GOVERNMENT has enlisted the World Banks, European Union and the Africa Development Bank and other agencies to move fast and assist prevent the imminent collapse of the Kariba dam in Siavonga.
Answering questions at a media briefing in Lusaka yesterday, Finance minister Alexander Chikwanda said Government was aware of risks with regard to the possible collapse of the Kariba dam and was working with cooperating partners to address the problem.
He said the collapse of the Kariba dam would be a huge setback not only for Zambia but for all regional countries.
“Pledges have been made and we are actively discussing this with our cooperating partners,” he said.
The hydro-electric dam, which borders Zambia and Zimbabwe threatens the lives of 3.5million people in the region.
Ministry of Finance permanent secretary, Felix Nkulukusa, who is also chairperson of an intergovernmental committee mobilizing funds for the repair of the dam, said recently that the wall of Kariba Dam, which is one of the world’s largest dams measuring 128 meters tall and 579 meters long, has developed weaknesses and may collapse if nothing is done to repair it in the next three years.
“We are told by engineers that if nothing is done in the next three years, the dam may be swept away,” he said.
The dam is situated in the Kariba Gorge of the Zambezi River basin between Zambia and Zimbabwe, and needs US$250 million to be repaired.
Some experts say, the dam, which controls 40 percent of the total runoff of the Zambezi River, will also have a pushback effect on Zambezi’s major tributary, the Kafue River, which may result in the submersion of Lusaka Province, where the Zambian capital of Lusaka is located.
wok hard pipo @ de moment we need more money,Lowe taxes, more jobs & not the opposit like “constitution”,no! coz that paper wil only b shelvd in sme high offices
Nkana 0-0 Zamaleck.
Kanshi ba Nkana bakali, playing under such depressed moments in Zambia, with the PF messy. Anyway Egypt & Zambia are in same political catastrophe.
this must be treated as an emergency and be given the urgent repair works needed.
there in no time for politics on this issue
Don’t believe evrything you read, this in itself is politiking! Engineering works of this nature are not so designed that they would just collapse if nothing is done within blugh..blugh.. blugh. The real truth about trying to use the Kariba dam to raise money is for the next general elections, people these guys are failures don’t be misled, even if nothing is done in the next five years the dam will never collapse! Yes something needs to be done but not with the urgency it’s being portrayed.
Never collapse? I want some of what you are smoking. All dams will collapse eventually
One would have thought this is money the government is capable of raising. We have been spending money on useless activities such as by-election and the purchase of very expensive vehicles for our top civil servants and Ministers, yet now, we are failing to pay a mere $250m. Besides, this is money Zesco raises just by exporting electricity to South Africa in less than 2 months
I hope som f.o.o.l doesn’t divert this loan to something else and when the dam collapses start darting about for aid and construction works worth billions of dollars… it is this lack of a maintenance culture in Zambia that peeves me!
If that money ($250m) is secured, then handover the project World bank who will engage internationally recognized engineers and reputable international construction companies to do the whole job on behalf of Zambia. Sorry I do not trust Chikwanda and some zambian engineers and sub-standard construction companies to handle this key project. I don’t want to hear stories like, the contractors bla bla, the allowances for board members bla bla, wrong materials were bought bla bla bla….
Spot on!!
Typical Zambian you build infrastructure and make money off it but you never set aside anything for a rainy day. No wonder we are still enslaved by the West 50 years later.
Fossil Chikwanda must go!!
If aid is sought please let World Bank deal with the contracting….not these *****s. And if Zimbabwe do not do their part then they should loose their share. It must be a condition from lenders. Mugabe and Sata will destroy our countries for sure if this is not done. We don’t want “stakeholders” or unknown “partners” in this case either. And it’s a disgrace that we do not have this money to hand. $250 m is nothing compared to whats been spent and stolen by these incompetents.
Be fair! At least one million dollars of this must be allocated to Mugabes birthday party. And what a bout Satas wife? Does she not deserve a million too?
Now Satas birthday party?
Honestly we as a country we dont have 250 mn dollars?And assuming we are sharing this bill with Zimbabwe the amount is supposed to be 125 mn dollars.We are pathetic.This is inexcusable and i hope the donnars dont give us the money.We should learn to be responsible.There are more than 7 bye elections being awaited and when they come Sata will have the money not only to run them[which we are told is about 7 billion kwacha] but to even bribe the electorate.
They were happy to loadshed and import electricity for forex BUT are incapable of looking for funds from local resources.
*. ..export…
That’s what happens when you fail to manage your assets properly. It’s a shame for a country with so much wealth in copper reserves to be running to foreign institutions to beg for a sum of US$250 million. That ammount could have easily been set aside for such projects in a national Sovereign Wealth Fund as is the norm in developed countries.
Isn’t this the selfsame incompetent gov’t you are praising everyday? Your gov’t can’t raise $250m for repairs yet it is still supplying the mines discounted electricity from this very dam….where is the logic in that?? It wants to borrow to our grandchildren can pay.
As Zambians, we need to come together and find solutions to such problems and like someone has already rightfully said, leave politics aside.
I will support the government whenever I see committment in certain issues related to the development and upliftment of our nation. The maintenance of national infrastructure, particularly with regard to energy and transport is a challenge that every country must face and overcome.
That Dam is supposed to be fixed by Zesco, it is supposed to have scheduled maintenance. What do they do with the money then? Just steeling to feel their pockets without maintaining the structure? Ala Zambians we need to wake up maybe we need to bring the white man back. It pains met to see people who are supposed to take care of these structures living large by robbing the system. Think for your children’s children (future) how are they going to survive when Zambia can’t borrow anymore?
Very true we Zambians are so lacadiscal and laid back when it comes to maintaining infrastructure.
What is ZESCO for! How about the money we pay every month!we export power to some parts of Zimbabwe,Botswana,Namibia, Congo DR (lubumbashi), Mozambique…and where does the money go! This culture of borrowing won’t take us far.we will always remain a burgging nation even after 50yrs.SHAME!
What happened to the “sinking fund”. An operation of such magnitude needs an annual sinking fund set aside for such long term repairs. Volta dam in Ghana and Aswan dam in Egypt have such provision. It is shown in their annual reports, including the interest earned from such money.
UNZA OWES US MONEY_ DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
We are engaged as data collection staff in the survey “Household Health Expenditure Survey” some time in January this year. Data collection ended first week of February but up to now payments are not coming forth. Though others have been paid, but not all of us have been paid.
Why are the payments being done in piecemeal form? What could be the problem? For us who were drivers the payment is not even know when we shall be paid. No one seems to say anything positive. UNZA pay us please. Economics department do what is right please, we are tired of waiting.
Simply pay all the people without segregation. Clear all concerned. Dr. Masiye and Dr. Mpuka clear us please. The payment is long overdue.
Disgusted survey participant
I wonder which crop of engineers advised the Zambian Govt in particular on the structural fault that has developed on the Kariba Dam. At what stage did the relevant Ministries (in both Zambia and Zimbabwe) inform their respective Parliaments on the problems that has led to the weakening of the Kariba dam wall?
The Zambezi Rift Valley floor lies at the elevation of 500 m above sea level; whereas the confluence of the Zambezi and Luangwa lies at 365 above sea level. If the dam were to collapse, how would the water flood Lusaka which lies at 1,200 m elevation – about 700 m above.
The Minister responsible for Energy and Water affairs must table this concern to Parliament, which must identify reputable global engineers to verify Zambia’s fears as Zimbabweans enjoy their wine.
This “CRISIS” is just another PF scam to get more money from donors! And it will not be used for what it was intended!
What happened to the Eurobond? Have those funds been properly accounted for?
Dam has cracks and is affected badly by alkaline. Kariba has on top of that earth movement concerns. Let us not politic on this national disaster to happen, timing is uncertain but event is certain, if nothing is done. Delay in attending to this is aggravating the situation. Every aspect of life will be affected if it does happen, washed away plains, Lusaka submerged, electricity shortage, mining coming to a halt, copperbelt in dark, crime going up. Instead of waiting for $250 million stop paying ministers their salaries, MPs their allowances, President his gallavanting and repair the dam.
Worse than “cut and paste” journalism is “cut and paste and interfere a bit in things you don’t understand” journalism. Backwash up the Kafue River, Lusaka submerged? Any Grade 5 understands the water cannot rise half a kilometer up into the sky to submerge Lusaka
If the dam collapses, Lusaka Province WOULD NOT BE FLOODED, only areas beyond the dam wall would be – simple common sense which is NOT COMMON!
So this yaer we will be celebrating 50YEARS OF WHAT????
I guess Super-stupidity!!
Once a beggar always a beggar!!!
@Nostradamus you are always off-side when you go politico! Boo!