Zambezi River - sea route for the SADC Region: A study on how to extend navigation on the Zambezi River

Abstract

The study investigated the possibility of expanding commercial navigation by fact and by statute on the Zambezi River. The Zambezi is navigable from the sea to Cabora Bassa. Continuous navigation is not possible beyond Cabora Bassa to Kariba; and beyond Kariba to Victoria Falls due to existence of geomorphic obstructions and poor accountability, regulation and control of the use of surplus basin water balance .This research defined technological means of overcoming these physical obstacles and explained how the water levels necessary for improving its navigability rating can be maintained throughout the year by implementation of a water resource management strategy which ensures effective regulation and control of the surplus basin water which is currently the cause of downstream flooding. The focus was on tracing the route followed by the river from Kazungula to the sea byway of satellite images and counting the different types of obstructive geomorphic features and manmade impoundments along it in order to establish whether methods of civil engineering and marine technology could not be used to improve the channel platform of the river. The study recognized the theoretical framework for the determination of basin water balance that is hereby stated as:- the difference between the sum of long term mean annual rainfall , local run off, ground water and inflow minus evapotranspiration, groundwater, coastal and Zambezi outflows. Satellite picture were used in presenting geomorphic features and manmade impoundments and the method of geographical interpretation of aerial photographs was used in the analysis. The major findings and recommendation of the study was a call for the development of additional hydro infrastructure to facilitate commercial navigation and development of an effective water management strategy that balances technological issues with the requirements of environmental sustainability by a process of dialogue amongst all the major parties involved i.e. the private sector, civil society, governments, affected communities, scientists and international financial institutions.