Effect of Load Shedding in Chinhoyi Urban Residential Areas, Zimbabwe

This paper presents the findings of the investigation carried out to establish the effects of load shedding in Chinhoyi Residential Urban areas, Zimbabwe. A questionnaire survey to assess the effects and establish the energy pattern and usage of alternative fuels during load shedding was conducted. The survey established that 60% of residence experienced losses in perishable food stuffs due refrigeration failure, 15% reported production downtime in their home industries with 10%having their electrical appliances such as television sets being damaged as a result of the power surges fashioned by the power outage. This has accordingly contributed in thinning the living standards of the residents. The survey also established a peculiar energy pattern and usage of alternative fuels for cooking and lighting during load shedding. Households in the low density areas of Chinhoyi displayed a wide energy matrix of relatively high quality fuels for both cooking and lighting. When compared to households in the high density areas, 55% of the households in low density cook mainly with LPG whereas 93% of households in high density areas cook exclusively with firewood. Use of candles was common for lighting in both residential sectors. Income for the residents was disproportionately eroded as a result of load shedding. The fraction of energy cost to income was found to increase from 16% without load shedding up to 64% for those in the low density and up to 49% for those in the high density areas. This has consequently impoverished the residents. Load shedding was also found to have coined household thieves with 65% of these being women who harvest wood illegally from farms and forests. This form of harvesting is uncontrolled and therefore unsustainable. The survey therefore concludes that women are unduly burdened by the power outage exercise and people in general have been reduced to poverty levels as they are left with dwindled income.