Zambezi River Basin

Table 2.2. Freshwater resources in the Zambezi River Basin countries

Total annual renewable freshwater available (km 3 /yr)

1995 population (000)

1995 availability per capita (m 3 )

2000 population (000) a

2000 water availability per capita (m 3 )~

2025 population (000) UNmedium projection

2025 water availability per capita (m 3 )

Country

Angola Botswana Malawi Mozambique Namibia Tanzania Zambia Zimbabwe

184 14.7 18.7 216 45.5 89 116 20

11 558 1 459 9 374 15 400 1 590 28 400 9 100 11 526

15 920 10 075 1 995 14 026 28 616 3 134 12 747 1 735

13 399 1 651 10 475 17 240 1 900 31 900 9 886 11 696

13 732 8 904 1 785 12 529 28 947 2 790 11 733 1 710

25 940 2 270 18 695 26 730 2 460 56 090 18 285 17 395

7 093 6 476 1 000 8 080 18 496

1 587 6 345 1 580

Source: SADC and SARDC 2008.

© Majority World

Improved access to safe drinking water is one of the Millennium Development Goals.

Reduction in Lake Levels The IPCC (2009) records point to increasing temperature in southern Africa, and predict small changes in temperature and water balance that could alter water levels, as well as mixing regimes and productivity. Higher temperatures would increase evaporative losses, especially if rainfall also declined. Declines in mean annual rainfall of 10-20 per cent for extended periods would have a significant impact on lake levels even if temperatures were unchanged.

© P. Johnson, SARDC

There are seasonal fluctuations in the levels of water in lakes, leaving an indelible mark on rocky shorelines.

58