The editorial by Roche van Wyk reflects on the allure of Lake Kariba, a man-made reservoir in the Zambezi Valley, described as one of Africa’s most scenic locations. The piece highlights the lake’s natural beauty, its diverse fish species, and the author’s personal aspiration to relax on a houseboat there. However, the article pivots to a pressing concern: reports suggesting the dam’s structural integrity is compromised due to erosion from a large pool formed by sluice gates, with estimates predicting a potential collapse within three years. This would displace 3.5 million people downstream and disrupt power supplies across southern Africa, as two hydroelectric schemes—Kariba and CahoraBassa—would be affected. The editorial notes ongoing efforts to address the issue, with plans to excavate and widen the plunge pool to reduce turbulence, a project expected to cost R2.7 billion and take over a year to complete.
The author acknowledges initial alarm at the reports but expresses cautious optimism, citing the possibility of repairs beginning in