanks to burst, with two deaths confirmed and several hundred villagers displaced.

Late last year, more than 300 people died in rains and floods in Kenya, Somalia and Ethiopia, just as the region was trying to recover from its worst drought in four decades that left millions of people hungry.

El Nino is a naturally occurring climate pattern typically associated with increased heat worldwide, leading to drought in some parts of the world and heavy rains elsewhere.

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Zimbabweans short-changed as ZiG new currency resistance grows

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By Mary Taruvinga / Darlington Gatsi

DESPITE the recent launch of Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency by the Reserve Bank, many Zimbabweans are finding themselves priced out of the market yet again.

ZiG is already circulating on the market electronically and the hard currency is expected to be released on the market this week.

NewZimbabwe.com has established that retailers across the country are increasingly favouring the US dollar for transactions, with some setting prices directly in line with the volatile black market exchange rate.

This trend comes as a blow to hopes that the new currency would stabilize the economy, and ease access to basic goods.

A snap survey carried out by NewZimbabwe.com revealed a mixed picture.

While some retailers are displaying prices in both USD and ZiG dollars at the official exchange rate, others are charging exorbitant mark-ups for local currency purchases by pegging prices using unjustified exchange rates.

The official interbank rate stands at US$1-ZiG1400 but some retailers are transacting using rates as high as ZiG1900

At Gain Cash and Carry, owned by National Foods, a 10 kilogramme packet of mealie meal is costing ZiG107 while in US$ it is fetching US$6.20.

The same product at TM Pick n Pay is costing US$6.97 while in local currency it has been pegged at ZiG92.70

Mohammed Mussa, displayed a signage accepting the local currency, but refused to accept the transactions at till points.

A cashier at one of the four operational tills said the system had been down since Thursday morning. Two follow-ups on Friday morning and afternoon also revealed that the system “was still down.”

An unsuspecting worker at the wholesaler, however, told NewZimbabwe.com that they are yet to accept ZiG currency transactions.

“Pafeya chaipo muno ZiG haritodiwe. Kungoisawo hedu notice incase law enforcement agents walks in. (To tell you the truth, we are only displaying as you can see but ZiG is not accepted here. But you can go to the cashiers and ask),” said the employee.

This practice leaves many Zimbabweans, who earn their salaries in local currency, at a significant disadvantage.

Forced to either forego essential goods or access USD at inflated black-market rates, their purchasing power is severely eroded.

The government has previously warned retailers against such practices, advocating for a dual pricing system that reflects the official exchange rate.

The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) is currently carrying out a blitz to nail companies that are violating the laws.

FIU director Oliver Chiperesa recently said tough measures will be taken to send a clear message to would-be offenders.

A total of 11 entities recently had their accounts frozen for refusing to trade in ZiG.

However, enforcement appears to be lacking, leaving consumers feeling helpless.

Many retailers continue to shun local currency on pretext that they are in a process to restructure their systems.

The Confederation of Zimbabwe Retailers (CZR) president, Denford Mutashu said there is need to alert authorities if any of its members are operating outside the law.

He said it has been difficult to track offenders on their side due to lack of resources.

“The issue is sometimes we don’t even have airtime to call authorities. It will be a huge sabotage if any retailers are breaching the law, it is not nice and of course, we can always tip law enforcers,” he said

“So far, I have not used ZiG myself so I’m not very sure about the situation unfolding on the ground,” he added.

Since its launch ZiG has been under constant scrutiny with economists dismissing it as one of the government’s failed attempts to resolve the economic rot.

With hard notes expected to start circulating tomorrow, April 30, confidence in the gold backed currency is low with essential goods priced in foreign currency.

RBZ Governor John Mushayavanhu recently disclosed that fuel will not be sold in the newly launched currency prompting citizens to cast aspersions on the ZiG.

Rosemary Mpofu, the chief executive officer of the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe, called for stiff punishment for those shortchanging consumers.

“CCZ is always in constant engagement with government especially on topical consumer issues. Our recent survey has observed that the big retail outlets have aligned with exchange rate requirements.

“However it is the small retailers and tuckshops that continue to shortchange consumers through speculative tendencies, and they have been doing this even before the introduction of ZIG.

“In that respect we continue to engage government to enhance the enforcement aspect, further to that CCZ continues to educate consumers on shopping tips and avoid service providers that use exorbitant rates. We also recommend for stiffer penalties or revoking licenses for those promoting speculative tendencies,” she said.