Background and formation of ULKRS

The Zambezi River was dammed at the Kariba Gorge in December 1958, to create the then largest man-made lake in the world. Full storage capacity was reached in September 1963. The Zambezi River, with a catchment area of about 1 193 500 km², is southern Africa’s largest river and is composed of three ecologically distinct zones, the Upper (1 078 km river length), Middle (853 km) and Lower Zambezi (563 km). Lake Kariba lies within the Middle Zambezi, between latitudes 16^O28'S and 18^O06'S, and longitudes 26^O40'E and 29^O03'E. The lake has a surface area of 4364 km² at the normal operation level of 484 m a.s. a length of 276 km, an average width of 19 km and an average depth of 29 m. The lake’s longitudinal axis roughly coincides with the political boundary between Zambia and Zimbabwe and shows a general SW-NE orientation. The main purpose of the dam was to generate hydro-electric power. However, the fishing and tourist industries became important a few years following the filling up of the lake. To date, the major attractions to Kariba are the fishing industry and tourism which thrives on the existence of wild animals and the recreation opportunities provided by the lake. Thus, the lake has over the years developed into a major socioeconomic and ecological center for both Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The University Lake Kariba Research Station (ULKRS) is an Inter-faculty facility of the University of Zimbabwe located at the shore of Lake Kariba. The Station came about as a response to creation of the lake and its main function was to study the ecology and limnology of the new environment and the impacts of establishment of a lake on the surrounding ecosystems and landscape. ULKRS was first opened in 1962 at Sinamwenda, 140km west of Kariba Town, using a £34,000 grant from the Nuffield Foundation. The Foundation further provided £7500 specifically for terrestrial ecology. Thus, the station was originally known as Nuffield Research Station.

During the Zimbabwe War of Liberation, it became extremely difficult to work at Sinamwenda. In order to continue with research work that was ongoing on the lake, the station was “temporarily” relocated to the current location (Kasese Bay in Kariba Town). In 1981 the University raised the status of the Nuffield Research Station, then a collaborative research program in the Division of Biological Sciences to a University Inter-faculty facility with salaried staff consisting of a Director, technical and maintenance staff. This facility was named the University Lake Kariba Research Station (ULKRS), comprising the new Kariba site and the Sinamwenda station. The University of Zimbabwe, built the infrastructure at a total cost of Z$ 0,5m and funds (SEK 5m) from the Swedish Agency for Research Cooperation in Developing Countries (SAREC) were used to equip the laboratories. Under this arrangement, SAREC facilitated attachment of four Swedish research fellows to ULKRS. These researchers worked on different topics in an attempt to describe the ecology of Lake Kariba. The work conducted under the SAREC Grant is summarized in a 1997 publication edited by Jacques Moreau.

Purpose of ULKRS

At the official launch of ULKRS at its current location, Professor W. J. Kamba (then Vice-Chancellor of University of Zimbabwe), redefined the role of the Station as an inter-faculty, national and international research facility whose core-business should be research and training. The first Director of ULKRS, Dr. Lars Ramberg, had prior to the official launch expressed the same sentiments by saying that “the research work that goes on in Kariba and Zambezi Valley in general is about the lives of the people who live there, their health, their natural resources, their beliefs and aspirations.”

ULKRS in Summary

• ULKRS is an inter-faculty facility of the University of Zimbabwe undertaking research in both natural and social sciences.
• ULKRS’s vision is to become a self-sustaining centre of research excellence in the region thus contributing to making Zimbabwe a knowledge-based society.
• Due to the harsh economic environment that prevailed in Zimbabwe in the last decade the centre lost its luster as a result of researchers’ brain drain and the deterioration of infrastructure i.e. buildings, boats, vehicles and communication that left the Station operating at very low capacity.  
• The centre as a multi disciplinary research facility is the only one of its kind in the area and is strategically located in an area where trans-boundary developments are taking place e.g. Mana Pools/Lower Zambezi, and the Zimbabwe, Mozambique & Zambia (ZIMOZA) Trans-Frontier Conservation Areas (TFCAs), and the Man and the Biosphere programme (MAB).
• Other programs that promote the participation of local communities in the management and sustainable use of natural resources are underway e.g. CAMPFIRE and fishing cooperatives which aim at poverty reduction thus improving the quality of life for rural communities.
• Several studies will need/have to be undertaken to understand, operationalize or enhance or mitigate the impacts of these developments.
• Furthermore the station is located in an area that is ideal for studies in climatic change dynamics and trials for mitigation purposes.
• The area is suitable for the implementation of the Convention on Biodiversity whose three core objectives include conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic materials.
• To participate in these developments, there is a need to rehabilitate the station’s infrastructure (buildings, boats and vehicles) and to replace obsolete equipment so as to attract and retain research staff needed to undertake the relevant studies.
• Thus, this document sets out the strategic plan for ULKRS reviewing the strengths, weaknesses, threats and opportunities and presenting a new philosophical outlook with respect to the vision, mission, values and objectives. Also set out are its proposed strategies and goals.
• The ultimate strategic goal for ULKRS is for greater recognition locally, regionally and internationally as a centre of excellence in natural, health and social sciences studies.
• ULKRS seeks funding to the tune of US$ 490 000 to rehabilitate the station at both the Kariba campus and Sinamwenda station and replace obsolete equipment

ULKRS will appoint five permanent research fellows and undertake exchange programs with other similar institutions to enhance its capacity as a centre of research excellence.