Kariba Dam Scoping Meeting

Minutes

Cutty Sark hotel, Kariba Town, Zimbabwe
August 5 and 6, 1999

The meeting to discuss the Scoping Report on Kariba Dam was held at the Cutty Sark Hotel, Kariba, on August 5^th and 6^th 1999. Thirty five delegates attended (see Annex).

The Meeting

The meeting was formally opened by the Mayor of Kariba, James S. Gumbo. He welcomed the delegates and reported on the planning now underway since the Municipality of Kariba was promulgated: planning that will help the town to manage its growth in ways that will accord the needs of the lake and the environment more respect. He mentioned that the town is a product of the dam and the lake, and enumerated the many benefits of the dams for the town as a whole and for its inhabitants.

Mike Tumbare, Chief Executive, Zambezi River Authority, welcomed the choice of Kariba as one of the WCD case studies. "This puts Kariba back on the world map with world attention focussed upon it." He stressed that with Kariba and with other possible developments on the Zambezi we must "learn from our mistakes", that is "we should not continue to make old mistakes, we can only be forgiven for making new mistakes". This theme was taken up later by Mr. Bucuane from Mozambique.

Mr. Tumbare reviewed the highlights of Kariba’s formal "discovery" in 1667, the history of investigations that led, in 1951, to its being chosen by a panel of experts to be the dam to be built, as against the competing Kafue scheme, to its opening in 1960 and to the commissioning under phase two of the north bank power station in 1976.

Dr. Madiodio Niasse introduced the World Commission on Dams, its origin and purpose (to move the presently acrimonious discussion on big dams forward to a constructive dialogue by assembling factual material). He apologised for the inconvenience caused by logistical and co-ordination problems in setting up the meeting. This was the result of errors but also of the short period allowed for the preparation of the Scoping Report and the organisation of the meeting by a team whose five members live in four countries in the region. Despite this, the WCD was pleased that the report was of a good quality.

He explained that of the nine case studies, Kariba was the only one in Africa. It had two special attractions for research; it is one of the older and best observed dams and it is the only dam to be studied that is shared by two countries on a river that is international; it "belongs" to eight countries.

Mr. Adelino Bucuane, representing the Zambezi Basin Development Authority of Mozambique (GPZ), introduced the purpose and organisation of this new body. The GPZ’s understanding is that between it and the Zambezi River Authority has to be established an early co-operation between Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique in the management of the lower Zambezi Basin.

For Mr. Bucuane, the Zambezi Delta has a big global significance. It provides the habitat for many aquatic birds and fishes. The integrity of these systems is forever threatened unless appropriate management of the flows of the Zambezi is established at all the feeder dams, but notably at Kariba, Kafue and, we admit, especially Cahora Bassa. It is important that GPZ and ZRA know each other well and learn to work together. He expressed interest in having the study phase extended to the Mozambican part of the Zambezi river in order to make its information and recommendations most useful to the region.

The Delegates

The delegates were drawn from a wide variety of official, research, business and NGO bodies in Zambia and Zimbabwe and from the region which all have responsibility for or a keen interest in one or more aspects of Kariba Dam, Kariba Lake and the Zambezi river and basin. A highlight of the meeting was the interest, knowledge and commitment of each delegate across a wide variety of fields to the working of the dam and the lake and to the river and its environs.

It is intended in the research phase to treat the delegates as a core body of knowledge and of advice to tap into and with which to work. Some may well be invited to join the study team more formally. All will be invited, plus others who emerge as important, to meet again to review the draft Study Report in a meeting scheduled for November 1999.

The Major Themes of the Discussion

The discussion was largely related to the research questions in the boxes within the Scoping Report. More than fifty improvements were recorded. Items of accuracy and of additional information were sought throughout the text.

Most discussion was conducted in two groups so that everyone could participate. The comments of the groups were recorded and briefly reported to plenary sessions.

A general theme was that the delegates appreciated the chance, a first, to participate in a broad review of Kariba dam and its effects over time. To do this justice, however, warranted far more time than that allowed. There was a tendency to move beyond setting the questions into discussion on what is properly material for the second, the research phase which on each occasion ate into the time in which to discuss the Scoping paper. This tendency did reveal both the considerable interest in the proposed research and the large contribution the delegates could make to it.

Mr. Tumbare believed that resettlement and the effects of the dam downstream were the major "negatives" that have flowed from the building of Kariba Dam. He welcomed the study for its breadth of view and for the opportunity it provided for the research phase to provide a much needed independent assessment of, in particular, these two "negatives". The study phase should look at these issues carefully, relating comparable and recent international practice whilst pointing out the lessons to be learnt as both areas of programme management "were done poorly".

There were several calls for a wider and bigger study that together would move the research phase beyond what was needed to learn the lessons of Kariba as well as beyond what could realistically be completed within the three or so months before the draft will be due. This limitation was discussed several times. It was finally felt that the momentum provided by the study should be used to frame longer term work that could then be presented to the national and regional authorities and the donor community, perhaps as an addendum to the final report, as having justification in their own right.

One focus area of discussions was on the potential impact of the study on dams projects in Zambia and Zimbawe. This discussion stemmed from a participant seeking clarification on the following issue: what is the danger that this study of Kariba might be an exercise in "shooting ourselves in the foot" when Zambia and Zimbabwe, presently unable to finance large dams themselves, propose to the donor community new projects only to discover that the study has turned their opinion against such investments. The answer that was given is that, at present, the controversy and nervousness around big dams would probably, in the first instance, stop any funder from looking at a request to finance a big dam. Hence, rather than punish Zambia and Zimbabwe, just such a study is needed to clear the air and install a set of commonly accepted guidelines around which any proposal for a new dam would have to be prepared and upon which funding will be judged.

The answers to the two questions reported above were couched in terms of both the focussed purpose of the WCD, the lessons to be learnt from the experience with big dams and that the study had the capacity to build a momentum of awareness and of support for further work, particularly if sought by agencies such as the ZRA and the GPZ.

The bulk of the meeting was spent in two groups discussing the research agenda as outlined in the boxes within the text of the report. At the end of each session the meeting convened to hear what each group had recommended as changes or additions and what corrections to facts were presented. This was done quickly as the recommendations were recorded as group work proceeded and will be incorporated in a final draft to be agreed amongst the team before being sent to WCD and then to all delegates and made public.

Broad Comment on the Scoping Report

The Scoping Report was well received. Two comments give a flavour that holds for most comments. Mr. Tumbare, Chief Executive, ZRA, described the Report as "Very good ... I could not stop reading it." He commended the scoping team for the quality of the report. Dr. David Cumming of WWF had sent comment earlier in which he described it as "...well written and organised, informative and worth discussing".

Organisation of the Meeting

Most delegates traveled in the morning by bus from either Lusaka (3 hours)or Harare(5 hours). The latter arrived somewhat late for a one o’clock lunch so that they had to rush through lunch and checking in order to attend the first session. The second session was held the next morning with the delegates departing after lunch.

Some felt that the delegates needed time to recover after their arrival. There was support for a programme in which the delegates arrived in the late afternoon, slept that and the next night in the hotel and so would awake fresh for a full day of meetings. This, two nights, has significant budget implications.

The short time in which to prepare the logistics of a meeting at Kariba, the inevitable delays in obtaining responses to invitations and the high variable costs of travel by bus, air or private car against an uncertain number of delegates made optimizing the form of travel and living within the budget a well nigh impossible task. For instance, the number of invitees and the likely number of acceptances required both that the hotel and the buses needed be contracted and paid in advance. This prevented any last minute flexibility.

In the event, those who traveled on the bus from Harare could, within the cost of a large bus, have flown. Even so, there were several Kariba based agencies that advised against planning a meeting at Kariba based on the reliability of Air Zimbabwe fights. Ideally, the travel arrangements would follow on the settling of the number and origin of the delegates: not attempted as a simultaneous equation.

The planned tour of the dam was postponed because the authorities need up to three weeks to clear delegates to visit the south power station. Moreover, a visit to the dam wall, a tour of the interior of the wall and its monitoring devices etc., plus a visit and tour of the power station takes up to five hours. The delegates voted that such a tour be included as a central part of the next meeting. Perhaps after arrival and lunch during the first afternoon.

ANNEX: Welcoming Address by the Mayor of Kariba Towm

Speech by the Mayor Of Kariba, Hon. S.J. Gumpo, welcoming delegates to the Scoping Meeting Organised by the World Commission On Dams - 5-6 August, 1999, Cutty Sark Hotel, Kariba, Zimbabwe

It is my pleasure and honour to welcome you all to the Municipality of Kariba. Our town is located in a National Parks Area and its economy is based on tourism, fishing and hydro electricity generation. The town started as a small settlement to house the people building the dam wall At that time no one thought that the town would grow to the extent it has grown now. The town is situated far from the main agricultural and industrial areas of the country, making it an unsuitable industrial base because of the economies of scale.

The town is a resort town whose survival depends on the lake. The manmade lake is there because of the dam wall. This means that without the dam there is no Kariba town. The town has a master plan that will guide the growth of the town.

I am pleased to note that the purpose of this meeting is to launch the first phase to study the developmental impact of Kariba Dam.

The natural environment and the wildlife in the town demands extensive conservation strategies if the town is to survive as an international tourist destination. The study your organisation is going to undertake on the Kariba Dam will go a long way to complement our efforts for preserving our town for the benefit of future generations. The municipality is currently upgrading the water and sewer systems to cater for future needs.

The Mission Statement for the Municipality of Kariba is "To make Kariba Town an attractive place in which to live, work and visit". The Management of the natural environment is a critical objective in our strategic development plan. It is hoped that your findings and recommendations in your study of the developmental impacts of Kariba Dam will be of great assistance in the realisation of our mission statement.

Lastly Ladies and Gentlemen I invite you all to enjoy and share with us the beauty, floral and fauna which you see around you, so that when at the end of your meeting you return home you will have greatly enhanced your appreciation of our small town. We the people of this town will do our best to ensure that each person will find it more and more interesting to revisit.

For those of you who have not yet had the chance to visit the town itself please make sure that you find the time to do so. This year the lake is full for the first time in many years, an ideal situation for boating and fishing.

You must see the magnificent dam wall, go for a game viewing and a boat cruise. Do not forget to take the famous Kariba Tiger or Bream with you back home.

I thank you all.

ANNEX. Welcome by Zambezi River Authority

Speech by the Zambezi River Authority Chief Executive delivered at the World Commission On Dams Scoping Paper Workshop for Kariba Dam: 5 - 6 August, 1999, Cutty Sark Hotel, Kariba, Zimbabwe

Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen, Welcome to Kariba.

At the outset and on behalf of the two governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe and indeed of the Authority, I wish to convey my gratitude on the selection of Kariba Dam for study by the WCD This puts Kariba Dam back on the world map with world attention focused on it amongst the other eight dams world wide also being studied.

Ladies and gentlemen, it is said that "We learn from our mistakes" but I should hasten to say that we should not continue to make old mistakes, we can only be forgiven for making new mistakes.

One day when we come to build Batoka Dam, we should use the best practices we learnt not only through the construction of Kariba Dam, but also other large dams world-wide. Our "Operation Noah" for Batoka Gorge Dam should be like the biblical story. Noah accommodated all living creatures including humans in his ark.

Having said this, I wish to take you back memory lane and give you a bit of history about Kariba Dam as follows:

The first mention that we have of the Kariba Gorge, was in a dispatch sent by the renowned Portuguese explorer Manuel Baretto. This was dated 11 December 1667. It is thought possible however that this does not refer to Kariba, but to some other gorge, there being numerous others towards the sea along the Zambezi River.

Dr. David Livingstone by-passed the area. Frederick Courteney Selous entered the gorge on 24 November 1877, which is nearly 200 years after the possible visit of Manuel Baretto.

In 1891 William Keppel Steer reconnoitred a possible rail link route across the Zambezi River. An expedition headed by Major A. Gibbons came to the area to select the best route in the years 1898 and 1899. The rail line however never materialised.

In 1912 Mr. H S Kergwin, the then Commissioner at Chinhoyi advocated damming the river at the gorge to provide water for irrigation. In 1914, Kergwin plus Messrs. Randall and Howell, who were both irrigation engineers plus a Mr. McGregor (an agriculturist) were joined by Sir Charles Metcalf at the site. Apathy appears to have set in, as after this visit, nothing was achieved.

The Electricity Supply Commission instigated an investigation for possible hydro electric schemes to be started at Kariba and in 1941, funds were allocated. Mr. J.L.S. Jeffares conducted yet another survey of Kariba Gorge.

As a result of this survey, a river gauging station was set up at Chirundu as well as at a campsite twenty five kilometers downstream from the present dam wall.

Activity increased and river measuring parties were operating from Chirundu to the Victoria Falls. Water surveys and trial drillings of the riverbed were carried out in various parts of the gorge.

Four possible sites were thought suitable and investigated more fully and found to be wanting. Interest was then focused on the present site of the dam wall.

Both Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and Northern Rhodesia (Zambia) were in contention as it was thought that the Kafue River Gorge site in Northern Rhodesia was preferable to the one on the Zambezi. The question was solved in 1951 by a Board of experts known as the "panel" who all agreed that the dam be built on the Zambezi River.

In August 1955, the then Federal Government of Rhodesia and Nyasaland called for tenders for the construction of the dam wall. In February 1956 the contract for the construction of Kariba Township was awarded to Richard Costain and the main construction contracts for the wall and transmission lines were awarded to the Italian Consortium Impresit on 16 July 1956.

The Kariba South Bank Power Station of the Kariba Hydro-Electric Scheme was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, on 17 May 1960. Kariba North Bank Power Station was commissioned in 1976.

Ladies and gentlemen, we started from a long way back but we are here today to reflect on the good and the bad about Kariba Dam.

I hope this study will eventually lead us to enhance the good things and correct the bad things about Kariba whilst helping us to improve our socio-economic understanding about large dams for the optimisation of our future large dam projects.

Ladies and gentlemen, I thank you.

ANNEX--Delegates