Zambia’s Worst Drought in 20 Years Worsens Energy Crisis, Threatens Economy

Lusaka, Zambia – Zambia is facing its worst drought in 20 years, leaving millions of people without electricity for extended periods. The severe energy crisis is expected to worsen the country’s already fragile economy and lead to massive job losses.

On average, millions of people across the country are enduring up to 21 hours of power cuts, locally known as load shedding. Taonga Zulu, a Lusaka resident who runs a family farm business, has seen her livelihood severely impacted by the power cuts. "It has been nearly impossible to manage the chicken run properly as we rely on electricity for various aspects of their care," she said. "The lack of power has also prevented us from pumping water, which means our farm is slowly turning into a desert."

The Zambia Association of Manufacturers, which represents the interests of the country’s factories, has also been affected by the energy crisis. Association president Ashu Sagar said big companies are struggling with the cost of running alternative diesel-powered generators, while smaller companies have no energy source at all. "So, the impact on the manufacturing sector is quite big in that small companies that probably could have no capacity to invest in alternative energy solutions like diesel generators have had to curtail their manufacturing operations," he said.

Zambia’s only public power utility company, ZESCO, has said it does not have enough power to supply all hospitals. Media reports indicate that some hospitals are turning patients away due to the lack of electricity and water. ZESCO spokesperson Matongo Maumbi attributed the national shortfall of almost 1,300 megawatts to the country’s heavy reliance on hydropower generation, which has been affected by the drought.

Economist Emmanuel Zulu warned that the energy crisis is dragging down the economy and pushing up unemployment. "There is a slump in output and productivity in the economy and this is going to affect our GDP as well as employment because most people will be left with nothing to do," he said.

Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has acknowledged the severity of the situation and is working to address the crisis. In his state of the nation address to parliament, he said his government is implementing a number of interventions to enhance resilience and reduce dependence on hydroelectric power. "We are promoting alternative sources of energy," he said.

Energy expert Johnstone Chikwanda is optimistic that new measures, such as the removal of bureaucratic hurdles that discouraged private companies from investing in energy production, will yield results in the near future. "Looking at the extent of the measures which are currently being implemented and the strong praxis of leadership driving the energy sector reforms, I am convinced that this crisis is being invested better than how we previously handled the previous crisis," he said.

The regional drought, worsened by climate change and the El Nino weather pattern, has also threatened national food security, water, and energy supply. According to the United Nations, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Malawi are among the countries in Southern Africa most affected by the drought.