The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) plays a key role in the water, energy, and food nexus in the Zambezi River Basin at a micro-scale, and in the SADC Region at a macro-scale. This was highlighted by the ZRA’s Director of Water Resources and Environmental Management, Eng. Christopher Chisense, during a briefing to the Minister of Energy, Hon. Peter C. Kapala (M.P).
‘’ The ZRA monitors water flows and lake levels to ensure that there is adequate water in the Kariba Dam for electricity generation. On the other hand, there is need to monitor water in-flows and out-flows at the Kariba reservoir to ensure that down-stream communities have adequate water flows for food production in their irrigation and other food-production activities. Furthermore, water quality is monitored to ensure a balance in the ecosystem.’’
The Minister was also informed that the ZRA is the only dam management Authority in the SADC region that manages a watercourse common to two countries. The organisation derives its revenue from the sale of water to the Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC). Whereas the organisation has largely been successful in managing the waters of the Zambezi River common to Zambia and Zimbabwe, liquidity challenges have stalled some crucial operations.
‘’The ZRA is owed amounts in excess of USD40 million by the power both ZESCO and ZPC. This has constrained operations that relate to the dam safety management program. Negotiations with both utilities to expunge this debt have partially been successful as both are making efforts to honour the payment plans they agreed to,’’ said ZRA Chief Executive, Eng. Munyaradzi C. Munodawafa during the same briefing.
The Hon. Minister intimated that he was eager to understand the operations of organisations under his purview but vowed that he would assist to ensure the success of the ZRA, taking into cognisance that his appointment as Minister of Energy also means he assumes Council of Minister’s (COM) membership as well as COM Chairperson for 2021.
The Council of Ministers is tasked with governance of the ZRA and consists of four Ministers, two of whom represent the Government of the Republic of Zambia while the other two represent the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe. The Ministers designated as COM members hold the portfolios of Energy and Finance respectively in both countries.
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