Climate Crisis exposes girls to inhuman environment
By Regis Nhumba
The shortage of water in the Kariba dam due to little rainfall experienced in the past few years resulted in current long hours of power cut and shortage of water .This has led to my life as a student at Midlands State University a living hell especially in relation to the completion of my degree.
My name is Regis Nhumba and I am 24 years old. Currently I am in my final year doing Psychology. Early in 2022, the country’s only electricity generation company, The Zimbabwe Electricity Supplies Authority (ZESA) announced that the main electricity generation plant, the Kariba power station was facing challenges because the dam no longer had water for generating electricity. This led to load shedding which is being experienced by the whole country.
As a student living on campus this has made daily living a hustle and struggle at the same time. First of all I am a final year student in her final semester. I am very behind with my dissertation due to these long hours of power cuts. We experience power blackout for more than 12 hours.
At the University Library they no longer switch on the generator for electrical power most of the time like they used to. Thus I have less productive days because of the load shedding.
The school fees structure is made in such a way that it includes even the Wi-Fi for internet connection. Because of electricity challenges on campus, I am forced to buy data for my molile phone, a cost that is already covered in my fees.
For students who live off campus, they have to buy food to eat on a daily basis since cooking is not allowed. Money for buying the food ends up buying data to do most of the research. I cannot tell parents back at home as l know the financial situation at home and also that they have to take care of my other siblings as well. Therefore I end up surviving on what is known as 001 (one meal in the evening per day) or 101 (a meal in the morning and evening).
In order to cater for more than 2000 at the University campus borehole water is used. This borehole water is pumped by electricity into very large water tanks. Without electricity, there is persistent water shortages. Even when power is turned on there is no guarantee that water will be available. Because of that, I am forced to move around with a five litter bottle to beg for water
It is mostly difficult during my period. I have to endure for long without a bath and often times I just have to clandestinely take a bath at colleagues’ residents without the knowledge of the landlords. This sneaking around is really stressful as I keep on thinking what would happen to me if l get caught stealing water.
The climate crisis is really putting a lot of pressure on me and programmes to mitigate the crisis should take a priority.
