Zambia is experiencing severe drought conditions that are impacting a range of sectors from agriculture to water supply. The resulting strain on energy resources has led to significant disruptions in daily life, income, and safety. One of the most concerning consequences of these drought-induced energy shortages is their impact on the safety of girls.
The ongoing drought in Zambia has severely affected energy production, especially through its impact on hydropower. Hydropower relies on consistent water levels in reservoirs and rivers to generate electricity. Prolonged periods of reduced rainfall have led to critically low water levels, causing operational challenges for ZESCO, Zambia's primary electricity provider.
On September 1, 2024, Zesco announced via their Facebook page that households would receive only three hours of power per day due to these conditions. This substantial reduction in energy availability has led to significant loadshedding, which involves planned power outages to manage the limited electricity supply. The impact of load shedding is felt across households, businesses, and critical infrastructure, disrupting daily routines and economic activities in households where girls stay.
Load shedding has repercussions that extend far beyond mere inconvenience. Frequent and prolonged power outages disrupt essential services like healthcare, education, and security, disproportionately affecting vulnerable populations, including girls especially in peri-urban and urban areas.
Power outages hinder access to lighting for studying, limit the use of educational technologies, and disrupt school operations. In areas where schools rely on electric power for teaching and learning (subjects as metal work, technology studies) loadshedding can lead to diminished educational outcomes and fewer opportunities for girls to advance academically.
A study conducted by the University of Zambia highlights that during night-time load shedding, residential areas become enveloped in darkness, increasing safety risks for girls.
The lack of street lighting and security measures makes girls more vulnerable to harassment and violence, particularly when traveling to and from school or during after-dark activities. Load shedding also contributes to increased crime rates, with nearly 20% of residents reporting that thieves exploit the darkness to break into homes and attack those on the streets.
Additionally, home-based businesses reliant on electricity, such as barber shops, hair salons, and vendors of perishable goods, suffer from significant disruptions. This has led to increased prices for essential commodities that trickle down to the girl.
One of the less discussed but critical impacts of load shedding is its effect on menstrual hygiene. Frequent power outages are linked to interruptions in water supply for households reliant on municipal sources.
Girls and women often bear the responsibility of fetching water from alternative sources as well as sourcing for firewood, adding to their daily labor burden. The inconvenience of accessing water affects menstrual hygiene practices, as reliable water supply is crucial for maintaining proper hygiene during menstruation. This challenge is compounded by the difficulty of cooking using alternative methods like braziers and firewood during periods of load shedding.
According to the SAFIGI Holistic Safety Blueprint, "environmental safety" refers to  measures taken to preserve the physical surroundings and ensure the places around us are habitable. Environmental Safety signifies a balance between the human society, the places we dwell in, animals and the natural world. Ensuring the protection of people and resources from environmental hazards and sustainable practices that do not compromise future generations.
"Holistic safety" encompasses a broad approach to safety that integrates the state of experiencing internal wellness and external protection. Internal safety includes wellness relating to the mind, culture, and emotions; whilst external safety involves protection of the body, society, and the environmental aspects, aiming to create a secure and supportive environment for all individuals.
In the context of drought and load shedding, holistic safety involves addressing not just the immediate impacts of energy shortages but also the broader implications for health, security, and well-being. This includes ensuring safe menstrual hygiene practices, protecting educational opportunities, and safeguarding against increased risks of violence and crime.
Addressing the Challenges
Addressing the negative impacts of drought on energy provision and ensuring the safety and welfare of girls require a holistic strategy. To mitigate the adverse effects of drought on energy supply and support the safety and well-being of girls, a comprehensive approach is necessary:
Diversification of Energy Sources:Â Investing in alternative energy sources, such as solar or wind power, can reduce reliance on hydropower and enhance resilience to drought conditions.
Energy Efficiency Measures:Â Implementing energy-efficient technologies and practices can help maximize the use of available resources and minimize the frequency and duration of loadshedding.
Community-Based Solutions:Â Local initiatives, such as solar lighting projects and educational programs, can improve safety and provide alternative solutions in areas affected by energy shortages.
Policy Support:Â Governments and organizations should develop and prioritize policies that address the intersection of energy, education, and safety, ensuring adequate support for vulnerable populations, including girls. This could also mean subsidizing renewable energy costs to make them affordable for the most marginalized.
Written by Chintu Masanta
Chintu Masanta is an Advocacy Lead at Safety First for Girls (SAFIGI) Outreach Foundation. She champions mental safety and environmental safety as key themes of her work. Her area of focus is inclusion of young people who are Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEET).
Thank you for this masterful piece on loadshedding and it's effects on girls safety, Chintu.