We have had several heavy downpours over the past couple of
weeks, however, the sun comes out and dries up the rain quickly. Before the downpours it gets very hot, but
afterwards it is a little cooler and more pleasant. Although we have anoraks to wear they make
you very hot, so thanks again to Shoprite we were able to purchase a big
umbrella.
If you are inside the
house when it is raining, it is very noisy because the rain batters down on the
aluminium roof. Sometimes it is so loud,
it is impossible to hear the other person speaking. Here, people are happy to see the rains
because now is the time for planting the maize which will provide them with
food for later in the year. Normally the
rains come much sooner but people believe global warming has caused them to
arrive much later. The landscape around Mzuzu is changing because all the
gardens and spare ground has been turned over and now maize is sprouting
through the soil. Many people plant
beans with the maize as the beans are supported by the maize plants as they
grow up; they wind up the maize stalks.
Although Mzuzu has had rain, it is not as much as usual so
we are expecting more downpours in the weeks to come. The power supply has been
sporadic. This is our sixth day without
power during the day. Fortunately we have
had a few hours of electricity at night.
As you can imagine, it goes off without any warning so it is difficult
to plan for. However, we are getting
better prepared; hot water in a flask to make tea or coffee and some bread and
crackers available.
There have been floods further north of Mzuzu at Karonga and
Rumphi and further south in Zomba, Machinga, Mangochi, Salima, Mulanje and
Chikwawa. Rivers have burst their banks,
bridges have collapsed and houses have been swept away. Sadly many people have been displaced while
some people have lost their lives. The
President has declared in the country a State of Emergency.
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