Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Johannesburg (Agenzia Fides)- Interruption of electricity supplies are having serious repercussions on southern African countries. The situation is most critical in Zimbabwe, where people already suffer from an economic crises caused by government policies that pushed the inflation rate up to 1700% and left 80% of the active population unemployed. Already scarce industrial production has been paralysed by at least two power cuts in just four days affecting the entire country. Rail and road travel was also affected.
Zimbabwe imports 40% of its electricity from neighbouring countries but is behind in payments. The country has no hard currency and a serious shortage of food, fuel and consumer products. Torrential rains in various countries of south east Africa have worsened the situation.
Zambia too suffered a series of power-cuts which brought the country to a standstill, including activity at the principal copper and cobalt mines. Hundreds of miners in 3 copper mines were trapped underground for a whole night, and only freed when power from Democratic Congo was turned on. Due to lack of electricity part of Chililabombwe copper mine was flooded.
Because of growing demand for electricity in recent years Zambia, which produces electricity in a series of hydro-electric plants and used to export electricity, now has to import power. China which has major interests in Zambian mines, intends to help the country increase its production from 1,000 megawatt to 4,500 by 2010
Neither Zimbabwe nor Zambia have discovered the causes of the power-cuts, but local experts blame the fragility of the electrical system in all southern African countries, and in fact the area's economic giant, South Africa, also experienced massive interruption of power: in Cape Town 900 tourists were trapped for hours on the characteristic Table Mountain cable car. Difficulties of southern Africa electricity companies have affected neighbouring countries which import most of their electrical power from Pretoria, especially Botswana and Swaziland. The latter which imports 80% of its electricity from South Africa, has now turned to Mozambique to meet its needs. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 23/1/2008 righe 31 parole 407)
