Zambezi River Authority

What Zambezi River Authority does

The Zambezi River Authority (ZRA) is a bi-national body corporate established on 1 October 1987 by parallel legislation in the Parliaments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, jointly and equally owned by the two governments. It is the sole statutory manager of water resources common to Zambia and Zimbabwe and operates the Kariba Dam Complex, a double-curvature concrete arch dam 128 metres high with a 617-metre crest length and six sluice gates, feeding the North Bank (1,080 MW) and South Bank (1,050 MW) hydropower stations operated by ZESCO and ZPC respectively. ZRA monitors hydrology through 13 stations (with flow measurements at eight, including Victoria Falls), runs an Environmental Monitoring Programme covering physico-chemical, bacteriological, and satellite-imagery parameters on the Zambezi River and tributaries, and discharges dam-safety and emergency-preparedness responsibilities for a 60-year-old asset now undergoing a $294 million rehabilitation.

ZRA's mandate also extends to investigating and developing new dam sites on the Zambezi River, exemplified by the Batoka Gorge and Devils Gorge Hydro-Electric Schemes currently in stakeholder engagement and early works. The authority is governed by a Council of Ministers comprising Energy and Finance ministers from both states and managed by a Board and an executive team led by Chief Executive Eng. Munyaradzi C. Munodawafa.

The business model is a single-stream usage-based revenue model: ZRA sells water allocations to ZESCO (Zambia) and ZPC (Zimbabwe) under tripartite government agreements for hydropower generation at Kariba. Pricing is bilaterally negotiated and not publicly disclosed. ZRA is currently owed in excess of USD 40 million by each utility, creating significant liquidity strain. Capital projects (notably the KDRP) are funded through grants and concessional loans from the European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, and the Government of Sweden. The go-to-market is purely institutional: no commercial sales channel exists beyond the two state-owned utility counterparties.

Name

Zambezi River Authority

Legal name

Zambezi River Authority

Website

https://zambezira.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Zambezi River Authority is a bi-national body corporate jointly owned by the governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe that manages the Kariba Dam Complex and shared Zambezi River water resources, selling water allocations to national utilities ZESCO and ZPC for 2,130 MW of hydropower generation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Hydropower Water Resource Management

NAICS

Hydroelectric Power Generation (221111), Water Supply and Irrigation Systems (22131), Water, Sewage and Other Systems (2213)

SIC

Water Supply (4941), Water, Sewer, Pipeline, Comm & Power Line Construction (1623)

akta.pro primary industry

Hydropower Operations, Maintenance & Asset Management (O&M, Spares, Performance) (EUAMADAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Reservoir/Impoundment Hydroelectric Generation (EUACAEAB), Hydropower Turbines & Electro-Mechanical Equipment (Turbines, Generators, Governors) (EUAMADAC), Hydro BOP Civil & Water Conveyance (Dams, Spillways, Penstocks, Canals) (EUAMAFAG), Water Resources Administration (Watersheds, Rivers, Groundwater) (BPAIAMAE)

Keywords

• Transboundary water management
• Hydropower dam operations
• Water resource management
• Dam infrastructure management
• Environmental monitoring services

Headquarters

HQ city

Lusaka

HQ country

Zambia

HQ region

Africa

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Water Sales to Power Utilities: Revenue is derived from the sale of water to Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) Limited and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) for hydropower generation at Kariba Dam. The authority is currently owed amounts in excess of USD 40 million by both utilities, creating liquidity challenges.

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Zambezi River Authority operates and maintains the Kariba Dam Complex and manages the shared water resources of the Zambezi River common to Zambia and Zimbabwe. It sells water allocations to national electricity utilities (ZESCO and ZPC) for hydropower generation, conducts hydrological and environmental monitoring through a 13-station network, and investigates and develops new hydro-electric scheme sites including the Batoka Gorge HES, Devils Gorge HES, and Mphanda Nkuwa HES.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kariba Hydro-Electric Scheme (Kariba HES) Operations and Maintenance Operation and maintenance of the Kariba Dam Complex, including the dam wall, two power stations (North Bank 1,080 MW and South Bank 1,050 MW), and six sluice gates for spillway discharge. Provides water resources infrastructure serving the national electricity utilities of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
• Water Allocation for Hydropower Generation Sale of water allocations from the Kariba reservoir to ZESCO Limited (Zambia Electricity Supply Company) and Zimbabwe Power Company (ZPC) under tripartite agreements for hydropower generation. The Authority is currently owed amounts in excess of USD 40 million by both utilities.
• Hydrological Monitoring Services Monitoring of water levels (daily), lake levels, river flows, and reservoir data through a network of thirteen hydrometric stations, with flow measurements at eight stations including Victoria Falls. Provides system for control and day-to-day operations of Kariba reservoir.
• Environmental Monitoring Programme (EMP) Monthly, quarterly, and bi-annual sampling of the Zambezi River and its tributaries. Monitors water quality including physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters, and conducts weed monitoring through physical, biological, and satellite imagery methods across Lake Kariba and the Zambezi River system.
• Kariba Dam Rehabilitation Project (KDRP) Major rehabilitation of the 60-year-old Kariba Dam comprising two components: plunge pool reshaping (excavation of approximately 300,100 m³ of rock, completed December 2023) and spillway refurbishment. Reported as approximately 94% complete as of May 2026. Ensures long-term safe operation of the dam and continued contribution to energy security in the region.
• Batoka Gorge Hydro-Electric Scheme (HES) Project Development Investigation and development of the Batoka Gorge HES on the Zambezi River for new hydropower generation capacity between Zambia and Zimbabwe. Stakeholder engagement and market sounding programme launched in July 2026.
• Zambezi Valley Development Fund Community development and infrastructure support fund for Tonga and KoreKore communities displaced during Kariba Dam construction in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Addresses alleviation of impact from displacement and supports infrastructure and development projects.
• Potential Hydro-Electric Schemes Development Investigation and development of new hydro-electric scheme sites on the Zambezi River, including Devils Gorge HES, Mphanda Nkuwa HES, and other potential sites. Tender issued May 2026 for construction of new access gravel road for Devils Gorge HES (North).

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Razel-Bec (France)coreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 1 January 2019French construction company contracted for plunge pool reshaping works. Commenced works in May 2017 under the supervision of ZRA with Gruner Stucky as Engineer.
• Gruner Stucky (Switzerland)coreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2017Swiss engineering company serving as the Engineer for KDRP plunge pool reshaping works, supervising contractor Razel-Bec.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Limpopo Watercourse Commission (LIMCOM): Transboundary body for the Limpopo River basin across four SADC states, coordinating water resources and hydrological data. Closely comparable to ZRA in mandate, regional integration approach, and reliance on multilateral cooperation.
• Itaipu Binacional: Jointly owned by Brazil and Paraguay, Itaipu Binacional operates the Itaipu Dam and allocates water for one of the world's largest hydropower complexes (~14 GW). It mirrors ZRA's bi-national ownership, dam-management mandate, and revenue model of selling water/energy allocations to two sovereign utilities.
• Zambezi Watercourse Commission (ZAMCOM): Intergovernmental body for the eight Zambezi River basin states with a mandate overlapping ZRA's broader water-resource management role. It shares ZRA's transboundary governance focus on Zambezi hydrology and environmental data, differing mainly in scope (whole basin vs. bilateral).
• Permanent Okavango River Basin Water Commission (OKACOM): Tri-national body (Angola, Botswana, Namibia) managing the shared Okavango watercourse. Comparable as another SADC transboundary water authority dealing with shared dams, hydrology data and inter-country resource allocation.
• Orange-Senqu River Commission (ORASECOM): Four-nation (Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa) commission managing the Orange-Senqu system. Comparable to ZRA as another SADC transboundary institution coordinating hydrology, infrastructure and water allocation among sovereign governments.
• Cahora Bassa (HCB): Operator of the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique (~2,075 MW) on the Zambezi River. It is a comparable large-asset hydropower operator in the same river basin, selling electricity into the Southern African Power Pool and managing a single, very large dam on the Zambezi.
• Lesotho Highlands Water Commission (LHWC): Joint authority between Lesotho and South Africa that manages the Lesotho Highlands Water Project, including large dams and inter-country water transfer. Highly comparable to ZRA in its bi-national governance, transboundary water sales and DFI-financed infrastructure mandate.

Others

• SADC Secretariat - Water Division: Regional coordination body under which SADC River Basin Organisations (including ZRA, ORASECOM, OKACOM and LIMCOM) operate. Relevant as the convening authority that shapes funding, policy and harmonization around transboundary water and hydropower in the same basin.

Emerging players

• INGA (DRC): Congolese hydropower operator running the Inga complex (~2,775 MW installed) on the Congo River. Comparable to ZRA as another large African hydropower operator with significant untapped basin potential (~40 GW at Grand Inga) seeking new offtake and development partners.

Broad incumbents

• Société Nationale d'Électricité (SNEL): DRC state-owned national electricity utility and the primary offtaker of Inga hydropower. Comparable to ZRA's counterparties (ZESCO/ZPC) as another SADC national utility sitting at the intersection of hydropower offtake, payment risk, and water-management dependence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/AuthorityRiver
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCImzaywn2VhRgfCSrGsVVaA?view_as=public
• Facebookfacebook.com/ZambeziRiverAuthority
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/zambezi-river-authority-original

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Zambezi River Authority