Heavy Rains In Neighbouring South Africa Welcome

Monitor Editor | Monday January 18, 2016 14:51

The heavy rains in the North West Province are a welcome development indeed for especially for thirsty Botswana.

While not most of their water will surely not be coming our way, the heavy rains have however given us hope that at least a strategic dam in the north west province of South Africa, Molatedi Dam, would fill up and ensure that Gaborone start withdrawing water from that dam in  larger quantities to ease the current dire situation. In a year that has been predicted to be a difficult one, over the last week, some Botswana places such as Molepolole, have reported heavy downpours albeit with catastrophic effects.

Up North, the Shashe River has been trending on social media in flood, raising hopes that the northern dams which have become very strategic, will have the opportunity to replenish and see us through.

That doesn’t mean our problems  are over however as Southern Africa continue to feel the effects of this severe drought.

Neighbouring Zambia, which has relied on its water sources, in the Kariba Dam to  generate electricity at the Kariba hydro electric power, is for the first time failing to produce electricity simply because there are no rains and the Zambezi River is dry, consequently hitting the economy of Zambia in a manner never seen before, as any serious economic activity requires electricity.

Down south, we  also hope that recent rains in the outskirts of the city,  would eventually relieve Gaborone  of  the many unwanted guests, the cattle, whose numbers seem to be increasing by the minute as they search for greener pastures in  the city centre.

There is no doubt that  the rising number of cattle in the city as a result of the devastating effects of drought, brings with it increased danger of road accidents involving collision with cattle.