Table 3.1:- Rainfall Trends in Southern Africa 1967- 2000
1967-73	This six-year period was dry across the entire region. Some records show a severe drought in 1967.
1974-80	This period was relatively moist over much of southern Africa. In 1974 the mean annual rainfall was 100 percent above normal throughout the region.
1981-82	Drought in most parts of southern Africa.
1982	Most of sub-tropical Africa experienced drought.
1984-85	Near normal seasons, but drought strains from the previous three years were still felt in most parts of the region.
1986-87	Drought conditions returned to the region.
1988-90	Near normal seasons.
1991-92	Severe drought in southern Africa, excluding Namibia.
1993-94	Conditions improved.
1994-95	Many SADC countries were hit by the worst drought in memory, surpassing effects of the 1991-92 drought in some parts of the region.
1996-97	Normal rainfall for most of the region.
1997-98	Normal rainfall throughout the region including the north-east, although impacts of El Nino were significant.
1999-2000	Cyclone Eline hit the region and widespread floods devastated large parts of the Limpopo basin (southern and central Mozambique, south-eastern Zimbabwe, parts of South Africa and Botswana).
2001-03	Another severe drought in the SADC region, particularly from Zimbabwe northwards.
SOURCE Adapted from SARDC,Chenje, M. (ed), State of the Environment Zambezi Basin 2000