
SECTION A (10 Marks)
COMPREHENSION AND SUMMARY
Answer all questions in this section.
1. Read the passage below carefully and answer the questions that follow
As natural forests and woodlands continue to be depleted in Southern Africa, the ‘solar option’
seems to be one of the renewable energy solution to environmental degradation in the region.
However, without government subsidies, deforestation will continue as many people cannot
afford a solar installation.
Although the trend today is to move away from government subsidies, a tax incentive has been
proposed on all purchases related to solar energy. Such measures could help to reduce
deforestation by encouraging such purchases.
The unavailability of conventional sources of energy in Southern Africa has contributed to
environmental degradation as peasants, who form the majority of the population make a living
from the land through unsustainable means.
In Tanzania 85% of the people live in the rural areas and firewood is their main source of energy.
Charcoal mainly used in urban areas, together with wood accounts for 92.83% of the country’s
deforestation.
Environmentalists argue that the use of solar in both urban and rural areas would not only reduce
deforestation but will also foster development, and in the long-run improved living standards. For
instance, lighting in rural areas would enable more children to study and get good grades unlike a
situation where lack of lighting comprises their school performance. So too, can industrial or any
other work continue into the night.
Sub-Saharan Africa’s population is increasing rapidly and is expected to double in the next 35
years, putting a further strain on the already limited resources. Solar energy is so far the easiest
alternative to non-renewable sources of energy with the abundance of sun light in the region.
Wood fuel accounts for 75% of SADC countries’ total energy consumption, putting tremendous
strain on forests and wood land reserves.
To save the environment, SADC countries have increased efforts and private initiatives for the
development and dissemination of various alternative energy technologies such as solar energy,
fuel, alcohol, biomass and windmills.