By Emmanuel Lishandu
In the age of information, staying informed is no longer a luxury — it's a necessity. News updates, educational programming, documentaries, and current affairs content keep people connected to the world around them. Yet, in many communities across our country, load shedding has turned this basic need into a privilege — one increasingly reserved for the few who can afford to live above its impact.
Most households rely on television networks like DStv, GOtv, and TopStar to stay up to date with what's happening both locally and internationally. These platforms host major news stations, government briefings, educational content for children, and even international programming that broadens worldviews. But what happens when the power goes off for 8, 10, or even 12 hours a day?
People stop paying for subscriptions. After all, what’s the point of subscribing to DStv when there’s hardly any electricity to watch it? So, access to vital information fades — not because people don’t want it, but because the system doesn’t allow them to have it. That means missing out on news about government policies, public health warnings, job opportunities, educational content, or even just knowing what’s going on in the world beyond your neighborhood.
Of course, there are a few people who have found ways around this. Some families have installed solar panels; others live in areas where power cuts are less severe. But what about the rest of us — the majority — who don’t have those options? What about the single mother in the hood trying to raise informed kids? Or the unemployed youth who just want to stay aware and updated?
Without access to TV and reliable power, many people turn to their phones and social media apps like Facebook to get information. And while that can help, it’s far from perfect. Social media algorithms are designed to show you content you already engage with — what you like, what’s trending, what your friends are posting and fake News
. But what about the important news that’s not going viral? What about the critical but untrending stories that won’t appear on your feed simply because you didn’t “like” similar content before?
. But what about the important news that’s not going viral? What about the critical but untrending stories that won’t appear on your feed simply because you didn’t “like” similar content before?
This growing dependence on social media for news is dangerous. It creates echo chambers and limits the diversity of information people are exposed to. Worse still, it widens the gap between the rich and the poor — not just economically, but intellectually and socially.
While children in wealthier suburbs enjoy uninterrupted access to educational channels, science shows, cultural programs, and global events, our kids are left to entertain themselves with what little they can find. They miss out on exposure to the broader world — to new languages, scientific ideas, cultures, and aspirations. They're robbed of imagination, inspiration, and even ambition.
This is more than just an inconvenience. It’s a systemic issue that breaks my heart. Because every hour of load shedding is another hour our children fall behind, another hour our communities are left in the dark — literally and figuratively.
Information is power. And when access to that power becomes uneven, so does everything else — opportunity, growth, understanding, and ultimately, the future.
In summary, Load shedding is doing more than killing our appliances or disrupting businesses. It's slowly starving our communities of information, education, and exposure. Unless something changes, the divide between those who have access and those who don't will only grow wider.
And in that growing gap, we’re losing more than just light — we’re losing the chance to know, to grow, and to rise.