In
a valley in Africa, on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe, runs the
Zambezi River, a longtime source of life to the Batonga people. They
relied on the river for its hospitable climate and for the fish they
would eat and sell to nearby villages. They were even nicknamed the
"River People" by others throughout Africa.
In the 1950s, everything changed for the Batongas. Local governments decided to build the Kariba Dam, a hydroelectric dam that could supply 6,400 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year. With that massive amount of potential power at stake, the government moved quickly to build.
The costs proved astronomical.
Nearly $500 million was spent over the next 20 years to build the dam, and 86 lives were lost during its construction. Even more costly was the forced relocation of over 57,000 Batongas by their governments. Overnight, the way of life they had known for generations evaporated. They were placed in the desert without sources of food, water or income. Hate and mistrust for the government grew as parents watched their children become malnourished. Some families lost hope and starved to death in the desert. When the Batongas tried to return to the river, they were told to buy permits they could not afford in order to fish in the place they had always called home. What happened to the Batongas during the construction of the Kariba Dam is now commonly known as "the worst dam-resettlement disaster in African history."
Against this backdrop, the EHC outreach began. How do you bring an idea like the hope of the Gospel to an area devastated by mistrust and despair?
In the 1950s, everything changed for the Batongas. Local governments decided to build the Kariba Dam, a hydroelectric dam that could supply 6,400 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year. With that massive amount of potential power at stake, the government moved quickly to build.
The costs proved astronomical.
Nearly $500 million was spent over the next 20 years to build the dam, and 86 lives were lost during its construction. Even more costly was the forced relocation of over 57,000 Batongas by their governments. Overnight, the way of life they had known for generations evaporated. They were placed in the desert without sources of food, water or income. Hate and mistrust for the government grew as parents watched their children become malnourished. Some families lost hope and starved to death in the desert. When the Batongas tried to return to the river, they were told to buy permits they could not afford in order to fish in the place they had always called home. What happened to the Batongas during the construction of the Kariba Dam is now commonly known as "the worst dam-resettlement disaster in African history."
Against this backdrop, the EHC outreach began. How do you bring an idea like the hope of the Gospel to an area devastated by mistrust and despair?
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