Aquaplan project

The Zambezi river basin is the largest multi-reservoir water resources system in southern Africa. It is shared by 8 riparian countries : Angola, Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe .

The Zambezi river basin is of utmost importance for the riparian countries in terms of energy, food production and natural resources. Increasing pressures on water resources fueled by economic and population growth are expected to exacerbate tensions and conflicts between water users.

Current resource over-exploitation together with the interference of large-scale hydropower schemes have disrupted the environment, especially in the lower Zambezi.

The two largest man-made reservoirs in the basin, Kariba and Cabora Bassa, play a significant role as they constitute an important link between the lower Zambezi and the rest of the river basin. With enough storage capacity for multiyear flow regulation, the management of these two reservoirs can either exacerbate or mitigate the negative impacts on downstream livelihoods.