Lusaka — Sharply falling water levels at Mozambique’s Cahora Bassa dam, sub-Saharan Africa’s biggest hydropower plant, are threatening electricity supplies to countries including SA, which buys about a third of its output. Levels are the lowest Phil Bezuidenhout, a lodge owner at the Mozambican dam, has seen in the 24 years he has operated on its shores in the country’s northwest. "This is definitely the lowest it’s been in my time," he said by phone. "These levels are ridiculously low." Southern Africa’s worst drought in 35 years has cut inflows from rivers including the Zambezi and prompted Zambia and Zimbabwe to last year more than halve power production at the Kariba dam, which is upstream from Cahora Bassa. Levels at the Mozambican reservoir have plunged by more than 8.8m since the start of the year, according to data from its operator, Hidroelectica de Cahora Bassa. Both dams are counting on forecasts of above-normal rainfall in the wet season currently under way to keep their...
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