Zambezi River, Zambia and Zimbabwe

The river has supported villagers for thousands of years and 'Mosi-oa-Tunya', or known as the Victoria Falls, was considered a sacred site on the Zambezi. The first known European to come across it was Vasco da Gama, in January 1498, who anchored at what he called: 'Rio dos Bons Sinai's' (‘River of Good Omens’). 
In 1851, Dr David Livingstone first heard of the magnificent waterfall but his expedition to find it only set out in 1855. He spent the night on an island just upstream of the Falls, after having come down the river by foot, before setting off in a small canoe the next morning to approach the mystical and thundering smoke, with the assistance of local guides. The Zambezi has since been harnessed at various points along the way including the massive Kariba Dam between Zambia and Zimbabwe and Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique to provide hydro-electric power.
The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. For about 500km / 310mi it serves as the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, thundering over the Victoria Falls and through the narrow, steadily deepening Batoka Gorge . ("This provides exciting adventures, for white-water rafters!")

Its unique value is that it is less developed than other rivers regarding human settlement and many areas along its banks have even been granted protected status. The Lower Zambezi National Park flanks the river on the Zambian side and Mana Pools National Park on the Zimbabwean side. This whole area of the Zambezi supports one of Africa’s most important wilderness areas and provides sustenance to a diverse array of game, birdlife and fish species. The Zambezi also supports several hundred species of fish, some of which are endemic. Important species include: cichlids that are fished for food, as well as catfish, tigerfish, yellowfish and other large species (the bull shark is sometimes known as the Zambezi shark after the river but it is actually found around the world).  After having provided power, food and transport for many people, and a home for untold numbers of wildlife, the river ends its journey through Mozambique and out towards the Indian Ocean.

The Zambezi’s most noted feature is Victoria Falls but there is so much more. Other notable waterfalls include the Chavuma Falls at the border between Zambia and Angola, and Ngonye Falls, near Sioma in Western Zambia. There are two primary sources of hydroelectric power on the river, the Kariba Dam (which provides power to Zambia and Zimbabwe) and the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique, which provides power to Mozambique and South Africa. There is also a smaller power station at Victoria Falls.

Hippo, Nile crocodiles and monitor lizards, are commonly found along many of the calm stretches of the river. Species of birds, like heron, pelican, egret and African fish eagle are found in large numbers here. The riverine woodlands then support many large animals, such as buffalo, zebra, giraffe, elephant.

The history of the Zambezi River Authority may be said to have begun in November 1964 when the Central African-Council appointed the Inter-Territorial Hydro-Electric Commission.

In May 1951 the Commission recommended the development of a dam at Kariba and hydro-electric power station. In June 1954 the Hydro-Electric Power Act was passed which provided for the establishment of the Federal Hydro-Electric Board charged with the function of Coordinating the generation and supply of electricity within the Federation.

In May 1956 the Federal Power Board was established pursuant to the enactment of the Electricity Act. This was a reconstitution of the Federal Hydro-Electric Board. The new Board was vested with the power to construct dams and power stations, to transmit electric power and sell same to Electricity undertakings. A hydrological data collection organisation operating in each territory was also established.

In 1963, the Federation was dissolved. The integrated systems for the control of generation of power and its transmission continued to be operated and was fully developed as a single system under joint ownership and control of the two Governments of Northern and Southern Rhodesia under the Central African Power Corporation (CAPCO) which was established in the same year.

CAPCO was vested with the assets and liabilities of the Federal Power Board. The general function of CAPCO was to supply electricity to Electricity undertakings in the two territories while its conduct was regulated by a higher authority for power comprising two ministers appointed by each of the two Governments.

In 1987 the Zambezi River Authority Act was passed simultaneously in the two states of Zambia and Zimbabwe dissolving CAPCO and reconstituting it as Zambezi River Authority (ZRA).

CAPCO was divested of its electricity production and bulk distribution assets which were allocated to the National Electricity undertakings of the two states.
The ZRA was therefore left with the responsibility of the operation and maintenance of Kariba Dam Complex, investigation and development of new dam sites on the Zambezi River and analysing and disseminating hydrological and environmental information pertaining to the Zambezi River and Lake Kariba.