The National Water Resources Authority (NWRA) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Irrigation and Water Development informs the general public of the water rise in Lake Malawi. The water level has taken an upward trajectory for the past 15 years.
The mean Lake level, as at 16th March, 2026, was 476.01 metres above sea level (masl), against 475.55 masl recorded on the same date in in 2025, representing an increase of 0.46m (refer figure 1 below). The increase is projected to reach to around 476.4 masl in May,2026 which would be the highest in this season.
In response, the NWRA in liaison with Ministry is currently releasing 1000m3/s (1,000,000 litres per second) at Kamuzu Barrage in order to help minimise the swelling of Lake Malawi.
NWRA operates the Kamuzu Barrage at Liwonde for the purpose of controlling the flow of water in Shire River in order to support the upstream and downstream users equitably. The rise in the Lake Levels is due to increased rainfall in the Central and Northern part of Malawi as well as Tanzania on the eastern side of Lake Malawi.
However, the NWRA would like to still remind the general public that it is against the law to carry out any activity like construction or cultivation below the 477 masl contour line along Lake Malawi and the 100 – year flood mark on any river (Section 29, Water Resources Regulations 2018). Any would be developer along the shores of Lake Malawi and buffer zones of any river should consult NWRA for technical guidance on the matter.
The NWRA wishes to assure the general public and all stakeholders that it will continue to monitor the Lake Malawi-Shire River system and subsequently update the general public.