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CAVERNDISH UNIVERSITY ZAMBIA

SCHOOL OF ARTS EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS OF LOAD SHEDDING IN

LUSAKA’S KALINGALINGA TOWNSHIP

BY

Zuze Banda

004-953

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DECLARATION

I Zuze Banda do hereby declare that this research report presents my own work and that to the

best of my knowledge; no similar work has ever been previously done or used to submit for an

award of a degree at this university or any other. In this research, where the work of another

scholar or academician was used, I have fully acknowledged with precise references.

Signed ………………………………………. Date……………………………………

Certified by: ………………………………………………………………………………

(Supervisor)

........................ ......................

Signature Date

All rights reserved, no part of this paper shall be reproduced, copied or reprinted without

the author’s prior authorization.

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DEDICATION

I dedicate this piece of work to my treasured family for their philosophical source of inspiring

words and strength that they had solidified to me during the period of research. In particular I

wish to devote this piece of academic work to my late mother for her provoking thoughts,

understanding, care and love.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to pass my profound gratitude to the creator God for the provision of life in

abundance, love and ever ceasing kindness and inspiration for making it very possible for the

commencement and accomplishment of this final document.

It has only been through much concentrated efforts with total determination that has seen me

reaching to this level. However, that alone could not have guaranteed the much needed success

without the recognition of members of the faculty, family and friends who provided insightful

help throughout this work.

In view of the aforementioned, I would like to give profound gratitude to my supervisor Mr.

Chimuka Nachibinga and many thanks to the colleagues at Cavendish University and beloved

friends for their relentless work and well-thought inputs as well as their valuable support

rendered to me during the period of study especially on the preparation of this research report

during the covid-19 pandemic.

In addition, I give thumbs up to all my classmates and lecturers, I thank each and every one of

you, and indeed I wish all of you the best of luck.

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Table of Contents DECLARATION .......................................................................................................................................... ii

DEDICATION ............................................................................................................................................. iii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................................................... iv

CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background ................................................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................................. 2

1.3 Research Objectives ...................................................................................................................... 2

1.3.1 General Objectives ................................................................................................................ 2

1.3.2 Specific Objectives ............................................................................................................... 3

1.4 Research Questions ....................................................................................................................... 3

1.5 Hypothesis of the Study ................................................................................................................ 3

1.6 Justification of the Study............................................................................................................... 3

1.7 Limitations of the Study ................................................................................................................ 3

1.8 Conceptual Framework ................................................................................................................. 4

1.9 Theoretical Framework ................................................................................................................. 6

CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW ............................................................................................... 7

2.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 7

2.1 Relationship between Load Shedding and the Rate of Crime ....................................................... 7

2.2 Effect of Load Shedding On Access to Health Services ............................................................... 8

2.3 Effect of Load Shedding versus Academic Performance ............................................................. 9

CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 11

3.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 11

3.1 Research Design ........................................................................................................................ 11

3.2 Target Population ........................................................................................................................ 12

3.3 Sampling Design and Sample Size ............................................................................................. 12

3.4 Method and Techniques of Data Collection................................................................................ 12

3.5 Ethical Consideration .................................................................................................................. 12

CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS .................................................................... 14

4.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 14

4.2 Demographic data of respondents ............................................................................................... 14

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4.3 Influence of Load Shedding on the Rates of Crime .................................................................... 17

4.4 Impact of load shedding on access to Health Services ............................................................... 19

4.5 The impact Load Shedding on Academic Performance .............................................................. 20

4.6 Influence of Load Shedding on Extra-Expenditure. ................................................................... 22

4.7 Impact of Load Shedding on Business Performance .................................................................. 23

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF RESULTS ........................................................................................ 1

5.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 1

5.2 Influence of Load Shedding on the Rate of Crime ....................................................................... 1

5.3 Impact of Load Shedding on Access to Health Services. ............................................................. 3

5.4 Impact of Load Shedding on Academic Performance .................................................................. 6

5.5 Influence of Load Shedding on Households’ Alternative Expenditure. ....................................... 8

5.6 Effects of Load shedding on Small Scale Business Performances ............................................... 9

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .......................................................... 11

6.1 Conclusions ................................................................................................................................. 11

6.2 Recommendations ....................................................................................................................... 13

REFERENCES ........................................................................................................................................... 15

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................ 16

Appendix I: Research Action Plan .......................................................................................................... 16

Appendix II: Letter of Consent ............................................................................................................... 17

Appendix III: Semi structured interview Guide for the selected households in Kalingalinga Compound.

................................................................................................................................................................ 18

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CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

In today’s world, load shedding is among the numerous social environmental effects that the

world over has been faced with. Jayalath and Wijayatunga (2004), hints that some countries have

not experienced serious load shedding compared to others chiefly because they use other sources

of energy while others are along the equatorial region which receives abundant rainfall. Eskom

(2016) asserts that load shedding is a last resort measure to prevent the collapse of the power

system at a given area, it maybe the whole country or maybe a specific part of the particular

country. When there is insufficient power station capacity to supply the demand (load) from all

the customers, the electricity system becomes unbalanced, which can cause it to trip out country-

wide (a blackout), and which could take days to restore. When power is insufficient, urgent

measures need to be taken, these measures may include among others, increasing supply or

reducing demand to bring the system back into balance. As the difference between supply and

demand becomes small, this refers to the system becoming “tight”. This implies that action has

Africa as a continent has not been exempted where load shedding is concerned. In the past few

years, in Southern Africa for instance, the power outages happen for hours at a time and they

continue throughout the day and electricity tariffs continue to rise even though there are ongoing

power outages thereby increasing individual household expenditure on alternative energy as

some of the lower class, poorer areas of the region experience up to 20 hours of load shedding

each day. The massive load shedding in Southern Africa has been reflected by the mining

Industry’s severe stress, which has resulted in eventual substantial job losses from some mineral

industries (Montalto2015). A lack of maintenance and a lack of building of newer power stations

to meet the demands of the people have led to power cuts that last up to 16 hours a day in most

countries the of region. The power crisis is expected to last for at least the next ten years (Eskom,

2016).

Zambia has also been hit harder than ever before by load shedding starting in the year 2013. This

has hampered and jeopardized progress in Zambia’s development sectors both directly and

indirectly. Jobs have been lost, many people have been reported having lost their beloved ones in

hospitals, pupils and students have also been affected greatly and many people in compounds

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such as kalingalinga have been victims of attacks especially when power cuts last for longer

hours during the night. The reasons behind load shedding in Zambia are not farfetched; for this is

simply due to the fact that Zambia heavily depends on hydro-power as it is the case with some

neighboring countries. With a serious change of climate, the rainfall pattern has been disturbed

culminating into detrimental shortages of water supply and consequently affecting the generation

of electricity (Chisanga, 2015).

Some scholarly works on load shedding have chiefly concentrated on investigating the economic

impacts of load shedding (Montalto, 2015 and Eskom, 2016). This has however, left a big

question hanging and indeed a deep concern as to whether load shedding has impacted the

environment either negatively or positively in other aspects such as the social aspect. It is against

this backdrop that this research will endeavor to investigate the social-environmental impacts of

load shedding on selected households in Kalingalinga compound.

1.2 Statement of the Problem

There has been no firm conviction about the social-environmental effect of load shedding in

Kalingalinga Compound. In a few years back, Zambia has had a massive increase in the demand

for electricity supply while its generation capacity has remained unchanged. This situation has

resulted into electricity supply shortage (Engineering Institution of Zambia, 2015). Starting 2013,

Zambia has been hit harder than before by load shedding and the reason for this situation has

been attributed to insufficient water in the reservoirs at Kariba and Itezhi-tezhi Dams due to low

average rainfall experienced by the country in the recent past. Load shedding averages up to 6-12

hours per day and has affected the day to day activities of residents of which Kalingalinga is no

exceptional. Due to the ignorance by residents on the social-environmental impact of load

shedding there has been no driving force to raise the problem to the government. Therefore, the

government has remained reluctant to include social environmental effects of load shedding on

their agenda.

1.3 Research Objectives

This study was guided by the following general and specific research objectives:

1.3.1 General Objectives

To assess the social-environmental impact of load shedding in Kalingalinga Township .

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1.3.2 Specific Objectives

i. To assess the influence of load shedding on the rate of crime in Kalingalinga Township .

ii. To explore the impact of load shedding on access to health services in Kalingalinga

Township.

iii. To examine the impact of load shedding on Learner’s academic performance in

Kalingalinga Township.

1.4 Research Questions

In line with the specific objectives this study sought to answer the following questions:

i. What has been the influence of load shedding on the crime rate in Kalingalinga Township

?

ii. How has load shedding affected the provision of health services in Kalingalinga

Township ?

iii. In what ways has load shedding affected Learner’s academic performance in

Kalingalinga Township ?

1.5 Hypothesis of the Study

H0: Load shedding has no effect on the socio-economic environment in Kalingalinga Township.

H1: Load shedding has an effect on the socio-economic environment in Kalingalinga Township.

1.6 Justification of the Study

Regardless of some research that have been done on load shedding and the control, The

Economic Association of Zambia (2015) notes that the social-environmental effect of load

shedding seem to have continued to manifest in Kalingalinga Compound. It is within this belief

that the researcher feels that this research should be undertaken as it will be of great significance

in attempting to come up with potential remedial mitigation measures that would at least in one

way or the other address the socio-environmental effect of load shedding not only to the people

of Kalingalinga but Zambia as a whole as well as the world at large.

1.7 Limitations of the Study

In this study not all the entire population of kalingalinga was employed in the study. Because of

a limited sample size that was employed in the study, the views and opinions of the study

participants may not be taken to represent the general views and opinions of the entire

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population. Additionally, the study findings may not be generalized in other settings outside

Kalingalinga compound. However, the research did everything to present accurate results.

1.8 Conceptual Framework

This section gave a detailed description of the key concepts which were relevant to the study.

The concepts include load shedding and Social-Environmental effect. Thereafter, a diagrammatic

representation was given to illustrate the linking concepts of the study.

Firstly, Load shedding, which refers to a measure taken by power utility companies where

electrical supply is rationed in order to have a balanced supply. Load shedding often time is a

last resort to prevent the collapse of the power system countrywide due to insufficiency of power

station’s capacity to supply the demand (load) from all the customers (Eskom, 2015).

Secondly, the social-environmental impact can be viewed as the series of consequences resulting

from the interaction existing among man, society and the environment. Old literature records

many main changes on the human journey on earth, from gatherers to producers of objects,

foodstuffs and environments where humans all engage in different forms of social interaction

regardless of the social structure established by the group (Martínezalier, 2006).

Zambia’s electricity generation mix is dominated by hydro generation which accounts for more

than 95 per cent. The electricity generation mix is comprised of hydro, diesel, thermal, solar and

Heavy Fuel Oil. ZESCO owns the bulk of the generation stations while the rest are owned by

Independent Power Producers. To date the Total electricity generation is about 450 megawatts

while the countries demand stands at 1,650 megawatts which has exceeded the country’s

generation capacity with about 1200 megawatts. This has led to take stringent measures of load

shedding by ZESCO. The shortage of electricity is caused by many factors among others,

increased demand of electricity by various consumers (IRENA, 2013, Ministry of Energy and

Water Development (MoEWD), 2015).

On the other hand Climate Change may influence load shedding. By definition Climate Change

affects unpredictable rainfall patterns in isolated regions, increase in heat waves, floods,

droughts, among extreme weather patterns (Mathoka, 1998). This assertion of low rainfall has

led to low levels of water at dams for hydro-electrical power production a load shedding effect.

As observed by Malambo (2015), and Ngosa (2015), the reduction in generation has been

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necessitated by the low water levels in our reservoirs as a result of the poor rainfall experienced

during the 2014/2015 rain season. This therefore means that load shedding will be carried out on

a rotational basis throughout the country.

SOCIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL

IMPACT

LOAD-SHEDDING

Social Environment Physical Environment

Economic Environment

Community

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1.9 Theoretical Framework

Broadly speaking in research, theories and principles act as a foundation for analysis because

they are the perspectives which guide decisions. However, in order for theories to be useful, they

must be directed towards a common set of goals. Principles are the common goals that each

theory tries to identify in order to be successful.

This study was be guided by Ajzens theory of planned behavior. According to this theory, human

behavior can be looked at from three fronts: behavioral beliefs which are beliefs about the likely

outcomes of the behavior and the evaluations of these outcomes; normative beliefs which beliefs

about the normative expectations of others and motivation to comply with these expectations;

and control beliefs which are beliefs about the presence of factors that may facilitate or impede

performance of the behavior and the perceived power of these factors.

In relation to the subject of the research, the three kinds of consideration helped change

behavioral patterns concerning the social-environmental impacts of load shedding in

Kalingalinga Compound. In order to manage the social-environmental impacts, there is need for

the residents to know the importance of using other alternative sources of energy and adjust from

their abusive power use tendencies.

Additionally, in their respective aggregates, behavioral beliefs about power supply can produce

favorable or unfavorable attitudes towards electricity use. Nevertheless, normative beliefs result

from perceived social pressure or subjective norm; and control beliefs can give rise to perceived

behavioral control. It is through this thinking that issues to do with escalated crime rates,

academic performance, expenditure on alternative sources of energy, small-scale business

performances and access to health are to be addressed through environmental education methods

and approaches to achieve behavioral change (Ajzen, 1971).

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CHAPTER TWO: LITERATURE REVIEW

2.0 Introduction

This chapter reviewed past literature that was related to this study. The chapter included work

done at world, Africa and national level.

2.1 Relationship between Load Shedding and the Rate of Crime

The 21st century has been faced with a lot of social-environmental problems which include load

shedding. Some countries have not experienced serious load shedding compared to others chiefly

because they have other sources of energy while others are along the equatorial region which

receives abundant rainfall that helps to generate hydro-electricity (Jayalath and Wijayatunga,

2004).

It has been highlighted that a relationship exists between load shedding and the rate of crime in

many countries worldwide. For example, in Asia Nepal to be precise, Safer World (2012)

ascertains that load shedding which leaves many streets and houses unlit during night hours is a

key factor fueling an increase in crime. When there are blackouts in the streets, thieves increase

their criminal activities. Pakistan is no exception of this scourge of load shedding. The

correlation between load shedding or power outages is evident in Pakistan and it is argued that

outages increase crime or robbery (Cerny, 2013). However, even though the relationship

between load shedding and crime is evident, the literature reviewed has not highlighted whether

or not crime rates were high before load shedding or not. The literature reviewed has not given

statistical evidence to support its argument.

Africa as a continent has not been spared from the problems that come with load shedding.

Research done on the Southern African countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana and South Africa

all indicate that load shedding has had its own consequences on their progress. Zimbabwe has

been affected immensely by load shedding. With a collapsing economy, it shouldn’t be too much

of a surprise that Zimbabwe has experienced its fair share of power cuts. A lack of maintenance

and a lack of building of newer power stations to meet the demands of the people have led to

power cuts that last up to 16 hours a day. The power crisis is expected to last for at least the next

ten years (Eskom 2016).

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Zambia is in the middle of a crippling electricity crisis as the country grapples with a 560 MW

power deficit, a situation likely to only get worse as demand for electricity grows by 200MW

annually (EIZ, 2015). This has led Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) resort to a

countrywide power rationing mechanism in order to preserve the limited water available for

power generation through the 2015/16 rainy season. Load shedding greatly influences the rate of

crime in Zambia. Casual observations reveal that outages provide a recipe for illegal and

criminal activities especially in areas which have load shedding at night times. Chanda (2015)

confirms that the increase in crime levels have been tied to the increased load shedding that is

seen as an opportunity for criminals to pounce on unsuspecting individuals. However, it must

also be noted that sometimes, crime can cause power outages. For example, criminals may target

some residential area and temper with the power supply leading to the same area so as to create

an apparent load shedding to facilitate their criminal activities.

Load shedding causes industrial stress which prompts industries to retrench their employees

(Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) (2015).Retrenchment and job losses exacerbate the

issue of unemployment leading to people resorting to desperate and illegal means of survival

such as stealing, robbery and so on. However, criminal activities may be there even when people

are employed; that is, if their income is too low to support their daily family needs.

2.2 Effect of Load Shedding On Access to Health Services

Whereas businesses and households scrounge and struggle to deal with massive load shedding,

the risks it poses for health facilities in general and hospital patients in particular are far greater.

Electricity is essential for public health facilities in that when the supply is unstable it could be

fatal for patients undergoing emergency treatment, surgery and those in intensive care.

Additionally, organs, vaccines and medication that need to be refrigerated can also spoil or

become ineffective. Even though, it is always prudent and advisable for health institutions to

have automatic alternative sources of energy (electricity supply) such as generators to cushion

any unforeseen power cuts, load shedding has greatly impacted negatively on health service

delivery across the world. However, it is imperative to mention that in most cases, most regions

of the world that are comprised of underdeveloped nations find it problematic to organize

alternative sources of energy due to financial constraints (Jayalath and Wijayatunga, 2004).

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Africa as a continent has not been spared with the problems that come with load shedding.

Literature on Southern and West African regions indicates that load shedding has had its own

consequences on the progress of these regions in as far as load shedding and health service

delivery is concerned. The major challenge confronting the power sector has to do with financing

new projects. Investments within the sector are usually capital intensive and therefore requires

huge financial assistance. For example diversification into other power sources, transmission and

distribution lines can be very expensive to initiate. This has hindered the ability to expand and

improve the infrastructures in the power sector thereby limiting generation capacity against the

ever increasing demand.

Zambia has not been excluded to the impact of load shedding on access to health care services.

In 2015 for instance, some lives were lost at Ndola general hospital when power cut as some

patients were in the intensive care unit and in a critical condition (Mukanga, 2015). The ongoing

load shedding which the country is grappling with has not spared health facilities in Lusaka,

prompting the district medical officer to write to Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation

(ZESCO) to consider exempting such institutions from power cuts. The district medical officer

further lamented that using generators was too costly, unsustainable and unaffordable. Like other

hospitals and clinics in Lusaka district, Kalingalinga clinic has not been an exception. Many

expectant mothers have had challenges during their delivery period as clinic officers would

struggle to attend to them under difficult conditions and at times use candles for lighting

(Chisanga, 2015).

2.3 Effect of Load Shedding versus Academic Performance

Education is the benchmark of any form of development in any country. Countries that take a

leading role globally, be it socially or economically have got a highly developed education

system that sees to it that human resource is prepared to handle various tasks that require

informed decisions in their implementation (Zaman, 2012). The social-environmental effect of

load shedding on academic performance and education in general are multifaceted as they

manifest themselves in different ways.

On a global scale, Pakistan has had its fair share of power cuts and as a result, a report by

Zaman(2012), shows that load shedding has given a tough time to university campus students in

that country. Students are unable to plan a proper time table, day time is preoccupied by lectures

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and night time by power outings which last up to the following day. Although this might be true,

time management in the case of the students can lessen the impact that load shedding might

originally have on their academic performance. The students may for instance maximize their

studying during the day and hold academic discussions during the night which do not necessarily

need electricity to be effectively conducted.

According to Zaman (2012), load shedding had negative effects on students during exam periods

as it disturbed their study schedule and as the students were not able to study properly, their final

grades were negatively affected which led to further frustration on the part of the student who

obtained low grades. However, low grades cannot entirely be blamed on load shedding; there are

a lot of other factors that come into play like the levels of commitment to academic work by the

student throughout the academic year, the grades obtained in continuous assessment and so forth.

In other cases, failing acts as motivation to do better in the next exams and therefore, depending

on how a student takes it, failing once might be a good thing.

The Zambian educational sector has not been spared from the impact of load shedding on

education and academic performance. Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has

embarked on a countrywide power rationing campaign in order to preserve the limited power

generated due to the low rainfall experienced during the 2015/16 season (EIZ, 2015) However,

this has not gone well with the education sector which heavily depends on power for most of its

activities to be carried out.

Because of load shedding, the 2015 exam period was characterized by disheartening news

headlines from all over the country in regards to how challenging it was for pupils to write their

exams in due time. David Mwanamambo, Action Aid Zambia coordinator for Sesheke district of

the western province reported that primary school pupils at Mangamu and Maonde basic schools

undertook Computer studies practical examinations that were scheduled to be held on 2nd

November 2015 on 3rd November, 2015 because of load shedding. Load shedding, coupled with

a lack of equipment at the school led the 65 pupils to write exams the following day, which

disturbed their preparations for the other papers (Action Aid, 2015).

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CHAPTER THREE: METHODOLOGY

3.0 Introduction

This chapter described methods applied in the field of study. It begins by presenting the research

design, target population, sample size/sampling, tools of data collection, ethical considerations,

methods of data analysis, data validation and quality control, assumptions and limitations.

3.1 Research Design

This study used a qualitative approach. A qualitative approach is a systematic subjective

approach used to describe life experiences and give them meaning. The main goal of this

research approach is to enable the researcher to gain insights, explore the depth, richness and

complexity inherent in the phenomenon or the topic of interest. The reason for the use of the

qualitative approach is because the social-environmental impact of load shedding required

descriptive interpretation, which is subjective to each individual.

There are a number of specific qualitative research designs like case study, ethnography,

phenomenology just to mention but a few. However, in the study a case study design was used.

The goal of a case study design in research is to fully understand the essence of some

phenomenon. The rationale behind the use of a case study in this study was to help the

researchers to describe and interpret the experiences of participants in order to understand the

essence of the experience as perceived by the participants with regards to the social-

environmental impact of load shedding. The basis of a case study is that there are multiple ways

of interpreting the same experience, and that the meaning of the experience to each participant is

what constitutes reality. This was accomplished with long, intensive individual interviews to

help provide a very rich and detailed description of the human experience with regards to the

social-environmental impact of load shedding in Kalingalinga Compound (Maykut and

Morehouse, 1994).

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3.2 Target Population

A target population is a totality of all subjects, objects or members that conform to a designed set

of specification (Polit and Hungler, 1995). For the research to be generally valid, a set of

population was identified as source of information for this study. The target population for the

research was focused on households in Kalingalinga Compound. The sample size was chosen

based on the number of people affected by the social-environmental impact of load shedding in

Kalingalinga Compound whose total population is about 36, 000 (CSO, 2010).

3.3 Sampling Design and Sample Size

This research used non-probability sampling design and particularly heterogeneous purposive

sampling. This is the sampling where subjects were selected subjectively to represent as

accurately as possible the characteristics of the population of interest (Blackwell, 1991). The

research used heterogeneous purposive sampling, which comprised different respondent’s

perceptions on the social-environmental impact of load shedding in Kalingalinga Compound.

The sample size was 30 respondents of which they were distributed accordingly in relation to the

variables of interest.

3.4 Method and Techniques of Data Collection

The research used qualitative method of data collection; the study utilized one tool for data

collection. The research tool used in this study was semi-structured interviews.

3.5 Ethical Consideration

Every piece of research that involves human participants needs to go through a formal process of

research ethics review. It is important to note that research entailing ethical risk is spread across

many fields, and the potential for harm is always there even though it may not necessarily be

immediately apparent. Research involving human participants is always potentially ethically

challenging, as there is conflicts of interest between the researchers and the respondents.

However, tempting as it may be, the researcher was not involved in any unethical practices in

obtaining data from the respondents. In order to do this, ethical principles were put into

consideration during the period of data collection. The researcher ensured that pressure was not

exerted on individuals who participated.

Additionally, respondents were not interviewed without their consent, which was demonstrated

by signing of the consent forms. Signing of the consent forms was a signal of the participants’

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declaration of awareness of what the researcher wants from them and their willingness to provide

it. Furthermore, anonymity and confidentiality was applied and this involved reminding all the

respondents that their responses and identities were by no means going to be published unless in

instances where participants were keen for their own voices to be acknowledged, and be happy to

have their identity made known alongside their contribution to the research. Respect for

individual’s autonomy was well-thought in such a way that participants were made aware to feel

free to withdraw from participating in the research if they do not feel comfortable at any point

without having to explain themselves (Welman, Kruger and Mitchell, 2005).

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CHAPTER FOUR: PRESENTATION OF THE FINDINGS

4.1 Introduction

This chapter presents the results of the study that was conducted in Kalingalinga Compound on

the social environmental impact of load shedding in the area. The results presented are true

views of the respondents and shades more light on the findings of the study. Demographic

figures and tables have been used to help clearly present the results.

4.2 Demographic data of respondents

This section of the chapter looks at the demographic data of the respondents. The data includes;

Occupation status, gender distribution, income distribution and age distribution.

Figure 1: Types of employment the respondents are involved in. Source: Field data (2020).

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7

4

1

4

9

4

9

67

9

45

6

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Nu

mb

er o

f R

esp

on

den

ts

Forms of Occupation

Formal employment Non formal employment

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As indicated in Figure 3, the respondents were mainly into formal and non-formal employment.

Those in formal employment included; drivers, bankers, teachers, Electrician nurses sales

assistants whereas those in non for employment included UNZA Washers, metal fabricators,

clothes (salaula) sellers, charcoal traders, vegetable and fruit sellers shop keepers carpenters,

barber and salon, operators and garden man. Of the total 30 respondents 22 were involved in

non-formal employment with the rest being in formal employment.

Figure 2: Gender distribution of the respondents. Source: Field data (2020).

As indicated in Figure 4, of the 30 respondents that took part in the study more than half (54per

cent) of them were female participants while 46 per cent of the respondents were male

participants.

46%

54%

Male Female

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Figure 3: Income distribution of respondents. Source: Field data (2020).

Figure 5 indicate that majority of the respondents did not earn more than K1000 while only a few

respondents earned between k4001 and 5000, 8001 and 9000 respectively.

Figure 4: Age distribution of respondents. Source: Field data (2020).

Figure 6 Indicates that of the total 30 respondents interviewed, 16 were between the ages 21 to

40 while a few were between the ages 51 to 70.

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15

10

5

2

5 6

3

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

0 - 1000 1001 - 2000 2001 - 3000 3001 - 4000 4001 - 5000 5001 - 6000 6001 - 7000 above 7000

Res

po

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ts

Income amout ZMK

9

22 21

63 3

7

0

5

10

15

20

25

11 to 20 21 to 30 31 to 40 41 to 50 51 to 60 61 to 70 71 to 80

Res

po

nd

ents

Age distribution (Years)

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4.3 Influence of Load Shedding on the Rates of Crime

This section focuses on the distribution of respondents in relation their views on the influence of

load shedding on crime rates.

Figure 5: Influence of load shedding on crime rates: source: Field data (2020).

Figure 7 shows that 85 per cent of the respondents stated load shedding has influence on crime

rates. Furthermore, 14 per cent of the respondents disclosed that load shedding had no influence

85%

14%

1%

Influence on crime

No influence on crime

Never experienced crime

18

on crime rates, while only 1 per cent of the respondents had never experienced crime during load

shedding.

Table 1: Responses on the influence of load shedding on crime

Responses Frequency

of

responses

Percentages (%)

of responses

Theft 10 26

Bodily attacks 7 17

Rape 1 3

Fighting 1 3

Cutting of private parts 1 3

Killing 3 9

General increase in crime 9 24

No influence 4 11

19

Never experienced crime 0 1

Psychological fear 1 2

Exposure to hazards of fire 0 1

Total 37 100

Source: Field data (2020).

Table 1 shows that 26 responses indicated that load shedding had an influence on crime rates

while 4 responses indicated that load shedding had no influence on crime. Furthermore, the table

indicates that 85 per cent of the responses stated that there was an influence of load shedding on

crime rates while 15 per cent of the responses show no influence of load shedding on crime rates.

4.4 Impact of load shedding on access to Health Services

This section presents the frequency and percentages of responses on the impact of load shedding

on access to health services.

Table 2: Impact of load shedding on access to Health Services

Responses Frequency of

responses

Percentages of

responses (%)

Limited access to health services 20 65

Seek alternative health services 2 5

Service delivery delayed 5 14

Extra-expense on health services 2 5

Health center have alternative sources of energy 1 2

No response 2 5

20

Not affected 1 4

TOTAL 33 100

Source: Field data (2020)

Table 2 shows that out of the 30 respondents that were interviewed, 33 responses were given as

shown above. it is evident that more than half (91 per cent) of the responses indicated that load

shedding had impacted negatively on access to health services whereas 9 per cent of responses

show that there was no influence of load shedding on access to health services.

4.5 The impact Load Shedding on Academic Performance

This section presents the frequencies and percentage of the responses of the impact of load

shedding on academic performance

Figure 6: Impact of Load shedding on academic performance. Source: Field data (2020).

Generally

Affected

80%

Not Affected

20%

21

Figure 8 shows the general picture of how respondents are affected by load shedding in the

academic sense. It can be deduced that 80 per cent of the responses shows that the academic

performance is affected negatively while 20 per cent were not affected academically.

Table 3: Impacts of Load shedding on Academic Performance

Source: Field data (2020).

Table 4 indicates that impacts of Load shedding on Academic Performance is compounded by

failure to study at 52 per cent, poor performance at 17 per cent, fail to do homework at 11 per

cent and those that are not affected being 20 per cent.

Response

Frequency of

Responses

Percentages(%) of

Responses

Fail to study 18 52

Poor performance 6 17

Not affected 7 20

Fail to do homework 4 11

Total 35 100

22

4.6 Influence of Load Shedding on Extra-Expenditure.

This section focuses on responses of the influence of load shedding on extra-expenditure

Table 4: Influence of Load Shedding on Extra-Expenditure.

Responses Frequency of

Responses

Percentages of

Responses (%)

Expenditure affected 26 41

Expenditure not affected 2 3

Charcoal 18 27

Candle 12 19

Torch 2 2

23

Solar products 4 6

Gas stove/generators 0 1

No response 0 1

Total 64 100

Source: Field data (2020).

Table 5 indicates that out of 64 responses, 41per cent of the responses showed that there was an

influence on extra-expenditure, 3 per cent of the responses showed that expenditure on

alternative sources was not affected, 27 per cent of the responses revealed extra-expenditures

was spent on charcoal, 19 per cent of the responses revealed extra expenditure was spent on

candles, 2 per cent of the responses revealed extra expenditure was spent on a torch, 6 per cent

of the responses revealed extra expenditure was spent on solar products for example, solar lamps

and bulbs, 1 per cent of the responses revealed extra expenditure was spent on a gas stove and

1per cent of the responses showed no response.

4.7 Impact of Load Shedding on Business Performance

This section presents the responses of the impact of load shedding on business performance of

the respondents.

Figure 7: Influence of Load shedding on business performance. Source: Field data (2020).

40 %

17 %23 %

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

Business affected Not affected No response

Per

cen

tag

e o

f R

esp

on

ses

(%)

Responses

24

Figure 10 shows the percentage of responses of which 40 per cent indicates responses of those

whose businesses were affected by load shedding, 17 per cent of the responses of those who

were not affected and 23 per cent of those who could not give any response in relation to

business performance.

Table 5: Influence of Load shedding on Business Performance.

Responses

Frequency of

responses

Percentages (%)

of responses

Business not operational/completely down 2 5

Product perishes 2 8

Lack of business 2 5

Business performance is affected 8 28

The business uses no electricity 6 19

Reduced working hours 1 4

Business increased 1 4

25

No comment 9 27

Total 31 100

Source: Field data (2020).

Table 6 indicates that 50 per cent of the responses reviewed that load shedding had an influence

on small scale business performance, 23 per cent of the respondent's responses indicated that

load shedding did not affect their business performances while only 27 per cent of the responses

indicate that respondents had no idea of the influence of load shedding business performance.

1

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF RESULTS

5.1 Introduction

This chapter presents the discussion of results based on the findings from the field. The

discussion is presented as per thematic area. The thematic areas include; influence of load

shedding on the rate of crime, impact of load shedding on access to health services, impact of

load shedding on academic performance, influence of load shedding on selected household’s

expenditure for alternative sources of energy and influence of load shedding on Small Scale

Business Performance.

5.2 Influence of Load Shedding on the Rate of Crime

When asked whether load shedding had influenced the rates of crime, most of the respondents

narrated that there is a relationship between the rates of crime and load shedding, many of the

respondents mentioned that there was an increase in crime rates during times of load shedding

and such criminal cases like theft, bodily harm, rape, cutting of private parts and killings were

reported allover Kalingalinga during times of load shedding (see Table 1). However, some

refuted any such relationship whilst some respondents showed ignorance of any such

relationship.

Most researches that have been conducted on the social- environmental impact of load shedding

show that a correlation exists between load shedding and the rate of crime in many countries

worldwide. It is against this assumption that the researcher ascertained the relationship between

load shedding and crime rates in Kalingalinga compound (Muthoka, 1998; Malambo, 2015 and

Ngosa, 2015).

Of the 30 respondents that were selected and interviewed, 26 per cent of the responses indicated

that cases of theft intensified during night hours of load shedding. According to the respondents,

cases of theft recorded during times of load shedding were way higher than times when there is

power supply. One of the respondents lamented that a lot of criminal cases takes place during

times of load shedding. “Stealing of clothes and individual attacks and ritual killing is rampant

when there is load shedding while when power is there, there is reduced crime rates” the

respondent said.

2

An increase in crime rates during times of load shedding however is not unprecedented, for

example, a research by Safer World (2012) ascertains that load shedding which leaves many

streets and houses unlit during night hours is a key factor fueling an increase in crime worldwide.

When there are blackouts in the streets, thieves increase their criminal activities as they cannot

be easily seen. According to Cerny (2013), in Pakistan for example, the correlation between load

shedding or power outages is evident and it is argued that outages increase the rates of crime or

robbery. This assumption was the position of many respondents in the field, 17 per cent of the

responses by the respondents indicated that personal attacks on unsuspecting individuals where

more frequent during the periods of load shedding. Other responses from the respondents

indicated that rape cases, fighting and mutilation of private parts were also more frequent during

periods of load shedding.

Furthermore, 9 per cent of the responses from the respondents indicated that killings were

experienced in the compound during the extended hours of load shedding which has led many to

live in fear and avoid movements during the night. Some respondents indicated that they would

buy candles, batteries for their lamps and do all the necessary activities during the day as they

had tightened their curfew and were indoors early just to avoid being attacked at night, this is in

line with what was indicated by Fourie (2014), who contended that criminals use load shedding

as the opportune time to undertake illegal activities at night and as such, citizens need to be extra

alert during this time, particularly when arriving or leaving their homes or workplaces in the

evenings. This is particularly true because the risk of people falling victim to criminal activities

increase during the night time when it is dark and easy for criminals to move around without

being seen and load shedding worsens the situation.

Despite majority of the responses by the respondents indicating a positive correlation between

load shedding and the increase in the rates of crime, 11 per cent of the responses by the

respondents indicated that there was no relationship between load shedding and crime. “There is

no relationship between crime and load shedding, crime has always been there” narrated one

respondent. 1 per cent of the responses indicated that they had never experienced crime and

could therefore not give a position on the matter. One respondent stated that she had never

experienced any criminal cases from the part of Kalingalinga she stays, even though there was

3

load shedding. “Crime cases are rare in this part of Kalingalinga” She said. Other respondents

with similar views simply stated that they did not know of any such relationship (Ngosa, 2015).

The findings of the research indicate 85 per cent of responses by the respondents indicated a

positive relationship between load shedding and rates of crime. Most of the respondents

mentioned that there was an increase in crime rates during times of load shedding and such

criminal cases like theft, bodily attacks, rape, cutting of private parts and killings were reported

to have intensified in Kalingalinga during the times of load shedding because the unlit streets

breed a conducive environment for criminals to carry out their activities without the fear of being

easily spotted (Khaleq, 2016). Some respondents on the other hand narrated a different

experience as they stated that there was no relationship between crime and load shedding as they

claimed that criminals have always been there. Some respondents expressed mere ignorance of

such a relationship as they claimed to be unaware of it. All in all, the responses by the

respondents confirmed the existence of a relationship between load shedding and it can be

argued that a relationship between crime and load shedding does exist.

5.3 Impact of Load Shedding on Access to Health Services.

Out of the 30 respondents that were interviewed, 33 responses were given as shown above in

Table 2. The responses indicate that due to load shedding, there was limited access to health

services and others with resources went to other health institutions. Furthermore, in some

instances health service delivery was delayed whenever the health centers experienced load

shedding, there was also extra-expense on health services in that some respondents or patients

would be told to purchase candles and light lamps for themselves, especially those in

maternity(Eskom, 2016). Some health centers had alternative sources of energy such as

generators and solar. In addition, some respondents indicated that load shedding did not affect

their access to health services in any way whilst others had nothing to say on the subject matter.

However, it is evident that more than half (65per cent) of the responses indicate that load

shedding had impacted negatively on access to health services whereas very few responses

indicate that the impact of load shedding was cushioned by the use of alternative sources of

energy.

According to Jayalath and Wijayatunga (2004), Electricity is essential for public health facilities

in that when the supply is unstable it could be fatal for patients undergoing emergency treatment,

4

surgery and those in intensive care. Furthermore, organs, vaccines and medication that need to be

refrigerated can also be spoiled or become ineffective, thus limiting access to health services.

According to the research, respondents that experienced and noticed some negative impacts of

load shedding on access to health service reviewed that people died in Intensive Care Unit and

those on oxygen supplementation equipment as a result of power cuts.

Furthermore, health personnel had difficulties and in some cases it was impossible to carry out

some activities that could only be conducted when there is power. Difficulties during delivery

(when mothers are giving birth), lack of x-ray examination on time especially to those in need of

x-ray service with urgency had worsened illnesses due to delayed health services, as evident in

the findings, 14 per cent of the responses show that there was delayed access to health services

due to load shedding. Furthermore, those that were undergoing surgical operations, had power

cuts contribute to their demise. Better still, Mukanga (2015) highlighted that Zambia was no

exception to the impact of load shedding on access to health care services. In 2015 for instance,

some lives were lost at Ndola general hospital in that when power was cut some patients were in

the intensive care unit and others in critical conditions that required urgent attention and the use

of adequate power to operate certain health equipment.

Additionally, other respondents revealed that it was difficult for those who were supposed to be

injected to access this service as a lot of syringe medicine could go bad due to lack of

functioning refrigerators as a result of load shedding. For some people who lost their beloved

ones (referred to UTH) while at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) lamented that the

oxygen plant could not operate at full capacity hence inadequate oxygen supply in relation to

demand of the commodity at the largest hospital in the country. Due to load shedding, the

mortuary could no longer serve its purpose efficiently, instead it had become a health hazard as

the smell coming out was more than manageable all due to load shedding, and mortuaries could

no longer maintain the required temperature (Khaleq, 2016). This is again in line with Jayalath

and Wijayatunga (2004) who stated that Electricity is essential for public health facilities in that

when the supply is unstable it could be fatal for patients undergoing emergency treatment,

surgery and those in intensive care.

Only 2 per cent of the responses indicate that due to load shedding, some health centers used

alternatives sources of energy such as generators in order to cushion the power deficit.

5

According to Chisanga (2015), the Lusaka district medical officer lamented that using generators

was too costly, unsustainable and unaffordable. Many expectant mothers have had challenges

during their delivery period as clinic officers would struggle to attend to them under difficult

conditions and at times would use candles for lighting, thus, extra expense. This is in line with

what has been found by the researchers, as medical personnel failed or had difficulties to attend

to the patients during load shedding hours meanwhile others seemed to be demoralized to work

in darkness especially at night. In clinics with alternative energy source such as generators, it

was not sufficient as resources could not permit to purchase adequate fuel to feed the generators

for 24 hours of service delivery. In this regard, general laboratory and screening services were

problematic during load shedding hours.

Furthermore, Jayalath and Wijayatunga (2004) argued that even though, it is always prudent and

advisable for health institutions to have automatic alternative sources of energy (electricity

supply) such as generators to cushion any unforeseen power cuts, load shedding has greatly

impacted negatively on health service delivery across the world. However, it is imperative to

mention that in most cases, most regions of the world that are underdeveloped find it problematic

to organize alternative sources of energy due to financial constraints.

The 27 respondents that were interviewed affirmed to having been affected by load shedding in

accessing health services within Kalingalinga catchment area and referral health institutions

recommended to them. In this modern era, most of the services that health institutions offer

heavily relay on electricity to be delivered (Mukanga, 2015). For instance, operating various

equipment and storing of certain medications in cold rooms or fridges in that they can only be

kept under cool or cold conditions. Despite more than half of the respondents eluding that the

current load shedding spell that has rocked the country has adversely affected health services

delivery by health institutions, the 4 per cent of the responses indicate that some respondents had

no idea of the impact of load shedding on access to health care services. Furthermore, 3 per cent

of the responses indicated that some respondents’ access to health services was not affected in

any way due to load shedding.

The responses given by the respondents on their experiences of the impact of load shedding on

access to health care services brings out divergent views that are based on experiences. Hence,

this satisfies interpretivist philosophy that guided the research whose emphasis is on subjective

6

interpretation of responses that were given by respondents. In the discussion, it is clear that some

health institutions though few, had reacted to the problem of load shedding by improvising

alternative sources of energy amid unbearable power. Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior echoes

that people are motivated to comply with these expectations (normative beliefs), and beliefs

about the presence of factors that may facilitate or impede performance of the behavior and the

perceived power of these factors (control beliefs) (Ajzen, 1971).

In conclusion, it can be deduced from the discussion that load shedding impacts the access to

health services negatively. This is evident as 91 per cent of the responses vividly indicate that

load shedding has directly and indirectly impacted on the access to health care services in the

negative sense. Its either, there is limited access to health services, service access delayed,

seeking of alternatives health service, extra-expense on health services as alternatives sources of

energy have to be made available to cushion power deficit.

5.4 Impact of Load Shedding on Academic Performance

As earlier on stated, Education is the backbone of any form of development in any country.

Therefore, good academic performance is important in Education attainment at different levels of

any education system. However, 80 per cent of the responses revealed that load shedding has

negatively affected the academic performance of learners in Kalingalinga Compound. On the

other hand 20 per cent age of respondents expressed ignorance as they seem to have not realized

the link between load shedding and the academic performance. Based on all the responses from

the respondents interviewed, it can be observed that load shedding has affected the academic

performance of residents of Kalingalinga Compound adversely (Riaz, 2010).

Jayalath and Wijayatunga (2004) postulates that electricity is essential for many important

services in society among them education as it may enhance the learners' academic performance.

However, the respondents claimed that the way pupils perform in class is negatively affected by

load shedding in the sense that during power cut, water supply is also interrupted. This vicious

cycle compels some parents to send their children to fetch water among other miseries

compromising their class attendance and personal study translating to about 52 per cent among

learners on selected households in Kalingalinga compound. Modern education is also highly

dependent on power, from simple provision of adequate lighting in lecture rooms to the power to

drive digital projectors, computers and internet connectivity (Coughlan, 2015). In this regard, a

7

reliable supply of electricity is crucial for Education delivery on campus as well for online

delivery of lectures to avoid digitally enabled distance learning from being seriously constrained.

For example, some respondents highlighted that learners who do Computer Studies have their

lessons negatively affected, consequently the general picture shows learners fail to do homework

exercises during the times of load shedding as shown by 11 per cent of the responses.

Due to load shedding, learners are unable to plan a proper study time table as the day time is

preoccupied by lectures while night time by power outages which may last up to the following

day. With reference to appendix 1, one of the respondents lamented low performance of her child

who dropped from passing number 1 to number 6 in the term that followed while others argued

that they cannot study and about 17 per cent of respondents claimed that their children fail do

their homework during night hours of load shedding. Learners cannot study using candles in the

night as it may affect their eyes. According to Zaman (2012), load shedding has negative effects

on students during exam periods as it disturbed their study schedule and as the students are not

able to study properly, their final grades are negatively affected which leads to further frustration

on the part of those who obtain low grades.

It is precise in the responses like Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour echoes that people are

motivated to comply with these expectations (normative beliefs), and beliefs about the presence

of factors that may facilitate or impede performance of the behavior and the perceived power of

these factors (control beliefs). It is from this backdrop that we affirm that the philosophy used in

this research qualifies the divergent views to the problem a clear insight of solving the problem

differently (Ajzen, 1971). As observed some respondents alluded to the fact that they resorted to

use solar energy for lighting during study time for their children and consequently encourage

personal study during the day. From the responses, about 80 per cent generally ascertained that

load shedding has a negative impact on the academic performance of learners in Kalingalinga

Compound. The impact observed is that, load shedding lowers the academic performance of the

learners. This is in tandem with the secondary data provided by the literature review of the

research. For example, Riaz (2010) confirmed that load shedding has adverse effects on students

and their academic performance.

8

5.5 Influence of Load Shedding on Households’ Alternative Expenditure.

As shown earlier in the literature review, the influence of load shedding on household

expenditure for alternative sources of energy is an effect that is being felt in most areas of the

world especially developing countries. Generally the cost of moving from conventional energy

sources to more sustainable energy sources is a cost that is being felt at all levels of the global

society (Jamil and Ahmed, 2010).

In the sample size taken from Kalingalinga compound, 41 per cent of the responses disclosed an

increase in expenditure due to load shedding. This disclosure was based on their experience on

how load shedding has impacted their expenditure on alternative sources of energy. For

example, 27 per cent of the responses reveal extra-expenditures on charcoal, 19 per cent revealed

extra expenditure on candles, 2 per cent revealed extra expenditure on torches, 6 per cent

revealed extra expenditure on solar products and 1 per cent revealed extra expenditure on a gas

stove (Jamil and Ahmed, 2010).

In addition, most of the respondents who disclosed an increase in expenditure expressed the

increase in expenditure by revealing how the monthly budget is affected due to purchases of

candles, how they have to compromise or sacrifice items on the budget so that they are able to

buy charcoal or fuel for a generator and how some who were involved in business recorded low

profit margins due to expenditure increase on alternative sources of energy which is directly

triggered by load shedding. Similarly, in Ghana for instance, some of the households have

adopted to drying and smoking of fish and meat as a means of preservation, as the cost of

alternative sources of energy is high. However, the demand for the practice of drying and

smoking is low as it is very tedious practice and it incurs some additional expenses (ISSER,

2015).

However, 3 per cent of the responses showed that there was no influence of load shedding on

extra expenditure on alternative sources of energy while 1 per cent of the responses expressed

uncertainty over the impact of load shedding on their expenditure. As Chisanga (2015:35) stated,

“Zambia is in the middle of an electricity crisis as the country struggles with a 560 MW power

deficit, a situation likely to only get worse as demand for electricity grows to 200 MW annually.

Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) has embarked on a countrywide power

9

rationing mechanism in order to preserve the limited water available for power generation

through the 2015/16 rainy Season”.

Additionally, some areas in Kalingalinga compound do not experience load shedding, as they

may be fortunate enough to be along the lines that have been considered priority by ZESCO thus

explaining why some respondents did not feel the impact of load shedding on their expenditure

for alternative sources of energy because they did not experience load shedding.

In general, most of the responses (41per cent) disclosed an increase in expenditure due to load

shedding. The increase in expenditure for alternative sources of energy fixated on energy sources

such as candles (19 per cent), charcoal (27 per cent) and gas stove/generators (1 per cent)

responses. Furthermore, some responses disclosed that there was no influence of load shedding

on their expenditure on alternative sources of energy (3 per cent) while a small portion of the

sample expressed uncertainty over the impact of load shedding on their expenditure (1 per cent).

The pattern of an increase in expenditure for alternative sources of energy can also be compared

to the findings of Eskom (2012) that indicated that in Southern Africa, households spend 14 per

cent of their total monthly household income on energy needs, which is higher than the

international benchmark of 10 per cent for energy poverty.

5.6 Effects of Load shedding on Small Scale Business Performances

About 40 per cent of the respondents in the sample size that ran Small Scale Business Enterprises

(SMEs) reviewed that load shedding affected their businesses such as photocopying, printing,

salons, baking and welding. While 17 per cent of the respondents reviewed that load shedding

did not affect their businesses in any way; such businesses included those that sold merchandise

such as Bananas, Groundnuts and Soft Loan Business. However, 4 per cent of the respondents

disclosed that business increased because they made a lot of sales in products such as candle and

charcoal. Bars also received a lot of customers because people did not have what to do when

power was rationed as such they opted to going into bars. Conversely, 23 per cent did not

respond to this research question stating that it was not applicable to them in that they did not run

any form of business (Eskom, 2016).

From the reviewed literature Chisanga (2014), pointed out that load shedding and fuel shortages

had characterized Zambia’s economy with both domestic and commercial customers struggling

10

to acclimatize to the new order. In many places across Zambia, both large and small-scale

business performances had slowed down production as they would not work without electricity.

Load shedding had also highly affected the operation of most SMEs in the areas that depended

on electricity to run their production equipment to support service provision to customers such as

barbershops, hair dressing, grain milling, photocopying and vending.

Similarly, respondents that ran SMEs stated that food stuff such as daily products went bad

because fridges could not operate. They further responded that they could not bake and popcorn

if power was rationed. Other respondents pointed out that without power they could not print,

type, photocopy, hair dress, cut hair, weld, and sell freezits and fish. Additionally, some SMEs

dealing with food vending, retail shops and groceries had made less loses in productivity because

they did not depend much on power to produce them (Eskom, 2016).

Respondents that sold products such as charcoal and candle disclosed that business increased

because more charcoal and Candle were sold in the process profit was made. One of the

respondents stated that "people are buying a lot of charcoal, so my businesses has increased i

earn up to K3000 a month which is a lot of money especially when you do not pay rent".

However, the literature that was reviewed on the effects of load shedding on business

performance only pointed out the negative effects of load shedding on SMEs but did not state the

positive impacts of load shedding on SMEs.

From the primary data collected on the influence of load shedding on SMEs, 40 per cent of the

respondents disclosed that indeed load shedding affected the performance of SMEs because it led

to a decline in the performance of SMEs. However, 17 per cent of the respondents stated that

load shedding did not affect them in anyway by revealing that they were connected to the main

line of Zambia National Broadcasting Cooperation (ZNBC) while 23 per cent of the respondents

stated that the research question was not applicable to them because they did not ran any SMEs.

11

CHAPTER SIX: CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

6.1 Conclusions

As discussed above it can be stated that, load shedding has an influence on the levels of crime

rate. This is because most people interviewed affirmed that during the time when there is load

shedding there is crime increase in Kalingalinga compound. This was attributed to the fact that,

people find it easy and more secure to steal in the dark as they cannot be spotted or seen during

the time there are in the act. Though others argued that load shedding has no influence on crime,

the number of respondents who affirmed that load shedding have influence on crime outweigh

those that did not affirm. Therefore it can be concluded that, load shedding in so many cases

leads to the increase of crime levels in the community, hence it is undeniable truth as obtained in

the field that load shedding has influence on crime.

As noticed in the discussion of the presented results, it shows clearly that load shedding has an

impact on academic performance of students. This is because most respondents interviewed

affirmed that, during the time when there is load shedding the academic performance of students

and pupils is affected negatively. This was confirmed when one of the respondents stated that the

academic performance of her child reduced and cited that the child in the previous term passed

number one but the next term passed number six because of load shedding. Though others

argued that load shedding has no impact on the academic performance of students, more than

three quarters of the respondents confirmed that load shedding has impacted negatively on the

academic performance of students. Therefore it can be concluded, that load shedding has an

impact on the academic performance of students and pupils.

The literature reviewed and the findings have established that load shedding has impacts on

small scale business performances. However, these small scale businesses are in categories.

Some need electricity for them to function such as barber shops, printing and photocopying

services and butcheries to mention but a few. Some businesses such as trading in Salaula (second

hand clothes) and charcoal trading do not need power. As discussed above, those businesses that

need electricity have been impacted negatively by load shedding. Sometimes because of load

shedding the products could go bad. This shows the negative impact of load shedding on such

types of businesses that require power for them to survive. However, some businesses have

flourished because of load shedding. Some respondents expressed happiness because load

12

shedding made them record huge profits and such businesses included; charcoal, candle and

lamp trading. The conclusion drawn from this is that, load shedding has impacted both positively

and negatively on small scale businesses performance and this was because some businesses

required electricity to function while others needed no power to operate as seen in the examples

mentioned above.

The impact of load shedding on access to health care services has been established. As discussed

and presented above, it has been confirmed that load shedding to a larger extent has affected the

provision of health care services. Most of the respondents indicated that during the time when

there is load shedding, the access to health care services is affected negatively. This is because

some equipment at the clinic can only operate when there is electricity but because of load

shedding certain medical services could not be accessed. This therefore, affirms literature

arguing that load shedding has a direct negative impact on access to health care services.

Conclusively, it can be stated that load shedding has an impact on access to health care services

especially in a developing country like Zambia were it is difficult to source alternative power

supply because of limited resources.

As noticed in the data presented or obtained in the field. Load shedding has an influence on

household expenditure on the alternative sources of energy. During load shedding hours,

households turn to spend more in accessing alternative sources of energy. For example, at night

when they experience power cuts they resort to buying candles to provide lighting which they

did not budget for. Instead of using electric cookers, they buy charcoal so that they could use it

for cooking purposes. All this is because of the influence of load shedding which has impacted

on the household expenditure on alternative sources of energy. It can therefore be concluded that,

load shedding has influenced the expenditure of households on alternative sources of energy.

This is because households over spend in order to access other alternative sources of energy to

cushion the problem brought about by load shedding which paralyses the equipment that uses

electricity such as the cookers.

13

6.2 Recommendations

i. Many of the respondents mentioned that there was an increase in crime rates during

times of load shedding and such criminal cases like theft, bodily attacks, rape, cutting of

private parts and killings were reported in parts of Kalingalinga Compound. Based on

these findings, Zambia Police Service should intensify night patrols to prevent the rise of

crime during load shedding hours. The police and other law enforcement agencies

should work hand in hand with the media to educate the communities to be security

conscience during load shedding hours, for example, advice people to walk in groups

when it is dark and avoid movements at night.

ii. Health service delivery was delayed whenever the health centers experienced load

shedding, there was also extra-expense on health services in that some respondents

would be told to purchase candles and light lamps for themselves, especially those in

maternity. Therefore, the government in collaboration with other stakeholders to procure

alternative sources of energy such as, solar panel and Generators to be installed at clinics

and hospitals to help moderate the problem of load shedding.

iii. 80 per cent of the responses revealed that load shedding has negatively affected the

academic performance of learners to the greater extent in Kalingalinga Compound. In

this regard, schools in conjunction with the Government and ZESCO to engage in

consultative meetings to come up with adaptive means to cope with load shedding

impacts which should not affect the academic performance of the students. For example,

schools can reorient their timetables especially in those subjects such as computer

science that need electricity to suit the ZESCO load shedding time table.

iv. In the sample size taken from Kalingalinga compound, 41 per cent of the responses

disclosed an increase in expenditure due to load shedding. This disclosure was based on

their experience on how load shedding had impacted their expenditure on alternative

sources of energy. Therefore, Kalingalinga residents through the Ministry of general

education should be educated on how to properly plan financially over the expected and

unexpected impact of load shedding on the alternative sources of energy through

Community Based Organizations and Government schools.

14

v. About 40 per cent of the respondents in the sample size that ran Small Scale Business

Enterprises (SMEs) reviewed that load shedding affected their businesses such as

photocopying, printing, salons, baking and welding. Hence, residents of Kalingalinga to

engage in businesses that do not entirely depend on the use of electricity such as

cosmetics, clothing, gardening and many more.

vi. ZESCO in conjunction with other stakeholders to educate the communities on the

meaning of load shedding as some people interviewed expressed ignorance of the term.

15

REFERENCES

Action Aid Zambia (AAZ) (2015). Action aid press briefing report. Lusaka: Action Aid press.

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Bharucha, E. (2004). Environmental Studies for Undergraduate Courses of all Branches of

Higher Education. New Delhi: University Grants Commission.

Blackwell M.J (1991). Doing Educational Research.London: Routledge.

Burgers, L. (2000). Background and Rationale for School Sanitation and Hygiene Education.

New York: Wadsamtteir.

Cerný, M. (2013). Economic and Social Costs of Power Outages. Prague: Institute of Economic

Studies.

Chanda, C. M. (2015). Crime Levels on the Rise.<www.Zambia reports.com> Consulted on 25th

May, 2016.

Chisanga, C. M. (2015). Load Shedding in Lusaka. Lusaka: Times of Zambia.

Concordia, C. Fink L.H. and Geroge, P. (2013). Load Shedding on an Isolated System. New

York: Power System publisher. Consulted on 23rdMay, 2016.

Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) (2015).EAZ Report on the Economic Cost of Load

Shedding.<http://eaz.org.zm> Consulted on 20th May, 2016.

Energy Regulation Board (ERB) (2008). Energy Sector Report. Lusaka: ERB.

Eskom (2015). Impact of Load Shedding in the Southern African Region. Cape Town: Eskom.

Forkuoh, S. K. and Li, Y. (2015).Electricity Power Insecurity and SMEs Growth: A Case Study

of the Cold Store Operators in the Asafo Market Area of the Kumasi Metro in Ghana. Open

Journal of Business and Management, Vol. 3, pg. 312-325.

Gliner, J. A. (1994). Reviewing Qualitative Research: Proposed Criteria for Fairness and

Rigor. The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research .New York: Wadsamtteir

Publishers.

Gollwitzer, P. M. (1999). Implementation Intentions: Strong Effects of Simple Plans. American

Psychologist, 54, 493-503.

Guilfoyle, D. and Connolly, E. (2014).Distributed Systems for Electricity Distribution Control.

Cairo: Power Technology Int.

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APPENDICES

Appendix I: Research Action Plan

TIMING

MAY JUNE JULY AUGUST

WK 1 WK 2 WK 3 WK 4 WK 1 WK 2 WK 3 WK 4 WK 1 WK 2 WK 3 WK 4 WK 1 WK 2 WK 3 WK 4

1

Proposal

Development

2

Refining of

Research

Instruments

3 Data Collection

4 Data Analysis

5

Draft Report

Compilation &

Submission

6

Editing and

Submission of Final

Report

ACTIVITY S/N

17

Appendix II: Letter of Consent

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN

Dear Participant:

RE: REQUESTING FOR YOUR CONSENT

The bearer of this consent letter is a student at Cavendish University Zambia. I am conducting a

research titled Social Environmental Effects of Load Shedding on Selected Households in

Kalingalinga Compound and you are invited to participate. There are no risks in participating

in this research and the information shared will be strictly used for academic purposes.

Participation is absolutely voluntary and you may refrain from participating in case at any time

of the study.

Anonymity and confidentiality will be highly prioritised in this research when collecting data

and when reporting the research findings. Your participation in this research will be highly

appreciated.

Yours faithfully

Signature ……………………………… Date………………………………

Mr/Mrs …………………………………. (Research Coordinator)

18

Appendix III: Semi structured interview Guide for the selected households in Kalingalinga

Compound.

(A) Demographic characteristics of respondents

a) Gender ( )

b) Age ( )

c) Household size ( )

d) Household income ( )

e) Means of livelihood ( )

(B) Influence of load shedding on the rate of crime

1. What do you know about load shedding?

2. How often do you experience crime during load shedding?

3. What is the difference in the rate of crime between hours of load shedding and hours without

load shedding?

(C) Impact of load shedding on access to health services

1. How has load shedding affected the provision of health services?

(D) Impact of load shedding on academic performance

1. What is your understanding of academic performance?

2. In what ways has load shedding affected academic performance among:

a) Pupils

b) Students

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(E) Influence of load shedding on household expenditure for alternative sources of energy.

1. What alternative sources of energy do you use when there is load shedding?

2. How has load shedding influenced your expenditure on alternative sources on energy?

(F) Impacts of Load shedding on Small Scale Business Performances

1. What type of business activities are you involved in?

How has load shedding affected your business performances?

END OF QUESTIONNAIRE. THANK YOU!