Why do frequent El Niños still catch the region by surprise?

Friday, May 24, 2024 | 220 Views |

Changing times: El Nino is predictable but regional governments struggle to deal with its impact

Every seven years or so, the El Niño phenomenon, hated and dreaded in equal parts, covers the region with heatwaves and droughts. As authorities assess the devastation from the most recent visit, why does it seem El Niño still surprises the region? MBONGENI MGUNI writes

SADC, this week, launched a $5.5 billion (P74.4bn) global appeal for humanitarian aid, in the wake of a devastating El Nino-hit summer that brought record droughts and floods to more than 60 million people in the region.

The last such appeal was a $2.7 billion request in 2016, which at the exchange rates of the time amounted to P29.6bn.

Already have an active account? Log in here.

Or Sign up and get unlimited access to premium articles.

Where is the reward? Moagi questions state's P4.7 million corruption case

Larona Makhaiza | 4 h ago

High loan costs force Batswana to shelve borrowing

Timothy Lewanika | 1d ago

Debswana, Boteti District Council boost food security

staff writer | 1d ago

Selefu

joey kambai | 6 h ago

Xpress Batteries expands beyond South Africa with first Botswana store

correspondent | 7 h ago

Lands Ministry accused of defying Boko's Bonno project

Larona Makhaiza | 1d ago

Gov't, unions deadlocked on per diem talks

Mbongeni Mguni | 1d ago

Court rejects bid to jail gov't officials for contempt

Innocent Selatlhwa | 1d ago

Public servants deserve better than union infighting

‘The strongest bond of human sympathy outside the family relation should be one uniting working people of all nations and tongues and kindreds’.- Abraham LincolnUntil then, the Council’s operations remain suspended, delaying critical decisions affecting thousands of public sector employees.The current standoff is between the Manual Workers Union on one side and the Six Cooperating Trade Unions, namely BONU, BOPEU, BTU, BDU, BOSETU and...

Mmegi Editor | 31 July 2026

About us

Mmegi is the leading independent source of breaking news, latest news, current
affairs, Politics, Business, Sport, debates, analysis, and entertainment news in Botswana.