The ambassador of the European Union, H.E. Jobst von Kirchmann, alongside the Hon Edgar Moyo, Minister of Energy of Zimbabwe, the honourable Peter Chibwe Kapala, Minister of Energy of Zambia, the ambassador of the European Union to Zambia, Karolina Stasiak, the ambassadors of EU Member States to Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as colleagues from AfDB, Worldbank and  the Zambezi River Authority, visited the Kariba Dam to evaluate the progress of the rehabilitation of the dam which has suffered from a deterioration of its plunge pool and its spillway over the last couple of years.

The European Union is the biggest donor for the rehabilitation project with 113.5 mio Euros. The Kariba Dam has been pivotal for both Zimbabwe and Zambia for decades. It has harnessed the power of the Zambezi, providing electricity, irrigation, and sustenance to countless communities. For Zimbabwe alone, this dam can potentially deliver over 1000 MW, which corresponds to 2/3 of the country’s electricity production. Its rehabilitation is of paramount importance, because a potential collapse of the dam could kill over 500 000 people because of its domino effect on other dams and it would affect almost 3 million people with an estimated economic impact of more than USD 20 billion. But this project also has cultural roots. In fact, the Tonga people of this area have relied on the Zambezi River well before the construction of the Dam and the Nyami Nyami legend that followed. In recognizing the importance of this dam, we also honour the rich cultural tapestry of this region. The Zambezi River is not just a watercourse; it is a thread that weaves together the stories, traditions, and aspirations of diverse communities.

The rehabilitation of the Kariba dam is part of the European Union’s “Global Gateway” initiative designed to tackle the most pressing global challenges in a sustainable way. Team Europe, meaning the EU institutions and EU Member States jointly, will mobilise up to €300 billion of investments for sustainable and high-quality projects (€150 billion for Africa) until 2027, taking into account the needs of partner countries and ensuring lasting benefits for local communities. The EU's commitment to this project is rooted in a shared understanding that sustainable development knows no borders.

For any media enquiries, please contact:

Alexandra Maseko, Delegation of the European Union,

Alexandra.Maseko@eeas.europa.eu, +263 242338158 to 64