Lake Kariba borderline between Zambia and Zimbabwe now marked with floating buoys

Zambia and Zimbabwe have completed the first phase of the Lake Kariba boundary demarcation by installing floating buoys.

The African Union (AU) Commission, through the African Union Border Programme (AUBP), and the German Federal Foreign Office have hailed the Republics of Zambia and Zimbabwe on the successful completion of the inaugural stage of the Lake Kariba boundary margin drawing exercise.

The installation of floating boundary buoys on Lake Kariba marks the first operational demarcation of an international boundary on a lake in Africa, representing a historic milestone in the implementation of the African Union Border Programme and a significant contribution to peaceful border governance on the continent.

The initiative was executed through the strong cooperation of the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, with technical support from the African Union Commission backed with financial support by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany.

Implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the initiative reportedly demonstrates how clearly defined international boundaries promote peace, prevent conflicts, enhance legal certainty, improve navigation and fisheries management, reduce accidental border crossings, and strengthen cooperation in the management of shared natural resources.

The African Union Border Programme vows to continue supporting Member States in the delimitation and demarcation of boundaries while promoting cross-border cooperation as a catalyst for peace, regional integration and sustainable development.

“The Lake Kariba initiative is a practical demonstration of this mandate and exemplifies the AU’s vision of transforming borders from barriers into bridges,” reads a joint statement.

The AU Commission and Germany commended the Governments of Zambia and Zimbabwe, the Surveyors General, the Joint Technical Teams, the Zambezi River Authority, the International Organization for Migration and all stakeholders whose dedication made the achievement possible.

As the boundary reaffirmation programme progresses towards completion, the AU Commission and Germany reaffirm their shared commitment to supporting AU Member States in strengthening peaceful border governance, preventing conflicts, fostering regional integration and advancing the aspirations of Agenda 2063.