DESPERATE TIMES CALL FOR DESPERATE MEASURES

Sir,

The adage desperate times call for desperate measures permeates the mindset of many Swazis nowadays due to the apparent hydrological drought. Drought is a deficiency in precipitation over an extended period, usually a season or more, resulting in water shortage causing adverse impacts on vegetation, animals, and/or people.

Hydrological drought usually occurs following periods of extended shortfalls that impact water supply (i.e. stream flow, reservoir, lake levels and ground water) potentially resulting in significant societal impacts. SEC, a major electricity supplier in Swaziland operates four hydropower stations namely, Maguga Hydropower Station, Ezulwini Hydropower Station, Edwaleni Hydropower Station and Maguduza Hydropower Station, all serving as peaking and emergency power stations.

However, due to the torment of the recent hydrological drought, the supply of electricity around the country has greatly fluctuated.  As it stands these stations have a combined installed generations capacity of 60.4 MW and contribute (SEC’s internal generation) which is 15-17 per cent of the total energy consumed in the country, with the rest imported largely from ESKOM in South Africa, and some from EDM in Mozambique.

Due to the recent recurrent climate changes resulting in hydrological drought, Swaziland has received fewer rains, a predicament that has seen SEC failing to produce and supply sufficient hydropower in terms of electricity around the country.
 Swaziland has a population of approximately 1. 2 million, 60 per cent of which have access to electricity which literally formulates an expression that a greater percentage of the country’s population is viciously afflicted by the recent hydrological drought.  A wise man once said no company can manufacture a padlock without a key, which implies that there can never be a problem without a solution.

The question that one can ask from a philosophical point of view is; what can be done to eradicate these unbearable consequences that have emerged as a result of the recent hydrological drought, since desperate times call for desperate measures? In a bid to remedy the situation, many Swazis have succumbed to using primitive forms of energy which include among others wood fuel and candles to name some but just a few, since SEC has been compelled by the situation to introduce load-shedding. It is unfortunate though that research has revealed that these preferred sources of energy have got some long lasting effects. According to research conducted in 2013, three out of five fire accidents were reported to be candle fires, normally the fire started because it was too close to something that can burn.

Three quarters of these were associated with death and two thirds were associated with injuries. The candle was unattended or abandoned in almost one fifth of the accidents, unclassified misuse of the material or product was a factor in these fires. Five per cent of the accidents were caused by children playing with candles. Which brings us to a conclusion therefore, that the usage of candles as a solution towards hydrological drought is definitely not an option.
Another option could be wood fuel usage. A recent research has revealed that the Shiselweni region has a per centage of 58 per cent of households that rely on wood fuel, followed by the Manzini region at 52 per cent, Hhohho region with 50 per cent  and lastly Lubombo with 46 per cent. However, 46 per cent of the population that rely on wood fuel usage travel longer distances further than one kilometre to collect wood fuel.

This indicates that there is localised shortage of wood fuel in the country. Worse still the cutting down of trees for fuel usage contributes to deforestation, an element that greatly affects our ecosystem.
Which also brings us into a conclusion once again that fuel usage is definitely not an option towards hydrological drought. Although solar energy is the most preferred energy source, only about five per cent households have access to this energy source. 

Most households have cited financial constraints as a reason that prevents them from having this energy source. It is believed that this is due to the high capital cost associated with acquiring this technology.
 Nevertheless this is a fallacious pre-conceived notion since this technology is affordable and more so, it is environmentally friendly.

Companies such as Umusa Wekukhanya Investment offer solar energy products such as solar air conditioners, solar fridges and totally off grid (wiring a house using solar energy without hydropower), hence solar energy is the solution towards hydrological drought. 

Kwanele Sibiya,
Limkokwing student
      





        
 
                                            

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