UB in constant darkness

UB in constant darkness..

In the community and in the knowledge of Batswana at large, the University of Botswana is not affected by the power cuts that have since taken Botswana by storm.

The random person on the street will likely enviously say to a UB student, “You are so lucky you are an on-campus student at UB. You are not affected by these outrageous power cuts.” But this is far from the truth.

It is more than common for the lights to go off when students are still writing their tests. And it is not uncommon for the power to go off more than 3 times a week during test/exam time.

Asked why the University never experienced power cuts in the past even when other parts of the country did, the Public Relations Director of the institute, Reetsang Mhitshang, said, “In the past Botswana never had the power rationing we do now. The matter is that BPC rations power. Even to UB.”

Clearing the belief that the University has back-up, Mhitshane said that the institute only has back-up in strategic buildings, such as the library, the computer center and the Faculty of Health Sciences.

“The backup is meant to cater for strategic points such as the University’s main server, emergency lights and sensitive scientific equipment that require full-time power supply,” she said.

Speaking to some of the students at the University they said that the power cuts are an inconvenience. While one student bragged, on the basis on anonymity, that he made out with one of the library books when the power went off as he was still studying for a test he was writing the following day.

Chatiwa Scotch studying for BED Primary said that the cuts become an inconvenience when she has to study or do research.

“Suppose you have a presentation the following day, and you have to do last minute touches on your research, and the power goes off. What are you to do then? Books do not have enough information. The internet is essential in our research. We have come to rely too much on the Internet.”

She went on to say that sometimes when you have laid out your timetable to study at a certain time; it becomes a pain in the wrong places when the electricity suddenly goes off.

“Sometimes you plan to study at a time when you don’t have lessons, and at exactly that time the electricity goes off. And by the time it comes back on, you will be having lessons or group work to attend to.” She said.

“And it usually takes a long time to come back.” She concluded with frustration.  

Dennis Lekome, a Bsc 205 student said that he is not entirely affected by the power cuts when they hit the University because he lives off-campus. He however related a recent incident when there was a black-out just when his class was about to go into a lab at the University’s new building. A building commonly known only as 247.

Asked how the university plans to combat the situation, PR Director Mhitshane said that, “I should agree that there is a need to establish a clear communication between the University and the utility company on power shedding. This can only be useful when it is to do with planned power cuts. It should, however, be noted that due to the nature of the service (power supply), emergencies do occur. For example, breakdown of power sub and mini-sub stations, where it is always beyond the control of the utility company.”

She went on to say that some of the breakdowns such as those of defects in underground cables can be termed as localized occurrences that have been attended to by the University Maintenance Unit.

When should we expect the situation to be rectified? “We cannot commit ourselves on problems that occur on utility company systems, but we are in communication with the utility company to consider our position when effecting planned power shedding."