Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema made a significant declaration on Thursday, designating the prevailing drought as a national disaster and emergency. This announcement comes as Zambia grapples with the aftermath of a cholera epidemic and struggles to address the severe impact of the drought on food production and power generation.
Similar to neighboring countries, Zambia, situated in southern Africa, is facing the brunt of a harsh drought intensified by the El Nino phenomenon, a factor exacerbated by climate change. President Hichilema, addressing the nation, emphasized the dire situation, highlighting that 84 out of the country’s 116 districts have been severely affected by the prolonged drought.
In response to the crisis, President Hichilema has instructed security forces to prioritize food production efforts. The government plans to redistribute food from surplus regions to those in dire need. Additionally, Zambia intends to escalate food imports and collaborate with UN agencies and local businesses to address the crisis.
The impact of the drought on agriculture is staggering, with approximately 1 million hectares of the planted corn crop—Zambia’s staple food—destroyed out of 2.2 million hectares. President Hichilema underscored the far-reaching consequences on various sectors such as agriculture, water resources, and energy supply, posing a threat to national food security and the livelihoods of millions.
The energy sector has not been spared, with a looming deficit in electricity production anticipated to reach around 430 megawatts, potentially escalating to 520 megawatts by December. The decline in water levels at the Kariba Dam, a primary source of hydroelectric power shared with Zimbabwe, has exacerbated the situation. To mitigate power shortages, Zambia plans to import electricity and implement rationing measures for its population of approximately 20 million.
Zambia’s recent cholera outbreak, claiming over 400 lives and infecting more than 10,000 individuals, has compounded the country’s challenges. President Hichilema acknowledged the weariness among Zambians facing a multitude of crises, dubbing the coronavirus, cholera, and the ongoing drought as a “triple tragedy.”
While Zambia has taken proactive measures, other countries in southern Africa are also confronting severe challenges due to El Nino’s influence. The United Nations Food Program Global agency has noted alarming conditions in parts of Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Malawi, Angola, and Mozambique, with some areas experiencing the driest February in four decades.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has forecasted a dire situation, estimating that 20 million people across Africa will require food aid between January and March. The impact of El Nino is expected to prolong food insecurity in regions such as Zimbabwe, southern Malawi, parts of Mozambique, and southern Madagascar until the onset of 2025, according to USAID’s famine early warning systems.
