ON 7th June 2024, I had the pleasure of meeting Sitwala Wamunyima, our esteemed Director of Forestry, at the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment. My appearance was less than impeccable, with wrinkled clothes that prompted an immediate apology from me. “This load shedding and electricity is a problem,” I explained. “You can imagine power goes at 4 and comes around 8, then goes at 17 only to return around midnight. Ironing is thus a challenge in these times.”
To my surprise, Sitwala chuckled and said, “Bwana Chaliafya, there is no problem of load shedding or electricity in Zambia. The problem is the trees. Look, we have all the installations for electricity; the turbines at the Kariba are all fine, the poles and transmission lines are all intact. The real challenge is that perhaps we do not have enough trees to sort out our water problem. What have we done or are we doing to our trees at the source of our water and along the river banks?”
This response caught me off guard, leading to a deeper conversation about the vital role trees play in hydroelectric power generation in Zambia.
The Vital Role of Trees in Hydroelectric Power Generation
Trees are fundamental to the hydrological cycle, which in turn is crucial for hydroelectric power generation. Trees contribute to the water cycle by absorbing water through their roots and releasing it into the atmosphere through a process called transpiration. This released moisture forms clouds, which eventually precipitate as rain, replenishing rivers, lakes, and reservoirs.
In Zambia, the Kariba Dam and other hydroelectric facilities depend heavily on consistent water levels to operate efficiently. During drought periods, like the one we’re currently experiencing, the lack of sufficient rainfall results in lower water levels, reducing the capacity to generate electricity. The degradation of forests, especially around water sources and riverbanks, exacerbates this problem. Without trees to maintain the moisture levels and support the water cycle, the region faces diminished rainfall, leading directly to the kind of power shortages we’re experiencing now.
The Drought and Its Impact on Power Supply
Currently, Zambia is grappling with a severe drought, which is manifesting as extensive load shedding. Most Zambians, understandably frustrated by frequent power cuts, do not see the root cause as land and forest degradation affecting the climate. Instead, they feel the immediate impact of electricity blackouts.
However, as Sitwala pointed out, our electricity infrastructure is largely intact. The turbines at Kariba are in good condition, and the transmission lines are well-maintained. The core issue lies in the inadequate water supply due to insufficient rainfall, which stems from deforestation and poor land management. Unless we address the “tree problem,” load shedding will continue to plague our nation.
The Charcoal Conundrum
Our discussion naturally flowed into the topic of charcoal. I suggested that we should eliminate charcoal production altogether, arguing that the concept of sustainable charcoal is practically untenable. Sitwala, however, held a different view, saying, “Bwana Chaliafya, I beg to differ, but let’s continue this discussion at a better time.”
Looking Forward
As we prepared to meet the Permanent Secretary, I reflected on the insights shared by Sitwala. It was heartening to note the dedication of our colleagues, who start their day at the office around 7 AM, well before the official 8 AM start time.
This conversation has illuminated the intricate link between our environment and power generation. It is not just an issue of electricity; it’s a broader ecological challenge. We need to rethink our approach to land and forest management if we hope to secure a stable power supply for the future. Trees, it seems, are not just part of the landscape—they are a critical component of our nation’s energy infrastructure.
The load shedding will persist as long as we overlook the importance of our forests. The solution lies not in temporary fixes but in sustainable environmental stewardship that recognizes the pivotal role of trees in maintaining our water supply and, consequently, our electricity generation capacity.
As we sat in the lobby at the permanent secretaries office, I overheard our director giving instructions to my colleague over a budget line to do with graduates employment, I stood up and left with joy. We have people that are thinking about the plight of foresters after all- the PROFEEL objective was thus energized in me and I overjoyed to know that some foresters will soon see employment and internship. This should translate into the Forestry Institute of Zambia membership becoming stronger.
About the author
Chaliafya Katungula does forestry advocacy for Communities Communication Transparency Accountability and Research-F(A+C+T+A+R)
7 Responses
I am so glad to see a journalist who is addressing this very pertinent matter. I’m even more elated to have the dept of Forestry finally give their valid input!!
I have long held the same sentiments even as I bemoaned the senseless chopping down of trees especially in our urban areas. A policy against this must be made and perpetrators held severally accountable. This policy must even enforce the planting of trees ( and no I do not mean palm trees) by the local citizenry; trees must be planted both in our yards as well as outside our yards (council trees). Lusaka is now painfully deforested even in neighbourhoods were shade was the norm.
We must do better and I’m glad this initiative has started with the media. Well done Diggers!!
Agreeable but find a lasting solution to power outages, cutting down of trees is and shouldn’t be the reason
There are personal decisions every Zambian will have to make particularly on charcoal, but it is sad only that the said important decision will not have to be made now due to the same existing power problem (It is a vicious cycle that we have put ourselves into). When our hydroelectric power supply, particularly with Zesco was good or just better than it is now, that is the time we should have been implementing the ‘weaning’ of the country off charcoal.
To say in this crisis situation that charcoal should be banned will appear unrealistic, though eventually I do believe it should, in the long run. At the failure of electricity, that is when people are seeing charcoal as the easy way out. But as said, it is a vicious situation we are in, and more so the senseless argument by producers of charcoal that it is their only available source of employment.
Liquefied gases for cooking should be made more available to Zambians as much as they are also not 100% friendly to the environment. The less evil will have to make sense than the greater one. For charcoal again, it should not be too easy to cut trees whether in managed forests or those that are not.
Can’t trees shouldn’t be the proplem
This is the importance of meritocracy and research to preservation and sustainability. Without fundamentals, ethics and principles we will be addressing matters on the surface symptomatically without addressing the core issues. Brilliant reporting.
the bare soils and erosion get worse and worse over time. Look at the massive sand dams in Yemen if you don’t believe me. When Yemen turned to desert their dams filled with sand and are still there in the desert to learn from. We need to teach our people how to manage their lands to regenerate them to be able to feed our growing populations and turn the circles of desert back into vibrant grass and forest ecosystems which support all life, human, livestock and wildlife and the plants and fungus we all depend on.
How a very few people will benefit from the building of a new dam but millions of people will benefit from a program to fill the current dam, by creating policy and programs to encourage national uptake of regenerative agriculture in the entire catchment basin.
I suspect all politicians will be scared of what I have written and none will have the courage to make this the most important political aspect for the nation, however a true leader will understand just how vital what I am sharing is and will get his nation behind him to make the changes necessary to improve both rural and urban lives. By changing how we manage the catchment we will not need to build more dams and we will not need to have power cuts as Kariba could have water flowing into it strongly for 5 months longer than is the current status. We will see who is brave enough to adopt this into the national dialogue. The people in the Copperbelt, Harare and Johannesburg are actually dependent on the people in Southern, Western and Matabeland Provinces who they currently look at as their backwards rural cousins, and yet these cousins through their collective actions hold the solutions to all their urban sophisticated cousins in their hands. The choice is clear the city cousins have to support their rural cousins with education, grants and outreach to change how they manage the catchments.
What we need to do is to fight environmental degradation. The government should identify all those using charcoal burning as a source of income, surround them, teach them on the effects, discuss with them on the alternative source of income preferably, train and empower them.
2. Community laws on environmental protection to be established.
3. Education of children from 2 years on environmental protection.
4. Revamp and provide alternate sources of energy.
5.Train communities on making charcoal out of other materials.