The Kariba Lake is designed to operate between levels 475.50metres and 488.50m (with 0.70m freeboard) for hydropower generation.
The Zambezi River Authority says The Lake level has been fluctuating in the last one week largely under the influence of fluctuating inflows from the immediate Kariba Lower Catchment.

According to the Authority’s Hydrology Data, the Lake Level has since closed at 478.43metres (20.44% usable storage) as of 11th January 2021, During the Period under review from 29th December 2020.