Ghosts of the Zambezi: How the Colonial Transformation of Lake Kariba Shaped Zimbabwe’s Contested Landscape

Explore the complex history of Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, from the displacement of the Tonga people and Operation Noah to the modern contest over land and tourism.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 16, 2026, 8:37 AM EDT

Source: Le Monde diplomatique

The Engineering Marvel and the "Little Trap" Constructed in the 1950s during the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, the Kariba Dam stands as a monumental feat of colonial engineering. Designed by French engineer André Coyne and inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II in 1960, the project harnessed the Zambezi River to create a reservoir spanning over 5,000 square kilometers. Today, the dam remains a strategic energy hub, with a generating capacity exceeding 2,000 megawatts. It feeds two massive underground hydropower stations that provide roughly two-thirds of the electricity required by both Zambia and Zimbabwe. However, the name "Kariba"meaning "little trap" in the local Tonga language foreshadowed the immense human cost of this technological triumph.

The Displacement of the Tonga and Operation Noah The birth of Lake Kariba necessitated the flooding of the Zambezi Valley, leading to the forced relocation of 57,000 Tonga people who had inhabited the fertile riverbanks for centuries. Displaced up to 100 kilometers inland, these communities were severed from the water source essential for their survival. While the human population was pushed out, a massive effort known as Operation Noah (1958–1963) focused on rescuing the region's wildlife. Led by chief game ranger Rupert Fothergill, the team saved over 6,000 animals, including elephants and rhinos, relocating them to newly established protected zones like Matusadona National Park.

Constructing the Myth of the African Wilderness The dual act of removing indigenous inhabitants while creating animal sanctuaries effectively "manufactured" a landscape that aligned with colonial fantasies. By the 1970s, the lake had been successfully rebranded from a technological project into a "water wilderness." Anthropologists observe that this transition depicted the area as a primeval, pre-human Africa, conveniently erasing the history of the Tonga people. This artificial wilderness served as a playground for the white minority, establishing a tourism infrastructure of resorts and fishing spots that flourished under the Rhodesian era.

Post-Independence Realities and Land Contestations Following Zimbabwe's independence in 1980, the white minority’s grip on the land began to loosen, eventually leading to radical land reform programs. Today, the shores of Lake Kariba are dotted with the remnants of this era dilapidated resorts...