Ever since I was young, I have observed three weather seasons in Zambia – the cold season, the hot season and the rainy season – the rainy season being my favorite because I get to see nature at its best.

It is during this season I see the green pastures; full, beautiful rivers; and lush, healthy crops. During the rainy season my family and I have a chance to plant our crops. It’s a memorable season because it brings families together in the fields. It is only during this season you can have fresh and wild fruits such as mangoes here in Zambia, not to mention fresh mushrooms. It’s a delight for food lovers like me.

However, the seasons are changing. When I was fifteen, I realized that my favorite season was not as good as it used to be. The season was always delayed and some parts of the country did not even experience it, affecting farmers and families across the country. The rains were not normal. Sometimes they were so heavy that they destroyed homes, washed away fields and destroyed livestock, and dry spells also started to dominate the rainy season.

Everything has changed. Farmers no longer produce bumper harvests, which is disturbing the food patterns in communities. This is leading to hunger in homes.

Economically speaking, climate change has affected business in Zambia. Zambia generates its electrical power using hydroelectric energy. When the country experiences poor rainfall, it faces power outages. The country no longer exports power to other countries in the region, affecting the country’s GDP.

Still, I am hopeful for a sustainable future, if governments can work together to develop and invest in technology and clean energy; put into practice the international climate agreements already in place; increase food security; and improve disaster management systems.

Story by John Chipango @juan_jnr_

Art by Erin Gibbs @erin_gibbs