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The Kariba Dam
The External Benefits of Building The Kariba Dam
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Although the prime aim of constructing the Kariba Dam was to provide cheap and increased supplies of electricity needed to fuel economic growth there have been a number of external benefits obtained from the project.
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Fishing
One of the arguments put forward by the authorities prior to the Dam being built was that the creation of Lake Kariba would create new opportunities for fishing. The number of species of fish increased. One that was introduced from Lake Tanganyika and was well suited to the deeper waters of the lake was the kapenta. To fish kapenta fisherman need a rig (boat and net), shore facilities
and the means to market. This expense means that most fishing for kapenta is in the hands of commercial fishing operators. There is an increasing concern however, that such intensive fishing, if unmanaged, will result in a serious depletion of stocks of kapenta.
Irrigation
When the dam was being planned the authorities estimated that 25% of the half a million acres of down river Zambian land would be expected to become good agricultural land. However these claims have failed to be realised. Undoubtedly some individual farmers on the lake shore have been able to irrigate their land using simple pumps however there have been only three notable larger scale
irrigation schemes. Two state schemes have been established, aiming to help small-scale farmers, and one commercial enterprise has also provided irrigation to communal land around Lake Kariba. The intention has been to irrigate poor quality agricultural land. However these schemes are very limited.
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Tourism
The tourist industry in Zambia is far less developed than in neighbouring Zimbabwe. Prior to the creation of Lake Kariba the Gwemba Tonga farmed in small communities along the length of the river. Few tourists visited. The wildlife in the national parks of Zimbabwe and South Africa were a bigger attraction. With the construction of the dam and the creation of the lake the potential for
tourism has perhaps increased. The Lake offers leisure opportunities such as boating and the game viewing. The Zimbabwean shore of the Lake with its national parks and state owned lake frontage is perhaps better capable of exploiting the opportunities than the Zambia shore, where small scale farming communities dominate land usage. Some economists consider that the Zambian shore of the
Lake may present cultural tourism opportunities such as visiting villages. Most tourists visiting the region expect to view wild animals in their natural habitats. If tourism is to flourish at Lake Kariba there has to be thought given to ways of managing the wildlife. The involvement of local communities in managing wild life and the tourism that it attracts through initiatives such as
the CAMPFIRE programme is seen as being essential.
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Related Glossary Items:
External Benefits
Related Theories:
The Theory of Externalities
Related Issues:
Building Kariba Dam
External Costs of Building Kariba Dam
CAMPFIRE
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BACKGROUND 
