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River Flows

The hydrometric network used for the control and day to day operations of the Kariba reservoir comprise of thirteen stations where water levels are monitored daily. Flow measurements are carried out at eight of these stations which include the Victoria Falls, one of the key stations on the Zambezi River. Coincidentally, the maximum flow recorded at Victoria Falls was during the early construction phase of Kariba Dam in March 1958 at 10,000 cubic metres per second.  The lowest flows recorded to date at Victoria Falls were during the 1995/96 season which had an annual mean flow of 390 cubic metres per second, whereas the Long Term Mean Annual flow at Victoria Falls is 1,100 cubic metres per second.

FLOWS AT SELECTED STATIONS:

Chavuma

The Zambezi River flows at Chavuma are decreasing after peaking to 3,851m3/s as at 18th March 2026, before dropping to 3,136m3/s at the close of the period under review of 23rd March 2026, whilst last year on the same date it was lower at 2,722m3/s.

From:
10 March 2026
To:
23 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
10-Mar3,0582,088
11-Mar3,1222,026
12-Mar3,1702,018
13-Mar3,1801,998
14-Mar3,1641,972
15-Mar3,2982,023
16-Mar3,5922,073
17-Mar3,8052,101
18-Mar3,8512,148
19-Mar3,7732,244
20-Mar3,6262,390
21-Mar3,4322,538
22-Mar3,2712,677
23-Mar3,1362,722

Ngonye

Flows at Ngonye are increasing, closing the period under review at 4,286m3/s as of 23rd March 2026. The flow recorded last year on the same date was lower at 2,201m3/s.

From:
10 March 2026
To:
23 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
10-Mar4,1011,122
11-Mar4,0871,194
12-Mar4,0711,285
13-Mar4,0631,400
14-Mar4,0871,522
15-Mar4,1091,665
16-Mar4,1601,804
17-Mar4,1961,902
18-Mar4,2071,995
19-Mar4,1992,062
20-Mar4,1902,101
21-Mar4,2532,142
22-Mar4,2702,179
23-Mar4,2862,201

Victoria Falls (Nana’s Farm Station)

The Zambezi River flows at Victoria Falls – Nana’s Farm Station are increasing as rainfall season progresses, closing the period under review at 4,090m3/s as of 23rd March 2026.  The flow observed on the same date last year was lower at 1,216m3/s.

From:
10 March 2026
To:
23 March 2026
DateFlow (m3/s)(2025/26)Flow (m3/s)(2024/25)
10-Mar1,645871
11-Mar1,800879
12-Mar2,023888
13-Mar2,281903
14-Mar2,544925
15-Mar2,787942
16-Mar3,061965
17-Mar3,313984
18-Mar3,5561,012
19-Mar3,7021,049
20-Mar3,8401,080
21-Mar3,9661,123
22-Mar4,0351,160
23-Mar4,0901,216