82-553: Kazungula Bridge is a road and rail bridge over the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Botswana at the town of Kazungula . The 923-metre-long (3,028 ft) by 18.5-metre-wide (61 ft) bridge has a longest span of 129 metres (423 ft) and links the town of Kazungula in Zambia with Botswana. The bridge features a single-line railway track between two traffic lanes and walkways for pedestrians. Before
164-629: A Master's degree in social sciences education, after Masisi met some FSU faculty members working in Botswana for the Junior Secondary Education Improvement Project. Following graduation, he was employed by UNICEF in Botswana. Masisi unsuccessfully sought the nomination of the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to stand in Moshupa constituency in the 2004 general election . However, he obtained
246-591: A different impact on the ecosystems of the delta from today, as it brought nutrient-rich fresh water down to the Indian Ocean coastal wetlands. The lower Zambezi experienced a small flood surge early in the dry season as rain in the Gwembe catchment and north-eastern Zimbabwe rushed through while rain in the upper Zambezi, Kafue, and Lake Malawi basins, and Luangwa to a lesser extent, is held back by swamps and floodplains. The discharges of these systems contribute to
328-416: A haven for migratory waterbirds, including pintails , garganey , African openbill ( Anastomus lamelligerus ), saddle-billed stork ( Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis ), wattled crane ( Bugeranus carunculatus ), and great white pelican ( Pelecanus onocrotalus ). Reptiles include Nile crocodile ( Crocodylus niloticus ), Nile monitor lizard ( Varanus niloticus ), African rock python ( Python sebae ),
410-826: A large area to the west, joins the Zambezi. A short distance higher up on the east, the main stream is joined in the rainy season by overflow of the Luampa / Luena system. A short distance downstream of the confluence with the Luanginga is Lealui , one of the capitals of the Lozi people , who populate the Zambian region of Barotseland in the Western Province. The chief of the Lozi maintains one of his two compounds at Lealui;
492-450: A litany of court challenges alleging irregularities and electoral fraud. The High Court ruled against the allegations and the elections were deemed credible by international observers. The African Union Election Observation Mission (AUEOM) concluded that the elections were transparent and conducted peacefully. The election conformed to international and regional best practices and standards. Amongst his election pledges, he proposed lifting
574-728: A move that received some criticism from international media outlets. Masisi reversed the ban on elephant hunting put in place by his predecessor, and removed Botswana's "Shoot to Kill" anti-poaching policy. In 2002 Masisi married Neo Maswabi , an accountant who later worked for the United Nations in New York and in Addis Ababa . They have a daughter. Masisi is a noted fan of the Rutgers Scarlet Knights American football program. While visiting
656-469: A much larger flood in March or April, with a mean monthly maximum for April of 6,700 m (240,000 cu ft) per second at the delta. The record flood was more than three times as big, 22,500 m (790,000 cu ft) per second being recorded in 1958. By contrast, the discharge at the end of the dry season averaged just 500 m (18,000 cu ft) per second. In the 1960s and 1970s,
738-549: A reputation as great cloth traders throughout the region. In a curious note, Goese-born Portuguese trader Manuel Caetano Pereira, who traveled to the Bisa homelands in 1796, was surprised to be shown a second, separate river referred to as the "Zambezi". This "other Zambezi" that puzzled Pereira is most likely what modern sources spell the Chambeshi River in northern Zambia. The Monomatapa notion (reported by Santos) that
820-595: A total of US $ 82.3m had been paid by Zambia, with an additional US $ 73.7m being released in December and US $ 8.7m to be paid by the end of the year. These statements were in response to accusations that the Zambian Government had failed to pay its dues and would not honor the outstanding amount owed to the contractor. Vincent Mwale went on to say that he "would like to put it on record that the assertions currently being circulated via social media, purporting that
902-601: Is lost through evaporation in its swamp systems. The 1940s and 1950s were particularly wet decades in the basin. Since 1975, it has been drier, the average discharge being only 70% of that for the years 1930 to 1958. Up to the Late Pliocene or Pleistocene (more than two million years ago), the upper Zambezi flowed south through what is now the Makgadikgadi Pan to the Limpopo River . The change of
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#1732776550110984-463: Is not included in the figures because it only occasionally overflows to any extent into the Zambezi. Because of the rainfall distribution, northern tributaries contribute much more water than southern ones; for example: The Northern Highlands catchment of the upper Zambezi contributes 25%, Kafue 8%, Luangwa and Shire Rivers 16% each, total 65% of Zambezi discharge. The large Cuando basin in the south-west, though, contributes only about 2 m /s because most
1066-521: Is obstructed by a sand bar . A more northerly branch, called the Chinde mouth, has a minimum depth at low water of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) at the entrance and 4 metres (13 ft) further in, and is the branch used for navigation. About 100 kilometres (62 mi) further north is a river called the Quelimane , after the town at its mouth. This stream, which is silting up, receives the overflow of
1148-471: The Financial Times , and added that Botswana's reputation was being undermined locally and internationally, and that democracy was in decline. Masisi is in support of elephant hunting in Botswana, and believes that allowing some ivory trading would allow more funding for conservation. In 2019, he presented stools made from elephant feet to the national leaders of Namibia , Zambia and Zimbabwe ,
1230-522: The 2019 elections , the opposition claimed irregularities and electoral fraud. However, an observation mission from the African Union reported that the elections were conducted transparently and met international standards. His government oversaw response to the COVID-19 pandemic . Amidst the pandemic, Masisi ruled by decree from March 2020 to September 2021, despite protests from the public and
1312-681: The 2024 general elections , the Botswana Democratic Party lost its majority in the National Assembly for the first time in the country's history. Masisi conceded defeat on November 1, and promised a peaceful transfer of power. He was succeeded as president by Duma Boko . Masisi has been accused by some of having authoritarian views, and contributing to undermining democracy in Botswana. Former President Ian Khama, who has fallen out with Masisi since his election, alleged that Masisi "stifled dissent" in an interview with
1394-621: The Botswana Patriotic Front (BPF). Khama criticized Masisi for lifting the ban on elephant hunting and called his decision to appoint Masisi as his successor a "mistake". On 13 October 2018, Masisi received an honorary doctorate from the University of Botswana. Some commentators have criticized this decision, and claimed that the correct process was not followed. The Masisi government has adopted and promoted market-oriented , liberal economic policies to diversify
1476-736: The Itezhi-Tezhi Dam 's deleterious effects on the Kafue Flats, this has these effects: The Zambezi Delta has extensive seasonally and permanently flooded grasslands, savannas, and swamp forests. Together with the floodplains of the Buzi , Pungwe , and Save Rivers, the Zambezi's floodplains make up the World Wildlife Fund 's Zambezian coastal flooded savanna ecoregion in Mozambique. The flooded savannas lie close to
1558-519: The Ngonye Falls and subsequent rapids interrupt navigation. South of Ngonye Falls, the river briefly borders Namibia's Caprivi Strip . Below the junction of the Cuando River and the Zambezi, the river bends almost due east. Here, the river is broad and shallow and flows slowly, but as it flows eastward towards the border of the great central plateau of Africa, it reaches a chasm into which
1640-528: The Quelimane or Quá-Qua, a small river on the northern end of the delta, which at that time was connected by navigable channels to the Zambezi River proper (the connection silted up by the 1830s). In a few of the oldest maps, the entire river is denoted as such. By the 16th century, a new name emerged, the Cuama River (sometimes "Quama" or "Zuama"). Cuama was the local name given by the dwellers of
1722-679: The Swahili coast for an outpost located on one of the southerly islands of the delta (near the Luabo channel). Most old nautical maps denote the Luabo entry as Cuama, the entire delta as the "rivers of Cuama", and the Zambezi proper as the "Cuama River". In 1552, Portuguese chronicler João de Barros noted that the same Cuama River was called Zembere by the inland people of Monomatapa . The Portuguese Dominican friar João dos Santos , visiting Monomatapa in 1597 reported it as Zambeze (Bantu languages frequently shifts between z and r) and inquired into
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#17327765501101804-515: The "Espirito Santo" Rivers converging deep in the interior, at the same lake. However, the Bisa-derived etymology is not without dispute. In 1845, W.D. Cooley, examining Pereira's notes, concluded the term "Zambezi" derives not from the Bisa people, but rather from the Bantu term "mbege"/"mbeze" ("fish"), and consequently it probably means merely "river of fish". David Livingstone , who reached
1886-470: The 40 houses and a school were be handed over to the villagers in August 2014. In March of 2014, three companies were shortlisted for the construction bid out of the original twenty-six entries. The finalists were China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation, Daewoo E and C , and Shimizu -Stefanuti Joint Venture. In August 2014, Bernard Chiwala, Chief Executive of Zambia’s Road Development Agency, stated that
1968-669: The BDP nomination for the same seat prior to the 2009 general election and won the seat. He was promptly appointed Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration in October 2009. After a little more than a year as an assistant minister, he was appointed Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration in January 2011. Masisi became Minister of Education and Skills Development in an acting capacity in April 2014. He
2050-455: The Indian Ocean coast. Mangroves fringe the delta's shoreline. Although the dams have stemmed some of the annual flooding of the lower Zambezi and caused the area of floodplain to be greatly reduced, they have not removed flooding completely. They cannot control extreme floods, and they have only made medium-level floods less frequent. When heavy rain in the lower Zambezi combines with significant runoff upstream, massive floods still happen, and
2132-598: The Kanzungula Bridge is currently isolated from both the Zambian and Botswanan railway networks , but is planned to be incorporated into the proposed Mosetse–Kazungula–Livingstone Railway . Zambezi (Period: 1971–2000)4,256.1 m /s (150,300 cu ft/s) The Zambezi (also spelled Zambeze and Zambesi ) is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and
2214-467: The State of Public Emergency, which saw him rule by decree for this period, also bringing an end to the curfews that had been in place by the end of September 2021. On 3 January 2022, it was announced that Masisi was in mandatory self-isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 during routine testing. Vice-President Slumber Tsogwane assumed the president's responsibilities while he was in isolation. At
2296-592: The Swahili (and later Portuguese) upriver trade station at Sena . In 1752, the Zambezi Delta, under the name "Rivers of Sena" ( Rios de Sena ) formed a colonial administrative district of Portuguese Mozambique , but common usage of "Zambezi" led eventually to a royal decree in 1858 officially renaming the district " Zambézia ". The Zambezi region was known to medieval geographers as the Empire of Monomotapa , and
2378-604: The Victoria Falls plunge. The Victoria Falls are considered the boundary between the upper and middle Zambezi. Below them, the river continues to flow due east for about 200 km (120 mi), cutting through perpendicular walls of basalt 20 to 60 m (66 to 197 ft) apart in hills 200 to 250 m (660 to 820 ft) high. The river flows swiftly through the Batoka Gorge, the current being continually interrupted by reefs. It has been described as one of
2460-566: The Zambezi River in Zambia, one at Victoria Falls and the other in Zengamina , near Kalene Hill in the Ikelenge District . The river rises in a black, marshy dambo in dense, undulating miombo woodland 50 km (31 mi) north of Mwinilunga and 20 km (12 mi) south of Ikelenge in the Ikelenge District of North-Western Province , Zambia, at about 1,524 metres (5,000 ft) above sea level . The area around
2542-471: The Zambezi in the rainy season. Average, minimum and maximum discharge of the Zambezi River at Marromeu (Lower Zambezi). Period from 1998 to 2022. The delta of the Zambezi is today about half as broad as it was before the construction of the Kariba and Cahora Bassa dams controlled the seasonal variations in the flow rate of the river. Before the dams were built, seasonal flooding of the Zambezi had quite
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2624-719: The Zambezi is the Kabompo River in the North-Western Province of Zambia. The savanna through which the river flows gives way to a wide floodplain, studded with Borassus fan palms . A little farther south is the confluence with the Lungwebungu River . This is the beginning of the Barotse Floodplain , the most notable feature of the upper Zambezi, but this northern part does not flood so much and includes islands of higher land in
2706-543: The Zambezi was sourced from a great internal lake might be a reference to one of the African Great Lakes . One of the names reported by early explorers for Lake Malawi was "Lake Zambre" (probably a corruption of "Zambezi"), possibly because Lake Malawi is connected to the lower Zambezi via the Shire River. The Monomatapa story resonated with the old European notion, drawn from classical antiquity, that all
2788-646: The Zambian Government has failed to pay its dues and will not honor the outstanding amount owed to the Contractor, are not correct". On 10 May 2021, the bridge officially opened. During the opening ceremony, Botswanan and Zambian officials along side Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi and Zambian President Edgar Lungu congratulated the completion of the project. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi , Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi , and Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa were also present. The section of railway track across
2870-420: The Zambian government. Daewoo stated the issue has led to an industrial strike by the employees, and Administration Manager Hong Seouk Park stated that these financial constraints have made it increasingly difficult to maintain the company’s running costs. Botswana had made payment for the project but Zambia had not, meaning a total of US $ 14.84 million was owed. In May 2019, President Edgar Lungu of Zambia stated
2952-435: The ban on elephant hunting and decriminalising homosexuality . When Botswana's Attorney General appealed a court decision decriminalising homosexuality later that year, Masisi (then president) spoke out in favour of the court order. In early 2020, COVID-19 pandemic in Botswana has occurred during Masisi's time in office. The President responded to the pandemic by declaring a state of emergency on 31 March 2020. After
3034-467: The banks are low and reed-fringed. At places, however, and especially in the rainy season, the streams unite into one broad, fast-flowing river. About 160 kilometres (99 mi) from the sea, the Zambezi receives the drainage of Lake Malawi through the Shire River . On approaching the Indian Ocean, the river splits up into a delta . Each of the primary distributaries, Kongone, Luabo, and Timbwe,
3116-532: The bed of the river in the dry season, and these persist beyond Tete , where they are associated with extensive seams of coal. Coal is also found in the district just below Victoria Falls. Gold-bearing rocks occur in several places. The river flows to the southwest into Angola for about 240 km (150 mi), then is joined by sizeable tributaries such as the Luena and the Chifumage flowing from highlands to
3198-526: The biggest threat to its unity in more than five decades, following Khama's move to the opposition, accusing Masisi of authoritarianism. In the 2019 Botswana general election , Masisi received a 52.65% majority of the vote and received a majority of seats in the National Assembly . The 2019 Botswana elections were hotly contested, and the main opposition, the Umbrella for Democratic Change lodged
3280-454: The bridge was opened for traffic in May 2021, direct traffic between the two countries was possible only by ferry . The bridge takes advantage of the short 135-metre (440 ft) border the two countries share at the river, and is curved to avoid the nearby borders of Zimbabwe and Namibia . In August 2007 the governments of Zambia and Botswana announced a deal to construct a bridge to replace
3362-406: The building of dams changed that pattern completely. Downstream, the mean monthly minimum–maximum was 500 to 6,000 m (18,000 to 212,000 cu ft) per second; now it is 1,000 to 3,900 m (35,000 to 138,000 cu ft) per second. Medium-level floods especially, of the kind to which the ecology of the lower Zambezi was adapted, happen less often and have a shorter duration. As with
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3444-445: The calm stretches of the river, as well as Nile crocodiles. Monitor lizards are found in many places. Birds are abundant, with species including heron , pelican , egret , lesser flamingo , and African fish eagle present in large numbers. Riverine woodland also supports many large animals, such as buffalo, zebras , giraffes , and elephants . The Zambezi also supports several hundred species of fish, some of which are endemic to
3526-546: The confluence of the Luangwa (15°37' S), it enters Mozambique. The middle Zambezi ends where the river enters Lake Cahora Bassa , formerly the site of dangerous rapids known as Kebrabassa; the lake was created in 1974 by the construction of the Cahora Bassa Dam. The lower Zambezi's 650 kilometres (400 mi) from Cahora Bassa to the Indian Ocean is navigable, although the river is shallow in many places during
3608-646: The construction of the Kazungula Bridge at an estimated cost of US$ 260 million, as well as One-stop border facilities built on either side of the bridge. The project was stated to be financed partly through a loan of $ 80 million signed on February 2013 between Zambia and the African Development Bank , as well as between Botswana and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). At this meeting,
3690-701: The country to empty into the Indian Ocean. The Zambezi's most noted feature is Victoria Falls . Its other falls include the Chavuma Falls at the border between Zambia and Angola, and Ngonye Falls near Sioma in western Zambia. The two main sources of hydroelectric power on the river are the Kariba Dam , which provides power to Zambia and Zimbabwe, and the Cahora Bassa Dam in Mozambique, which provides power to Mozambique and South Africa . Additionally, two smaller power stations are along
3772-404: The course of the river, as well as the position of lakes Ngami and Nyasa , were generally accurate in early maps. These were probably constructed from Arab information. Mokgweetsi Masisi Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi ( / m ɔː k ˈ w eɪ t s i / ; born 21 July 1961) is a Motswana politician who served as the fifth president of Botswana from 2018 to 2024. He served as
3854-451: The declaration, emergency powers allowed Masisi to rule by decree for a period of 18 months to September 2021, despite protests from some opposition parties. In December, Botswana found evidence of a new strain, leading to a curfew being enforced from 24 December 2020 to 3 January 2021. After nearly two years of the State of Public Emergency, and threats of protests from the public and opposition parties, Masisi announced he would not renew
3936-469: The dry season. This shallowness arises as the river enters a broad valley and spreads out over a large area. Only at one point, the Lupata Gorge , 320 kilometres (200 mi) from its mouth, is the river confined between high hills. Here, it is scarcely 200 metres (660 ft) wide. Elsewhere it is from 5 to 8 kilometres (3 to 5 mi) wide, flowing gently in many streams. The river bed is sandy, and
4018-403: The economy away from its reliance on diamonds . Under Masisi's administration, the country may adopt austerity measures due to the dwindling supply of diamonds, Botswana's main export, a 45 percent youth unemployment rate , and what opposition politician have criticized as the country's first budget deficit in 40 years. In October 2019, Masisi was re-elected president after the BDP faced
4100-508: The eighth vice president of Botswana from 12 November 2014 to 1 April 2018. He was a Member of Parliament in the National Assembly for the Moshupa-Manyana constituency from 2009 to 2018. Initially having a good relationship with former President Ian Khama , who appointed Masisi as Vice President, the two later clashed over a ban on elephant hunting, and Khama has since accused Masisi of having "stifled dissent". Coming to power in
4182-442: The endemic Pungwe worm snake ( Leptotyphlops pungwensis ), and three other snakes that are nearly endemic - floodplain water snake ( Lycodonomorphus whytei obscuriventris ), dwarf wolf snake ( Lycophidion nanus ), and swamp viper ( Proatheris ). Several butterfly species are endemic. The north of the Zambezi basin has mean annual rainfall of 1100 to 1400 mm, which declines towards the south, reaching about half that figure in
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#17327765501104264-540: The existing ferry. Construction of the US$ 259.3 million project, which includes international border facilities in Zambia and Botswana, officially began on 12 October 2014 and was completed on 10 May 2021 by the South Korean construction firm Daewoo E&C . Opening was delayed due to transport issues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2013, the governments of Botswana and Zambia jointly invited bids for
4346-751: The great African rivers—the Nile, the Senegal , the Congo, and the Zambezi—were all sourced from the same great internal lake. The Portuguese were also told that the Mozambican Espirito Santo "river" (actually an estuary formed by the Umbeluzi , Matola , and Tembe Rivers) was sourced from a lake (hence its outlet became known as Delagoa Bay ). As a result, several old maps depict the Zambezi and
4428-457: The ground-breaking ceremony on the 12th of September 2014. At the ceremony held on the Botswana side of the Kazungula border, Zambian Vice–President Guy Scott and his Botswana counterpart, Ponatshego Kedikilwe welcomed press as well as stated that the cost would be US$ 259.3 million, be completed by 2018, and that the chosen contractor would be Daewoo Engineering and Construction . In 2018,
4510-598: The largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. Its drainage basin covers 1,390,000 km (540,000 sq mi), slightly less than half of the Nile 's. The 2,574 km (1,599 mi) river rises in Zambia and flows through eastern Angola , along the north-eastern border of Namibia and the northern border of Botswana , then along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe to Mozambique , where it crosses
4592-492: The lead role in a Gaborone production of Cry the Beloved Country . He has taken part in several South African films. In the 1980s, Masisi became a high school social studies teacher after graduating from the University of Botswana in 1984 in English and History. He taught at Mmanaana Secondary School in 1984 in Moshupa village before moving on to the University of Botswana in 1987 as a curriculum development specialist. In 1989, he went to Florida State University to obtain
4674-440: The middle. About 30 km below the confluence of the Lungwebungu, the country becomes very flat, and the typical Barotse Floodplain landscape unfolds, with the flood reaching a width of 25 km in the rainy season. For more than 200 km downstream, the annual flood cycle dominates the natural environment and human life, society, and culture. About 80 km further down, the Luanginga , which with its tributaries drains
4756-407: The native idea of this magnificent stream being the main drain of the country". Other historical records show that the river was called Kasambabezi by the Tonga people, which means “only those who know the river can bath in it.” a name which is still in use to this day. In Portuguese records, the "Cuama River" term disappeared and gave way to the term "Sena River" ( Rio de Sena ), a reference to
4838-413: The north-west. It turns south and develops a floodplain , with extreme width variation between the dry and rainy seasons. It enters dense evergreen Cryptosepalum dry forest , though on its western side, Western Zambezian grasslands also occur. Where it re-enters Zambia, it is nearly 400 m (1,300 ft) wide in the rainy season and flows rapidly, with rapids ending in the Chavuma Falls , where
4920-554: The opposition party. Mokgweetsi Masisi is the son of Edison Masisi (1921–2003), the long-time MP for Moshupa and many-time cabinet member. The younger Masisi grew up in Gaborone , attending Thornhill Primary School and Maru-a-Pula School . One of his three brothers, Tshelang , was the MP for Francistown West for many years, while another is a retired army general. He also has a sister, Phadi. In school, Masisi competed in soccer and tennis, but ultimately found acting to be his calling. In 1984, he won acclaim for his portrayal of
5002-476: The origins of the name; he was told it was named after a people. "The River Cuama is by them called Zambeze; the head whereof is so farre within Land that none of them know it, but by tradition of their Progenitors say it comes from a Lake in the midst of the continent which yeelds also other great Rivers, divers ways visiting the Sea. They call it Zambeze, of a Nation of Cafres dwelling neere that Lake which are so called." —J. Santos Ethiopia Oriental , 1609 Thus,
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#17327765501105084-421: The other is at Limulunga , which is on high ground and serves as the capital during the rainy season. The annual move from Lealui to Limulunga is a major event, celebrated as one of Zambia's best-known festivals, the Kuomboka . After Lealui, the river turns south-southeast. From the east, it continues to receive numerous small streams, but on the west, it is without major tributaries for 240 km. Before this,
5166-409: The project was "78% complete" and is optimistic that the project would be completed on schedule. By November 2019, consultant Mr. Kobamelo Kgoboko said the project was 91.92% complete, with the Botswana side being 98.7% complete and the Zambian side was 80.5% complete. It was also stated that 6 of the 8 pylons had been completed. However, the project was announced to be pushed back to June 2020, meaning
5248-441: The project was announced to be completed in six years, and the bidder would need to supply consultancy services, design reviews, production of bidding documentation, supervision of works, and post-construction services. By the following year, 40 replacement houses for Lumbo villagers were ready to be distributed as initial construction work had alerady started. According to the District Commissioner of Kazungula Pascalina Musokotwane,
5330-436: The project would open 10 months behind schedule. In October 2020, the Botswanan Ministry of Transport and Communications stated that bridge and approach ramps were complete, with the Botswanan border post being 98.44% complete at a cost of US $ 38.4million, and the Zambia border post being 99.40% complete at a cost of US $ 13.1 million. In December, Zambia’s Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Development Vincent Mwale stated
5412-422: The river course is the result of epeirogenic movements that lifted up the surface at the present-day water divide between both rivers. Meanwhile, 1,000 km (620 mi) east, a western tributary of the Shire River in the East African Rift 's southern extension through Malawi eroded a deep valley on its western escarpment. At a slow rate, the middle Zambezi started cutting back the bed of its river towards
5494-488: The river flows through a rocky fissure. The river drops about 400 m (1,300 ft) in elevation from its source at 1,500 m (4,900 ft) to the Chavuma Falls at 1,100 m (3,600 ft), over a distance of about 400 km (250 mi). From this point to the Victoria Falls, the level of the basin is very uniform, dropping only by another 180 m (590 ft) across a distance of around 800 km (500 mi). The first of its large tributaries to enter
5576-743: The river. Important species include cichlids , which are fished heavily for food, as well as catfish, tigerfish, yellowfish , and other large species. The bull shark is sometimes known as the Zambezi shark after the river, not to be mistaken with Glyphis freshwater shark genus that inhabit the river, as well. Upper Zambezi: 507,200 km , discharges 1044 m /s at Victoria Falls, comprising: Middle Zambezi cumulatively 1,050,000 km , 2442 m /s, measured at Cahora Bassa Gorge Lower Zambezi cumulatively, 1,378,000 km , 3424 m /s, measured at Marromeu Total Zambezi river basin : 1,390,000 km , 3424 m /s discharged into delta Source: Beilfuss & Dos Santos (2001) The Okavango Basin
5658-409: The source is a national monument, forest reserve, and important bird area . Eastward of the source, the watershed between the Congo and Zambezi Basins is a well-marked belt of high ground, running nearly east–west and falling abruptly to the north and south. This distinctly cuts off the basin of the Lualaba (the main branch of the upper Congo) from the Zambezi. In the neighborhood of the source,
5740-433: The south-west. The rain falls in a 4-to-6-month summer rainy season when the Intertropical Convergence Zone moves over the basin from the north between October and March. Evaporation rates are high (1600 mm-2300 mm), and much water is lost this way in swamps and floodplains, especially in the south-west of the basin. The river supports large populations of many animals. Hippopotamuses are abundant along most of
5822-463: The term "Zambezi" is after a people who live by a great lake to the north. The most likely candidates are the "M'biza", or Bisa people (in older texts given as Muisa, Movisa, Abisa, Ambios, and other variations), a Bantu people who live in what is now central-eastern Zambia, between the Zambezi River and Lake Bangweolo (at the time, before the Lunda invasion, the Bisa would have likely stretched further north, possibly to Lake Tanganyika ). The Bisa had
5904-659: The three presidents of Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa , Seretse Khama of Botswana, and Edgar Lungu of Zambia, inspected the progress on the Kazungula Bridge. During this meeting, it was agreed that Zimbabwe to be part of the phase II of the project. The involvement of Zimbabwe was revealed during a press briefing by Botswana Transport and Communication Minister Kitso Mokaila , Zimbabwean Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joram Gumbo , and Zambian Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela. In March 2019, construction stopped after Daewoo Engineering and Construction failed to be paid for its services by
5986-458: The upper Zambezi in 1853, refers to it as "Zambesi", but also makes note of the local name "Leeambye" used by the Lozi people , which he says means "large river or river par excellence". Livingstone records other names for the Zambezi—Luambeji, Luambesi, Ambezi, Ojimbesi, and Zambesi—applied by different peoples along its course, and asserts they "all possess a similar signification and express
6068-417: The watershed is not as clearly defined, but the two river systems do not connect. The region drained by the Zambezi is a vast, broken-edged plateau 900–1,200 m high, composed in the remote interior of metamorphic beds and fringed with the igneous rocks of the Victoria Falls. At Chupanga , on the lower Zambezi, thin strata of grey and yellow sandstones , with an occasional band of limestone , crop out on
6150-399: The west, aided by grabens ( rift valleys ) forming along its course in an east–west axis. As it did so, it captured several south-flowing rivers such as the Luangwa and Kafue. Eventually, the large lake trapped at Makgadikgadi (or a tributary of it) was captured by the middle Zambezi cutting back towards it, and emptied eastwards. The upper Zambezi was captured, as well. The middle Zambezi
6232-644: The wetlands are still an important habitat. The shrinking of the wetlands, though, resulted in uncontrolled hunting of animals such as buffalo and waterbuck during the Mozambican Civil War . Although the region has had a reduction in the populations of the large mammals, it is still home to some, including the reedbuck and migrating eland . Carnivores found here include lion ( Panthera leo ), leopard ( Panthera pardus ), cheetah ( Acinonyx jubatus ), spotted hyena ( Crocuta crocuta ), and side-striped jackal ( Canis adustus ). The floodplains are
6314-594: The whole construction process would be given to Botswana and would be jointly financed at a total cost of US$ 124.22 million and it is expected to be completed in four years, eight years shorter than previously stated. Under the agreement, the JICA would provide US$ 41.77 million, the ADB US$ 78.41, while the Government of Zambia would contribute US$ 1.57 million. Construction of large Zambia’s Kazungula bridge started after
6396-426: The world's most spectacular whitewater trips, a tremendous challenge for kayakers and rafters alike. Beyond the gorge are a succession of rapids that end 240 km (150 mi) below Victoria Falls. Over this distance, the river drops 250 m (820 ft). At this point, the river enters Lake Kariba , created in 1959 following the completion of the Kariba Dam . The lake is one of the largest man-made lakes in
6478-409: The world, and the hydroelectric power-generating facilities at the dam provide electricity to much of Zambia and Zimbabwe. The Luangwa and Kafue rivers are the two largest left-hand tributaries of the Zambezi. The Kafue joins the main river in a quiet, deep stream about 180 m (590 ft) wide. From this point, the northward bend of the Zambezi is checked, and the stream continues due east. At
6560-432: Was about 300 m (980 ft) lower than the upper Zambezi, and a high waterfall formed at the edge of the basalt plateau across which the upper river flows. This was the first Victoria Falls, somewhere down the Batoka Gorge near where Lake Kariba is now. The first European to come across the Zambezi River was Vasco da Gama in January 1498, who anchored at what he called Rio dos Bons Sinais (River of Good Omens), now
6642-479: Was in consonance with Section 7 of the University of Botswana Act of 2008, was for a period of five years. It followed the death of former President Quett Masire , who served as the Chancellor until he died on 22 June 2017. On 1 April 2018, he was sworn in as the 5th President of Botswana . After he ascended to the presidency, his predecessor Ian Khama left the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) to found
6724-470: Was re-elected to his seat in Parliament in October 2014, and was appointed Minister of Education and Skills Development on 28 October 2014. Masisi was appointed Vice President of Botswana by President Ian Khama on 12 November 2014 while remaining in his post as Minister of Education. President Khama appointed Masisi as the Chancellor of the University of Botswana on 5 July 2017. The appointment, which
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