Climate change: some likely multiple impacts in Southern Africa.

The recent drought in the subcontinent provides an analogue model for gaining some insights into the effects of the projected climate changes. Several water storage facilities failed to satisfy the water demands that they were intended to cater for. Two of the major cities of Zimbabwe were consequently put on strict water rations, at a time when there was an outbreak of cholera. The low levels of both Lake Kariba and Lake Kafue rendered this hydro power complex incapable of meeting the power demands of Zimbabwe and Zambia, which consequently had to import power from neighbouring countries. Strict power rationing to industry, implemented as penalties for exceeding energy quotas, caused significant industrial disruption and job losses. Failure of irrigation dams resulted in production losses in the sugar industry, which also affected the gasohol programme of Zimbabwe. The citrus industry suffered large tree losses which will take several years to replenish. At the height of the drought period mortality amongst wild animals was high, and only artificial feeding and translocation to better watered areas saved many large mammals from mortality. Many tree species also died, including the rare Androstachys johnsonii.