[Thematic Report] Impacts of Climate Change to ecosystems in Zimbabweby Makomborero Muzunde | 18-09-2020 21:18 |
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  All our five senses are detecting it, what is around us. Turn on the television you can see it, switch on the radio you can hear about it and go out of your home you can feel it. What is it? That we take it as a joke and not acknowledge its presence when we can feel it is here and it is also coming. If you do not know me, now you know I¡¯m Climate Change. I think most of the people in Zimbabwe can tell you that the climate has changed and also trigger the changes in the ecosystem. Bloomberg headline read, ¡°Water Levels at World¡¯s Biggest Dam Sink to Two-Decade Low¡± and what could be the cause for this low level of Lake Kariba. The lake is the biggest hydroelectricity source for both Zimbabwe and Zambia and these low levels led to the lower electricity generation in both countries. There was introduction of power load shedding in Zimbabwe which lasted up to 18 hours a day. The electricity shortage led to people look for other alternative sources of energy which are not sustainable. Deforestation was on its peek with people cutting down trees for firewood and thereby causing an imbalance in the ecosystem. Trees are habitat for many animals and they are significant in the ecosystems as they absorb carbon dioxide and release the oxygen. The droughts hit Zimbabwe in the four years are a sign of climate change. The rain season normally runs from late October to mid-April and for the past four years it is not what we expected. The drought sparked the human-wildlife conflict as people and animals will fight for the same resources. Taking Hwange National park as an example, the animals due to drought will come to human settlement in search for water and food as the park dries out. People end up killing the animals if not they are killed first. We are losing more than 500 elephants due to droughts induced starvations. The drought also cause the rise of diseases in the wildlife and among domesticated animals hence animals will die due to these diseases. Not for so long, Zimbabwe and its neighboring countries are still recovering from Cyclone Idai. Thousands lost their lives, animals died and left displaced and geographical landforms were not left out. In Chimanimani, Zimbabwe there were landslides which halved and washed away mountains and vegetation. The intense of the cyclones are on the rise since the sea water temperatures are rising according to scientists. We have to prepare for the climate change and also reduce our actions that trigger climate change. Imagine the Zambezi drying up with no water flowing at the Victoria Falls, no beautiful vegetation scenery and no animals on sight. Its unimaginable, terrifying and cannot believe it! References
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