In 1912 Mr. H.S. Kergwin, the Native Commissioner of Chinhoyi advocated damming the gorge to provide water for irrigation. In 1914, Kergwin, plus Messrs, Randall and Howell, who were both irrigation engineers, plus a Mr. McGregor (an agriculturist) were joined by Sir Charles Metcalf at the site. Apathy appears to have set in after this visit as nothing was achieved.

The Electricity Supply Commission instigated an investigation for possible hydroelectric schemes to be started at Kariba and in 1941 funds were allocated. Mr. J.L.S. Jaffares conducted yet another survey of Kariba Gorge.  

As a result of this survey, a river gauging station was set up at Chirundu, as well as a camp sixteen miles downstream from the present dam.

Activity increased and river measuring parties were operating from Chirundu to the Victoria Falls. Water surveys and trial drillings of the riverbed and sides were carried out in various parts of the gorge.

Four possible sites were thought suitable and investigated more fully and found to be wanting. Interest was then founded on the present site of the wall.

Both Southern and Northern Rhodesia, as they were then, were in contention as it was thought the Kafue site in Northern Rhodesia was preferable to the one on the Zambezi. The question was solved in 1951 by a board of experts who all agreed that the dam be built on the Zambezi River.

In August 1955 the then Federal Government of Rhodesia and Nyasaland called for tenders for the construction of the dam wall. In February 1956 the contract for the construction of Kariba township was awarded to Richard Costain, and the main construction contracts for the wall and transmission lines to the Italian consortium, Impresit on 16^th July 1956.

The Kariba South Bank Power Station of the Kariba Dam hydroelectric scheme was officially opened by her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother on 17^th May 1960.