'Zimbabwe, Zambia failed to heed notice on Kariba'

Zimbabwe's intensifying power cuts are a result of failure to heed early warnings of depleting water capacity in Kariba Dam by both Zimbabwe and Zambia.

Engineering Institution of Zambia president Bernard Chiwala said the Zambezi Water Authority order utilities in the two countries to cut generation in March this year, but the rule was not immediately implemented.

"Despite restrictions on water use, the power utilities continued to generate way above the revised threshold of 500MW leading to a net draw down of the reservoir," he said.

Kariba's low water levels have compelled both countries to cut electricity generation and have led to rotating power cuts that last as long as 14 hours.