MetLink - Zambia weather & climate

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Dear Mr. Walker,
 
In this part of the world we don't heat our houses, except once in a
while with a small portable electric heater or some firewood.  Our
country is hot enough.
 
However, our buildings are designed in a way that most roofs take a
triangular shape to allow rain water to flow down to the ground.
Windows are wide to allow enough air circulation.  The buildings use
materials that can easily expand and contract with changes in heat.
 
Zambia has had heavy and almost continuous rainfall  in the past few
weeks.  This is common at this time of the year, anyway.  The common
problems we experience at this time of the year, in terms of transport,
is that most of our roads develop potholes, some become slippery, and
others muddy and impassable.  Potholes on and the slippery nature of the
tarred roads cause many traffic accidents at this time of the year.
Unlike in some parts of the world where maximum speed is perhaps limited
to about 80 kilometres per hour, our drivers drive above 100 kilometres
in good and wide roads but at this time of the year one does so only
when he is looking for an accident-you have to cautious in order to
survive the journeys.
 
Our water system at the school is dependent on the underground aquifer.
We relie on three bore holes which are serviced by electrically powered
pumps.  Generally, we have no major water use restrictions.  The excess
use of water, e.g. watering lawns with hose pipes or sprinklers, is not
allowed during the hot-dry season.  We use no metres to monitor the use
of water, though.  Water is used for agricultural irrigation, leisure,
etc.
 
The bulk of the electricity we use in Zambia is hydro-safely over 80%.
This is seconded by thermal.  Solar power is a new phenomenon.  However,
it is important to mention here that many people in Zambia, especially
the poor, have no access to electricity-they use firewood (imagine the
danger to the forests).
 
Yours sincerely,
 
AH. Malambo