Southern Africa is grappling with a devastating drought that has plunged nations into crisis, leaving them struggling with severe water shortages, widespread blackouts, and decimated harvests. The prolonged drought, fueled by the naturally occurring El Niño weather pattern, has triggered emergency responses in at least five countries, including Zambia and Malawi, as they anxiously await the rains, expected at the end of the year, for potential relief.
The situation is dire, with water levels at the crucial Kariba Dam, a major source of hydropower for the region, plummeting to a mere seven percent of its capacity. This has resulted in regular blackouts of up to 20 hours a day in the Zambian capital, Lusaka. The impact on agriculture is equally severe, with the all-important maize harvest predicted to be nearly 54 percent below average this year.
The crisis has underscored the critical importance of water access, especially as climate change continues to intensify and weather patterns become increasingly unpredictable. “The dry season is tightening its grip across Southern Africa, putting millions of lives at risk – and water is the key to survival,” emphasizes Robert Kampala, WaterAid’s Regional Director. “Multiple Southern Africa governments have now declared emergencies, demonstrating the utter urgency of guaranteeing universal access to clean water.”
One community in Zambia, however, offers a glimmer of hope. The Nteme community, southwest of Lusaka, has overcome many challenges posed by the drought by having access to its own clean water supply, carefully rationed between households and livestock. This lifeline is made possible by a water tower installed by the charity WaterAid, funded by Armani’s Acqua for Life project.
The community has implemented a self-imposed rationing system managed by a committee to ensure fair water distribution. “The community is benefiting in many ways – people have smaller gardens now, and the distances to access water have reduced,” says Andrew Mazuba, a farmer in the Nteme community and the community’s rationing manager. “If this system continues to work as intended, it will help us to continue to combat the effects of the drought.”
The impact of having access to clean water has been transformative for the community. “For us, the lack of water had a huge impact. We had to provide water for our livestock, which took almost the whole day,” says cattle herder Mugabe. “During droughts, things were even worse. The animals had to walk long distances, sometimes up to 10km just to find water. “With the new water system, my life and the lives of many others in the community have improved.”
The local care facility has also benefited significantly. Nurse Patness notes, “Before the tower, there were no taps inside or outside so it was difficult to maintain hygiene levels. Now, things are different. Mothers now no longer have to go outside to bathe after delivery; they can bathe from within the facility because of the water that is flowing there. We now use flushable toilets, which has really improved things. Before, we relied on pit latrines, and that wasn’t ideal, especially for the mothers after they delivered.”
WaterAid’s work in this region highlights the crucial need for global leaders to prioritize clean water access in their climate adaptation strategies. “World leaders must see this as a wake-up call and put water at the heart of all climate adaptation and financial decision-making at all levels – no one can adapt to a world without water,” concludes Kampala. The ongoing crisis in Southern Africa serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need for proactive measures to address water scarcity and ensure a sustainable future for the planet.