The Tonga, the Kariba Dam, and the Angry God

International Rivers' Africa Program Director Rudo Sanyanga tells a powerful story about the Tonga people of the Zambezi River.

Please tell us the story of you and your river through prose, poetry or artwork, in an email or by mail. We would also love to receive short videos or audio recordings of your stories.

[charleschirwa]

I'm a full blooded Tonga Man and we exist very well here in our mother Land

[andysvikiro]

I once met one Tonga, old man in Zambia who also told me this story. He has some of his relatives on the Zimbabwean side, he says the lake separated them.

[munkombwestanley]

Am Tonga and am happy with the building of the dam . It has brought many benefits including electricity and fishing.

[EbenyMukanhairi]

If you once live or visit KARIBA register here!!!!

[PaulSexton-jcmd]

I helped make a Documentary on Lake Kariba three years ago. Whilst we were filming, l traveled to Siavonga, and met with the Chief of the Tonga in Zambia. We spent the day together, one very interesting question l asked him was, If the Kariba Dam disappeared would you and your People be Happy. His answer was very surprising he said a definite No! he said myself and the Tongas realize the growth and benefits the Dam has brought to both Zambia and Zimbabwe. We most certainly would not want to see the Dam disappear!

[markwinter]

All over the world development has come at some sort of a price or certainly some consequence. Kariba is no exception.
Today the dam offers far more benefit to the region than the costs that were incurred.

[Malacigla]

"The progress of rivers to the ocean is not so rapid as that of man to error." (Voltaire)
Great story, thank you for posting

[chrispinemukuka]

We have added a note to our rich history about the famous Kariba Dam along the Zambezi River.

[hakabilacollins-gtzs]

When Arabs conquered Pharaoh, Tonga left Nile River in AD3.
The went East coast and found India ocean, and they followed it until they met mouth of Zambezi River.
That's a big reason they are situated that area all along, since AD4.
No man ruled Tonga people, that's why they even fought white man with Spears.

[anthonyswart]

Families were not separated. They were given a choice of which side of the river / lake they wanted to live.

[TheZuluman]

The Tonga people are living large now, they are benefiting hugely from the fishing industry & irrigation schemes along the lake . She doesn’t know what she is talking about

[arotogtech]

No principality or power is equal in might to that of God, the Greatest of all. At God's single word of command, all things obey Him, including nyami nyami and the forces of chaos in the water.

[givenchobe]

The question is without the dam only with their nyamu nyamu god, were they going to be happy nobantu?

[Gordoneu]

Very few facts in this video. What's with the "Men without needs"? The Tonga people did not live in the gorge, they lived a long way upstream of the dam here the valley was wide and habitable. Even today nobody lives in the gorge downstream of the dam.

[taitha]

I have teenage memories of sneaking onto the wall and then hearing bullhorns, men with guns pointed at us from one side and, over us from the other, so we run away laughing hoping they would not shoot. Pretty dumb thing to do looking back.... But then I was just a boy and they did let us go in the end.

[TactaGhoul]

The Kariba dam and others like it supply 93% of Zambia's power, without hydroelectric dams the whole country would be in the dark. The dam is currently in a state of disrepair, however, since erosion of the foundation has severely weakened it. If the Tonga get their wish and the dam collapses, their land will likely be rendered unusable by the floodwaters and thousands will be killed.

[victorgoddard]

Thanks to men who constructed the dam. When I walked across the bridge I couldn't believe my eyes, it's gorgeous

[Huskyzilla]

"One side of the family was on one side of the river, and other sides were on the other side of the river. They had been separated. "

There's this thing called a boat... might wanna research what they are.

[Ava-ocdg]

I wish I knew why the dam was constructed for power generator?

[zavideos]

What are the tongas saying now since the dam is drying?