Victoria Falls in danger

 One of Africa's most celebrated natural wonders, Victoria Falls, is facing mounting threats from climate-related water risks, particularly recurrent droughts, according to a newly released global analysis by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and Unesco.

The report, which examined 1,172 non-marine Unesco World Heritage Sites worldwide, found that 73% of these sites are exposed to at least one severe water-related threat -  including drought, flooding, or pollution. Alarmingly, 21% of the sites face both extremes of too much and too little water in alternating years.

Victoria Falls, straddling the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia, is among the sites flagged as increasingly vulnerable due to persistent droughts linked to shifting rainfall patterns and intensifying climate change.

Once famed for its thundering cascades and lush rainforest ecosystem, the site -  inscribed as a Unesco World Heritage Site in 1989 -  has, in recent years, experienced periods where the mighty Zambezi River's flow dwindled to a near trickle. Severe droughts were recorded in 2016, 2019, and 2024, with rainfall arriving later each year, prolonging dry spells that damage ecosystems and disrupt livelihoods.

The report warns that the site's vulnerability threatens both its ecological integrity and economic sustainability.

Under normal conditions, more than one million tourists visit Victoria Falls annually, making it a vital pillar of the tourism economy for both Zimbabwe and Zambia. Thousands of jobs -  from tour guides to hotel staff and craft vendors -  depend on the attraction. Moreover, the Zambezi River feeds hydroelectric dams downstream, providing power across the region.

"When the Falls suffer, people suffer," the report states.

In 2019, a year of severe drought, Zimbabwe recorded over 300 human-wildlife conflicts as animals roamed in search of food and water. Meanwhile, 45 million people across southern Africa required food aid due to widespread crop failures. Power blackouts lasting up to 18 hours per day were experienced in Zimbabwe and Zambia as dam levels dropped, crippling economies and stalling climate resilience efforts.

Although the report classifies Victoria Falls as having "medium drought risk" -  in part due to relatively low human development density around the site -  the probability of future droughts remains high, reinforced by recent trends and climate modelling.

Additionally, infrastructure expansion linked to tourism is placing growing stress on the fragile environment.

"The concern is not just about how often droughts are occurring, but whether the environment and communities have time to recover before the next crisis hits," said report authors Samantha Kuzma (WRI) and Tales Carvalho Resende (Unesco).

Globally, other iconic heritage sites grappling with similar water-related challenges include the Taj Mahal in India, Angkor in Cambodia, Yellowstone National Park in the US, and Mt. Everest's Sagarmatha National Park in Nepal.

Despite these dire warnings, WRI says solutions remain within reach. These include improved water management policies, investment in drought-resilient infrastructure, and integrating climate risk assessments into tourism and conservation planning.

As southern Africa braces for another uncertain rainy season, the future of Victoria Falls -  and the millions who depend on it -  may depend on how urgently leaders act on the warnings from climate scientists and conservationists.

Source: Victoria Falls in danger (13th July 2025)

Tourism industry seeks sustainable Green tourism strategy

 PLAYERS in tourism are keen to invent new strategies to ensure sustainability of the lucrative industry amid calls the sector needed to move away from over-dependence on rain-fed water activities.

There are fears some tourism activities would in the long run be affected by climate change, in the wake of erratic and delayed rainfall patterns, rising temperatures and human activities.

Victoria Falls, the country’s prime tourism destination and tourism draw card through the Falls, relies largely on rainfall patterns as tourists enjoy one of the World’s Natural Wonders during the high water season, with rafting activities on the same Zambezi River also seasonal.

Game drives also depend on rainfall, with Zimparks resorting to artificial solar water pumping during the dry season to augment water availability and save wildlife for viewing.

Sector players comprising climate researchers, wildlife and water experts, strategists, tour operators and hoteliers met in Victoria Falls Friday afternoon for a climate change and tourism workshop to deliberate on possible measures to come up with a green tourism strategy.

Participants concurred on the urgent need for adoption of sustainable strategies to save the country’s major foreign currency earner.

Speaking at the event, Tourism Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu said besides natural climate changes, human activities posed a huge threat to the environment.

“Recent changes in climate have been attributed to human activity. These include massive burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas since the industrial revolution especially in developed countries.

“Developing countries are now also equally contributing to destroying the climate system mainly through poor land-use planning and unsustainable utilisation of natural resources such as charcoal production which are linked to the climate system,” said Ndlovu.

He said Zimbabwe is also bearing the brunt of climate change due to limited adaptive capacities, susceptibility to climate change impacts and general poverty.

Ndlovu bemoaned the effects of Cyclone Idai and drought that also led to death of over 200 elephants, adding that some climate sensitive tourism sites had also lost their sparkle.

He said Zimbabwe’s prime tourism destination, Victoria Falls which was also declared a special economic zone, has not been spared from the impacts of climate change which have over the years, reduced the Falls’ peak season.

While this year, Zambezi River experienced record inflows in more than a decade, over the past few years the Falls had not been the marvel attraction they are known for because of low water.

“Being a developing country, Zimbabwe is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change. Our prime tourist destination was not spared as the records show that it had one of the record low water flows.

“All this shows the urgent need for multi-stakeholder and multi-disciplinary approach to climate change within government together with private sector and partners including neighbouring countries need to raise awareness.

“It is time for enhanced renewable investments including use of solar geysers, protecting wetlands and promoting environmentally friendly constructions. It is possible to mainstream green tourism as Victoria Falls and indeed as a country.

“I believe it is not only possible but pretty much the only viable option going forward as we build a strong and resilient tourism industry with key enablers.

“Zimbabwe’s tourism sector dependence on water-bodies, flora and fauna which are all rain-fed require review and strategising.

“There is an urgent need for transformative approaches in the tourism sector towards sustainability and a need to craft sustainable strategies and interventions which are guided by the best available science,” said Ndlovu.

Source: Tourism industry seeks sustainable Green tourism strategy (10/08/20)

Tourism sector weighs climate change adaptation options

 Prosper Ndlovu recently, in Victoria Falls

CLIMATE change is increasingly threatening the viability of nature-based tourism operations and the country has to urgently adopt sustainable options including mainstreaming green tourism.

In recent years, weather trends have been characterised by delayed onsets, long dry spells, recurrent droughts or flooding, rising temperatures and other extremes such as violent storms.

Zimbabwe’s tourism sector is heavily dependent on water-bodies, flora and fauna, which are all rain-fed and these are largely susceptible to the above climate change induced shocks.

Currently only a handful of tourism and hospitality players in the country have started leading from the front in the drive towards sustainable tourism.

The Government and private sector players in the tourism sector are agreed on the need to review traditional business modelling and strategising towards environmentally friendly operations in keeping with global trends.

The implications of the twin relationship between climate and tourism dominated discussion during Friday’s “climate change impacts and opportunities in Zimbabwe” indaba, which was held in Victoria Falls and organised by the sector.

Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu was the key speaker at the high level gathering that drew participation of key industry executives, researchers and experts among others.

During discussion, stakeholder consensus was loud and clear on the need to adopt climate change mitigation measures, and how to decouple the tourism sector from climate-dependence. Consideration to enhancing renewable investments including use of solar geysers, best practice in preserving and protecting wetlands and promoting environmentally sustainable constructions that minimise disruptions in the ecosystems, came under focus.

“Tourism is a major foreign currency earner and hence requires the necessary support.

We don’t want to remain with stranded assets in the tourism sector, after failing to heed to the climate early warning,” said Minister Ndlovu in his keynote address.

He expressed concern over growing losses of life, flora and fauna associated with climate change and called for transformative approaches in the tourism sector towards sustainability.

Zimbabwe is highly vulnerable to climate variability and change, said Minister Ndlovu as he reminded the gathering of the destructive climate extremes such as Tropical Cyclones Idai last year, Eline and Japhet in recent years, as well as prolonged droughts and heat waves that left a trail of destruction in parts of the country and the region.

He said these factors greatly put the country’s climate-sensitive sectors such as tourism, health and agriculture at risk.

“To ameliorate the impacts of climate change, we need to raise awareness on climate change, accept that climate change is a reality and strengthen our capacity to respond to both current and future climates,” said the minister.

He challenged tourism players to focus more on mainstreamig green tourism starting with Victoria Falls to the entire country.

“I believe it’s not only possible but pretty much the only viable option going forward as we build a strong and resilient tourism industry with its key enablers,” he said.

Among the visible scars are damaged tourism arteries like roads and bridges. For instance, the 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 agricultural seasons were characterised by delayed onset of the season, low rainfall and prolonged dry spells resulting in low crop yields and impacts on livestock and wildlife.

The country has also lost over 200 elephants to drought, according to official statistics, and had a number of its climate-sensitive tourism sites like Kariba, losing their sparkle as water levels fell in most of our major dams, rivers and waterfalls.

Zimbabwe’s prime tourism destination and special economic zone, the mighty Victoria Falls, has not been spared from the impacts of climate change which is reducing the time the falls will be a marvel or at its peak.

A few years back, reports of planes having to delay their landing take off due to extreme weather events especially high temperatures at Victoria Falls and Kariba airports are on record.

Experts have attributed recent changes in climate mainly to human activities that include massive burning of fossil fuels such as coal, oil and gas since the industrial revolution especially by developed countries.

This has seen developing countries like Zimbabwe also equally contributing to destroying the climate system mainly through poor land-use planning and unsustainable utilisation of natural resources linked to the climate system such as charcoal production.

These have been exacerbated by widespread energy and water use inefficiency leading to higher demands for energy, which is coming largely from fossil sources that emit greenhouse gas in the process of energy generation.

Developing countries bear the brunt of climate change due to limited adaptive capacities, susceptibility to the climate change impacts and general poverty.

Source: Tourism sector weighs climate change adaptation options (08/08/20)

Victoria Falls dries to a trickle after worst drought in a century

One of southern Africa’s biggest tourist attractions has seen an unprecedented decline this dry season, fuelling climate change fears

For decades Victoria Falls, where southern Africa’s Zambezi river cascades down 100 metres into a gash in the earth, have drawn millions of holidaymakers to Zimbabwe and Zambia for their stunning views.

But the worst drought in a century has slowed the waterfalls to a trickle, fuelling fears that climate change could kill one of the region’s biggest tourist attractions.

While they typically slow down during the dry season, officials said this year had brought an unprecedented decline in water levels.

“In previous years, when it gets dry, it’s not to this extent,” Dominic Nyambe, a seller of tourist handicrafts in his 30s, said outside his shop in Livingstone, on the Zambian side. “This [is] our first experience of seeing it like this.

“It affects us because ... clients ... can see on the internet [that the falls are low] ... We don’t have so many tourists.”

As world leaders gather in Madrid for the COP25 climate change conference to discuss ways to halt catastrophic warming caused by human-driven greenhouse gas emissions, southern Africa is already suffering some of its worst effects – with taps running dry and about 45 million people in need of food aid amid crop failures.

Zimbabwe and Zambia have suffered power cuts as they are heavily reliant on hydropower from plants at the Kariba dam, which is on the Zambezi river downstream of the waterfalls.

Stretches of this kilometre-long natural wonder are nothing but dry stone. Water flow is low in others.

Data from the Zambezi River Authority shows water flow at its lowest since 1995, and well under the long-term average. The Zambian president, Edgar Lungu, has called it “a stark reminder of what climate change is doing to our environment”.

Yet scientists are cautious about categorically blaming climate change. There is always seasonal variation in levels.

Harald Kling, a hydrologist at engineering firm Poyry and a Zambezi river expert, said climate science dealt in decades, not particular years, “so it’s sometimes difficult to say this is because of climate change because droughts have always occurred”.

“If they become more frequent, then you can start saying: OK, this may be climate change.”

He said early climate models had predicted more frequent dry years in the Zambezi basin, but that “what was surprising was that it [drought] has been so frequent” – the last drought was only three years ago. As the river got hotter, 437m cubic metres of water were evaporating every second.

In Livingstone this week, four tourists stared into a mostly dry chasm normally gushing with white water. German student Benjamin Konig was disappointed.

“Seems to be not much [water] – a few rocky stones with a little water between it,” he said.

Richard Beilfuss, head of the International Crane Foundation, who has studied the Zambezi for the past three decades, believed climate change was delaying the monsoon, “concentrating rain in bigger events, which are then much harder to store, and a much longer, excruciating dry season”.

Source: Victoria Falls dries to a trickle after worst drought in a century (17/12/19)

The climate change threat to Victoria Falls

Receding water levels at Kariba Dam have meant the two countries that generate electricity from it have to look elsewhere for power supplies. But if climate change has its way, the two countries might lose another key economic contributor and major tourist attraction - Victoria Falls.

Zimbabwe and Zambia both generate most of their power from Kariba Dam on the Zambezi River, which is on the border between the two countries.

The Kariba Dam has towered over one of Africa’s mightiest rivers for 60 years, forming the world’s largest reservoir and providing reliable electricity to the two countries.

But as drought grips the region, flow on the Zambezi river has dwindled to a third of what it was a year ago, limiting power generation.

While both countries have looked to South Africa's Eskom as well as the Southern African Power Pool for help, another disaster is looming.

The Victoria Falls, also found along the mighty Zambezi River, and a major tourist drawcard for both countries, is running dry – threatening millions of dollars generated from tourist visits.

At the height of the rainy season, more than five hundred million cubic meters of water per minute plummet over the edge of the falls into a gorge over one hundred meters below.

But without much water, as is the case now, the falls become just another gorge.

Zambian president Edgar Lungu has laid the blame squarely on climate change. 

Using his twitter handle  the statesman bemoaned the impact of climate change on the falls. Attaching pictures showing large sections of the world-famous waterfall completely dried up, he tweeted: "These pictures of the Victoria Falls are a stark reminder of what climate change is doing to our environment and our livelihood.

"[There is] no doubt that developing countries like Zambia are the most impacted by climate change and the least able to afford its consequences."

He added that now is not the time to play "politics with climate change". "We must come together and provide solutions around mitigation and adaptation."

He quoted Republican Political Consultant Whit Ayres: "Denying the basic existence of climate change is no longer a credible position."

Climate change has been found to be the biggest cause of extreme events such as drought and floods, according to the UN expert panel on climate change.

And if indeed the Victoria Falls continue to suffer, it will be a heavy blow. Holidaymakers have long made the journey to see Victoria Falls in its full glory and majesty: the mist, the rainbow and the thunder.

So any disruption caused by climate change on water discharge at the waterfall will be most damaging to the tourism industry in particular, and the two countries' economies in general.

Source: The climate change threat to Victoria Falls (11/10/19)

Africa’s Biggest Waterfall at Risk From Drought

The flow at the Africa’s biggest waterfall is at its lowest since 1995, highlighting the threat posed by a drought to tourism and electricity generation in Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Flow has slumped to 109 cubic meters-per-second (3,850 cubic feet) at Victoria Falls, a 1.7-kilometer (1.1 mile) curtain of falling water at the peak of a normal wet season, according to the Zambezi River Authority. The falls on the Zambezi river straddle the border between Zimbabwe and Zambia and the flow of the watercourse fills the Kariba Dam, the site of the two countries’ largest power plants.

The drought threatens to deter tourists from visiting the site, could curtail a lucrative white-water rafting industry in the gorge below the cataract and may see the power plants at Kariba shut down, worsening power cuts in both countries. Elephants at nearby game parks are dying of hunger, further damaging the tourism industry.

“Some of the tourism products that we boast of can be a thing of the past if climate change and global warming are not quickly addressed,” said Godfrey Koti, a spokesman for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority.

Key among Victoria Falls’ attractions is a rain-forest fed by the spray of the thundering waters. That spray gives Victoria Falls’ its local name - Mosi Oa Tunya - The Smoke That Thunders.

“Rafting activities and visits to the rain-forest have declined,” said Clement Mukwasi, president of the Employers Association for Tourism and Safari Operators. “There isn’t much that we can do except for us as an industry to promote awareness of climate change.”

The flow at the falls is volatile. The lowest on record is 99 cubic meters-per-second in October 1996 while the record is 6,172 cubic meters-per-second in April 1977, according to the authority.

This year’s paucity, which has left Kariba 15% full, has already cut power generation at the Zimbabwean plant to just over a 10th of its usual output.

”We are dangerously close to a level where we have to cut off power generation, “ Mthuli Ncube, Zimbabwe’s finance minister, told lawmakers in Victoria Falls town on Thursday.

Rains in Zimbabwe normally begin in November and end around April.

Source: Africa’s Biggest Waterfall at Risk From Drought (31/10/19)

Vic Falls sees low flows due to climate change

World famous waterfall and Zimbabwe’s number one tourist attraction, the Victoria Falls, is starting to have far lower flows because of frequent droughts triggered by climate change, new research has shown.

Most of the changes have occurred in the months October and November, where rain has become scarcer, temperatures soared and waterflow diminished.

This could have far reaching impact on the tourism sector in Zimbabwe, and the economy as a whole.

According to the research, the Victoria Falls has been hit by drought in 19 of the 40 years since 1976.

Although precipitation is up 80mm over the four decades overall, it has declined sharply in the last 20 years.

During this period, droughts have sometimes extended for up to 4 years non-stop, it says.

October, which marks the beginning of the rainy season in Zimbabwe, has particularly been the driest.

Preciptation during the month has completely dried up.

In 1976, about 40mm of rain fell in October in Victoria Falls.

Today, none does at all.

“Rain now starts in November, and has not extended beyond April, the traditional rain-end month,” said Dr Godwell Nhamo, a Zimbabwean researcher with the University of South Africa, who co-authored the report.

“That means the rainy season has shortened by a month. The delay in the onset of the rainy season could have ramifications on animal habitat, animal migration patterns, and flora and fauna life cycles in the Victoria Falls resort,” said Dr Nhamo.

Climate change has been found to be the biggest cause of extreme climate events such as drought and floods, according to the UN expert panel on climate change.

Shorter peak period

Generally, waterflow at the Victoria Falls has increased since 1976, particularly for April and May, the authors say.

More years have exceeded the average annual 1 000 cubic metre per second water discharge in the past 40 years.

At its greatest, more than 8 700 cubic metres of water plunged down the gorges at the Victoria Falls each second.

That was in 1957.

Things have never been the same from since.

Researchers say the peak full-spray viewing period, historically between March and May, is becoming shorter.

“There is a chance that some months may witness a dried up (Victoria) Falls given that the rainfall has been reducing drastically, against increasing maximum and minimum temperatures,” said Dr Nhamo, in the study..

This will be bad news for visitors.

Holidaymakers love to see the Victoria Falls in its full glory and majesty: the mist, the rainbow and the thunder, studies show.

And that mostly happens when the waterflow is at full discharge.

“Evidence of prolonged low water flowing is worrying,” the research states.

“Measures need to be put in place to maintain and increase tourist flows during this period (September to January.”

Rising temperatures

Titled “Climate change and potential impact on tourism: Evidence from the Zimbabwean side of the Victoria Falls”, the case study-based research was done over two years utilising meteorological and hydrological data dating back 40 years.

About 370 tourists from across the world who have visited the Victoria Falls in the past were surveyed via the Internet, and through Facebook safari and tourism groups.

Researchers asked them questions such as their perceptions on climate change, the impact of climate change on the Victoria Falls and others.

“The online surveyed was preferred in triangulating evidence from the meteorological and hydrolgraphic data as it provided broader geographic reach to source global perceptions,” Dr Nhamo defended the study’s approach.

Whereas more research has previously been carried out on the the impact of climate change on the Zambezi River basin, from which the Victoria Falls emerge, few have looked at the waterfall proper.

Nhamo’s research may be the closest yet to a most comprehensive assessment of the impact of climate change on the Victoria Falls to date.

The study finds that since 1976 day-time temperatures in the Victoria Falls have risen 1,4 degrees Celsius, on average, due to climate change.

he greatest month-on-month increase was noticed in October, a rise of 3,8 degrees Celsius, which is faster than the national average.

Temperatures have warmed by under one degree celcious across Zimbabwe in the past 100 years.

“Such high temperatures (in Victoria Falls) may affect tourists’ comfort and flora and fauna that have to adapt to the ever increasing temperatures,” said Dr Nhamo.

Winters are becoming warmer, he said, forecasting a spike in demand for cooling systems both in the home and offices, in a vicious cycle that will in turn impact negatively on the waterfall.

“Since the energy supply is heavily dependent on burning coal, increased energy demand will also result in increased running costs for the tourism industry,” the study says.

“Increased energy demand will also result in increased carbon emissions leadingvto global warming that also affects the Victoria Falls.

Economic impact

Tourism accounts for over 5 percent of the country’s $16 billion GDP and about 100 000 people work in the sector, according to Government data.

Victoria Falls is Zimbabwe’s main tourist trumpcard. More than one million people flock to see the World Wonder each year.

Any disruption caused by climate change on water discharge at the waterfall will be most damaging to the tourism industry in particular, and the Zimbabwean economy in general.

Higher temperatures are already hitting some businesses in the Victoria Falls badly.

Two helicopter companies that fly tourists above the falls for a better view say warmer climates were disrupting business.

They say above 35 degrees Celsius temperatures impeded operational efficiency. They can not fly to the regulatory height anymore without consuming more fuel.

In future, it might cost more to fly in and out of the Victoria Falls, the study says.

That’s because higher temperatures have increased the risk of turbulence, flight sickness, greater aeroplane energy consumption and other issues.

Higher temperatures mean thinner air, requiring “flights to have longer runways and load shedding on takeoff…such trends could result in air tickets becoming higher as insurance premiums for airlines go higher to cater for increased risk”, the research says.

The Victoria Falls isn’t disappearing tomorrow. It may be another several millenia before that happens, if at all.

Nobody knows really. The next best time to visit the falls for a full spray may just be limited to April and May, according to a new calendar of activities developed by Dr Nhamo, even when other low flow adventures continue to flourish.

Source: Vic Falls sees low flows due to climate change (05/03/18)

Source of Zambezi River Dries Up

By Paul Shalala in Ikelengi
Originally published: The Zambian Analyst [edited]

It has never happened before, at least in living memory... In fact no one remembers such a thing ever happening. And this has happened at a time when, water levels are supposed to be at their highest on account of the good rains experienced in the past six months...

This blogger travelled over 500 kilometers from his mining town of Kitwe to the border town of Ikelengi in northern Zambia to verify reports that the source of the Zambia river had dried up... Geologists believe that the Zambezi river starts from the Kalene Hills and it flows underground for some kilometers, only to appear in Mukangala area where the official source is.

A dry patch now meets the eye from the spot where the source is, where the Zambezi river used to ooze from. In happier times, that was the first sighting of the river as it creeps from the undergrowth to form a rivulet. And then it disappears and creeps back in visible patches here and there.

It is also the reason why beautiful walk-ways were made for people to easily walk around and see the phenomenal spot.: the source of the Zambezi river This same spot is also the reason why a nice visitor center was constructed by the Zambia government to provide information for tourists.

Even Willy Chiwaya. the conservation assistant who has been taking care of the Zambezi source for the past 10 years has never seen anything like this before. "I have been working here for 10 years and this is the first time ever seeing the source drying. We did not just have enough rains this year that is why it is dry," said Mr. Chiwaya.

And the traditionalists also have an explanation. "The forefathers are annoyed that is why the source is dry. They are annoyed with the white people who have encroached into our land and chased us from the source. We are asking the government to allow us resume the musolu ceremony," said

Senior Headman Mukangala, a local Lunda leader who lives less than two kilometers from the source of the Zambezi river. The source of the Zambezi river is protected by the National Heritage and Conservation Commission. The Visitor Information Center at the source of the Zambezi

The area, which is 36 hectares, has been declared a national forest in order to preserve the source. However, this year has been full of surprises. "The water table has really gone down. We have not had enough rains this year like we have had in the past. But there is still water here, though its 300 meters away from the actual source were we are standing," said Mr Chiwaya.

The Lunda speaking people are the owners of this land - the source of the Zambezi river. The Lundas called the river Yambezhi but the white man opted to call it Zambezi. Actually, the Republic of Zambia derives its name from the Zambezi river.

In the years before the source of the river became a national heritage site, the Lundas considered the area as a shrine. They used to come to this area to perform rituals. And then came the white man. "Where there is a monument, that was some kind of a hospital were the sick were brought for healing. What used to happen is that the ancestors would come here, get few leaves and trees to mix together and give the herbs to the people who were at the camp and they would get healed," revealed Mr Chiwaya.

He further explained about the restrictions which were followed religiously at the shrine. "There are some restrictions which are currently not being followed thats why this place is no longer a shrine. Only circumcised men where allowed here and women who did not have sex during the day time were also allowed to come."

Senior Headman Mukangala lives a few kilometers away from the source of the Zambezi. During the colonial error, he used to be Chief Kabanda but in 1947, he was de-gazette on account of not having enough people in his chiefdom. The British colonial government claimed his villages were scattered and he would not manage to hold his chiefdom together.

Today Senior Headman Mukangala feels the drying up of the source of the Zambezi river is a curse. "The decision to stop us from celebrating the Musolu traditional ceremony at the source of the Zambezi is what is causing problems and the drying up of the source. The spirits are annoyed," said the traditional leader in an interview.

Before the whites started visiting this area in the 1920s, the villagers used to perform a ceremony called Musolu. In this ritual, they prayed asking the gods for good rains. But now they no longer perform it.

"During the ceremony, we used to start by praying to God for good rains. All Headmen under my leadership would gather at the source of the Zambezi. All people would be happy because they would be talking to God directly," he said. The Musolu ceremony, like many other cultural activities of this nature, is performed once a year.

Senior Headman Mukangala now recalls how it was done. Throwing some seeds on the ground, Senior Headman says: "Once we paint our faces with white powder, we would then ask God that whatever we have planted, let it germinate so that next year we can have enough food for your people." But all is not so dry at the source of the Zambezi.

Three hundred meters away from the actual source, there is some activity. A small brook of water coming from an underground fountain, is the first sign that the Zambezi river still runs here.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was originally aired on TV1's Newsline program on 19 May 2017 and the video can be watched here.

Source: Source of Zambezi River Dries Up Due To Climate Change (21/5/17)

Sub-Saharan African countries are failing to plan for climate change

Failure to factor climate change into long-term investment and planning risks leaving countries across sub-Saharan vulnerable to droughts, floods, heatwaves and rising sea-levels

A broken bridge over the Licungo river after flooding in Zambezia province, Mozambique

Communities around the world are feeling the impacts of climate change already, but many of the most severe effects will be felt in the decades to come, particularly from mid-century onwards. Nowhere is this more apparent than in sub-Saharan Africa which will be one of the hardest hit regions of the world.

Right now, African countries are busy investing in infrastructure and development to help support current economic growth. Many of these long-lived investments – such as ports, large dams, and social infrastructure, such as hospitals and schools – will most likely last well beyond 2050. But by then, Africa’s climate may look quite different to what it does today. Factoring climate change into long-term investments and planning decisions is essential for supporting climate-resilient development – but it’s not happening.

New research, coordinated by the Overseas Development Institute (ODI) and Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), shows that governments and businesses across sub-Saharan Africa are failing to consider long-term climate information in their investments and planning decisions. This includes studies from Zambia, Malawi, Rwanda, Ghana and Mozambique. The worst case scenario is that poor use of climate information could lock societies into patterns that make them highly vulnerable to droughts, floods, high temperatures or sea-level rise in the future.

Why do decision-makers have this blind spot? First and most importantly, other challenges such as eradicating poverty and promoting access to primary and secondary education are extremely pressing, forcing decision-makers to think and act in short time frames.

Secondly, long-term climate information is often ill-suited to informing local economic, social and environmental contexts in sub-Saharan Africa.

Knowing what the average temperature in 2050 will be for rural Nakuru County, Kenya, is of little practical use. What decision makers really want to know is how higher temperatures are likely to influence water resource availability or crop yields: outcomes that affect local people most. But what decision makers ask for is not often technically possible as there is a lack of information that combines knowledge of future climate with other disciplines such as hydrology or ecology.

Full Article: Sub-Saharan African countries are failing to plan for climate change (The Guardian, 13/02/15)