Tanzania’s climate remains harsh. At the beginning of the year famine was reported in several areas of the country and in February President Kikwete said the government would reduce the budgets of some ministries, if need be, to import food for hungry people. The President announced in February that he was going to hire electrical generators to relieve the shortage of electricity. He said that power shortages were critical, and daily rationing had been increased from 8 to 16 hours. He pointed out that this was because water levels at the Mtera and Kidatu dams had dropped due to the continuing drought. As the impact of the power rationing continued to be felt across the country, the public has expressed concern over a government ban on use of charcoal in urban areas. But two months later, after heavy rain, the dams started to refill and the severe electricity cuts in Dar were eased.