The Historical and Political Geography of Lake Kariba

This chapter assesses the history of the dam and the displacement it induced. It shows how the building of the dam socio-economically and politically impacted on the riverine communities whose residency along the Zambezi was centuries old. The dam foreclosed riverine cultivation, fishing and cross-river interactions between communities of the north (Zambia) and the south (Zimbabwe). Though the local communities bore the cost of the creation of the dam, they have not benefitted from it at the same level as whites (colonisers). Over time, whites physically and culturally displaced African groups and limited their access to the Lake and established their own artificial ‘white’ belonging at the Lake. However, as shown in the chapter, it was not only humans who were negatively impacted by the building of the dam, but animals as well. Animals were stranded on islands and starved until the animal tranquilisers rescued them. Apparently, animals received better treatment compared to humans, at least Africans. Africans were never rescued, especially on the south bank where resettlement was swiftly carried out within 18 months. Though the dam caused short- and long-term problems for humans and animals, its construction was often disrupted by floods (attributed to Nyaminyami). These floods impacted on progress several times and resulted in fatalities. This history of displacement (of humans and animals) as well as fatalities due to flooding illuminates the materiality of water at Kariba which is the focus of this book.