Rain and Electricity

 

We are still officially in the rainy season.  In December and January there was more rainfall in Zambia than anyone could remember.  Roads became impassable and in some places flooding was very bad.  Normally, the rains should continue into March with a possible rain or two in April.  However, we have had very little rain for the last month.  This isn't good.  Even though there was so much before, we continue to need rain.  The ground here dries out very, very quickly.  Folks who got their crops in late will be in trouble, because they too need the rain.  So pray for more rain.

 

An increasing problem in southern Africa is electricity.  More power has been promised than is available.  As a result we often have cut-offs.  In South Africa the situation is becoming critical.  They have not maintained their plants for the last 20 years.  Due to lack of electricity they are shutting down coal mines.  But they need the coal to produce electricity.  A vicious cycle.  Foreign investors are pulling out of South Africa in large numbers, due in many ways to the shortage of electricity. 

 

They say that in Zambia the situation will continue for several years.  We are increasingly having the power shut off.  Where we stay, at present, they have a generator which is usually working.  They only use it from about 7pm-10pm. The cost of diesel to run it is high.   The other night the generator was broken so we were without power from about 3pm until about 9am the following day.  We can adapt in most ways pretty easily.  However, it does prove to be a challenge for Benedict who needs to sleep at night with a breathing machine.  We may have to get a small generator just for that. 

 

Benedict did get a little gas cooker so that we will be able to make dinners when the power is off.  It also makes it more important to explore wind and solar power.  The problem with some of these technologies is that they require more capital to set them up.  Over the long haul they would be cheaper but not initially.