Abstract:
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 refrigerat ion failure, 15% reported production downtime in their ho me 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. Inco me for the residents was disproportionately eroded as a result of load shedding. The fract ion 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 wo men who harvest wood illegally fro m farms and forests. This form of
harvesting is uncontrolled and therefore unsustainable. The survey therefore concludes that wo men are unduly burdened by
the power outage exercise and people in general have been reduced to poverty levels as they are left with dwindled inco me
