Editing Kariba Dam (section)

== Construction ==
The dam was constructed on the orders of the Government of the [[Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland]], a 'federal colony' within the [[British Empire]]. The consulting engineers Gibb, Coyne, Sogei (Kariba) (PVT.) Limited, a joint venture of consulting engineers, which included [[Sir Alexander Gibb & Partners]], whose team was led by Sir [[Angus Paton]],<ref>{{cite news|url= https://www.newcivilengineer.com/archive/obituary-sir-angus-paton-15-04-1999/  |title=Obituary Sir Angus Paton|date=15 April 1999|newspaper = New Civil Engineer|access-date=12 May 2025}}</ref> and [[Coyne et Bellier]], whose team was led by [[André Coyne]].<ref name="spurwing">{{cite web|url=http://www.spurwing.co.zw/facts_kariba.htm |title=Kariba Dam|publisher=Spurwing facts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091105204805/http://www.spurwing.co.zw/facts_kariba.htm |archive-date=5 November 2009}}</ref> The double curvature concrete [[arch dam]] was constructed between 1955 and 1959 by [[Impregilo|Cogefar-Impresit]] of [[Italy]]<ref name="spurwing"/> at a cost of $135,000,000 for the first stage with only the Kariba South power cavern. Final construction and the addition of the Kariba North Power cavern by [[Mitchell Construction]]<ref>Indictment: Power & Politics in the Construction Industry, David Morrell, Faber & Faber, 1987, {{ISBN|978-0-571-14985-8}}</ref> was not completed until 1977, due to largely political problems, for a total cost of $480,000,000. During construction, 86 construction workers lost their lives.<ref name="spurwing"/><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.industcards.com/hydro-africa-southern.htm | title=Hydroelectric Power Plants in Southern Africa | publisher=Industry Cards | work=Power Plants Around the World Photo Gallery | access-date=20 February 2014 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20090719030742/http://www.industcards.com/hydro%2Dafrica%2Dsouthern.htm | archive-date=19 July 2009 }}</ref>

The dam was officially opened by [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother]] on 17 May 1960.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C2039917|title=Opening of Kariba Dam by HM The Queen Mother, May 1960|publisher=National Archives|access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=PHmuseum: The Double Spiritual Nature of Lake Kariba |date=19 July 2021|url=https://phmuseum.com/news/the-double-spiritual-nature-of-lake-kariba|access-date=10 September 2021}}</ref>