LUSAKA, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Zambia announced on February 29 that Zambia has entered a national disaster emergency due to drought.
In a national address on the same day, Hichilema said that Zambia was suffering from a severe drought that had a severe impact on agriculture, water resources and energy**. Eighty-four of Zambia's 116 districts are severely affected by drought, with about 1 million hectares of maize production reduced by drought and more than 1 million farming households affected. The drought has also led to a power shortage in Zambia, where the country's power deficit is expected to exceed 520 megawatts by the end of the year. In addition, drought can lead to increased human-wildlife conflict, leading to outbreaks such as cholera.
Hichilema announced that it would realign its 2024 state budget to mitigate the effects of the drought by increasing food procurement, expanding irrigated areas, importing electricity and promoting alternative energy sources, and called for assistance from domestic and international partners.
Speaking to Parliament in mid-February, Zambia's Minister of Green Economy and Environment, Collins Enzovu, said that the El Niño phenomenon has affected Zambia's rainy season rainfall patterns this year, resulting in below-normal rainfall in some areas, accompanied by short-term excessive rainfall and prolonged drought.
Most of Zambia has a savannah climate, with three seasons throughout the year, with the rainy season usually lasting from mid-November to April.