Cahora Bassa Dama Mozambique.Image credit zambezitraveller.com

ZIMSEC O Level Geography Notes: Natural Resources: Energy:The energy crisis in Zimbabwe:Measures

Measures have been put in place to try to resolve the energy crisis in Zimbabwe. These include:

  • Imports of electricity from countries overproducing it for example from South Africa through the Insukamini interconnector near Bulawayo.
  • From the giant Cahora Bassa scheme in Mozambique.
  • From the Mel HEP station in the DRC.
  • From Zambia’s Kafue and Mulungushi schemes.
  • Entering bilateral agreements with producer countries such as Kuwait to import oil and its products at concessionary rates.
  • Rationing the fuel at service stations.
  • Educational campaigns to enlighten the public to conserve petrol and diesel through reducing unnecessary journeys, sharing vehicles to and from work or to use public transport.
  • Use of transport with efficient fuel-burning engines.
  • Afforestation and reforestation programmes in rural area for example the CAMPFIRE programme.
  • Establishment of woodlots in rural areas.
  • Use of the tsotso and biogas stoves.
  • Use of energy substitutes for wood fuel such as solar power, biogas, coal and crop residues.
  • Building of the Hwange Phase II thermal power station.
  • Developing a new thermal power station in Gokwe North.
  • Construction of another HEP station at Batonga gorge.

However, this option is riddled with problems, just like the Mutapa gorge and Victoria Falls in that:

  • Building dams here would interfere with the Zambezi Valley national parks, safari areas and virgin, wild ecosystems.
  • This is a problem of conservation versus development.
  • The Zambezi River does not belong to Zimbabwe only but is shared with other countries such as Zambia, Angola, Botswana, Malawi and Mozambique.
  • All these countries must approve through the Central African power corporation (CAPCO) and the Zambezi Valley Authority (ZVA) for the HEP scheme to benefit Zimbabwe.
  • Zimbabwe lacks the financial resources required to build such a scheme, given the downturn in the economy.

To access more topics go to the O Level Geography Notes page