Okavango Delta reawakens
Lesedi Mkhutshwa | Monday January 27, 2025 15:51
Addressing the ongoing North West District Council (NWDC) session, council chairperson, Itumeleng Kelebetseng, said the entire Okavango Delta's river systems have experienced above-normal rainfall since December 2024 to date. He further stated that after several years of low inflows, this year shows promise for significant inflows, driven by both local and regional rainfall from Angola and Namibia. The rainfall has significantly contributed to raising the groundwater table and filling channels through surface runoff, he added.
Kelebetseng stated that at the Mohembo gauging station, the Okavango river water level rose to 1.3 meters as of January 10, 2025. “This marks a significant improvement compared to previous years since 2017 when we last had strong inflows and good rains during the Cyclone Dineo. Annual flows are projected to reach Maun by April 2025,” he added. Speaking about the comprehensive monitoring of Salvinia Molesta (Mochimbamo), he stated that it was conducted in most river systems of the lower Okavango Delta despite the challenge of limited resources, especially transport. “In the third quarter, 28 out of 39 (71.8%) monitoring sites were covered. Generally, salvinia infestations in most of the river systems are under control as weevils are present and effective with the plants either completely brown or half green and half brown, indicating impairment,” he said.
Additionally, he said the river systems covered include Muanachira, Khwai, Mogogelo, Mborogha/Abaqao, Gomoti Boro-Thamalakane and Xudum. Kelebetseng elaborated that traces of isolated salvinia plants in the Boro River are observed at Nxaraga Lagoon downstream of which the river is still dry. Meanwhile, the Thamalakane River is having some water due to rain but there is no salvinia. He also said a stakeholder engagement was done at Camp Moremi (Xakanaxa) where the department assisted them with identifying areas of fresh salvinia mats for the breeding of weevils in-house. Furthermore, he stated that the monitoring of groundwater levels in the North West District has been grouped into nine wellfields, namely, Shashe-Gogomoga-Tsutsubega, Kunyere (North and South), Matsebe (North and South), Thamalakane, Sexaxa, Gomoti, Ngamiland, Somelo and Phuduhudu. According to NWDC chairperson, currently only Shashe, Kunyere, Thamalakane, Gomoti and Phuduhudu are being monitored due to resource constraints. He also said an average of 43 out of 52 boreholes were monitored during the reporting period. Shashe, Kunyere and Thamalakane wellfields are being pumped for Maun water supply while the Phuduhudu wellfield supplies the village of Phuduhudu, he added. The Gomoti wellfield is not yet equipped.
Kelebetseng also said generally, groundwater levels continue to decline in most of the wellfields. He explained that it is primarily caused by sustained groundwater pumping by both the Water Utilities Corporation (WUC) and by private individuals. “This is intensified by lack of recharge since the river systems that replenish the aquifers have been dry and the rainfall season has just started for it to make a measurable impact on the aquifers by raising the water table,” he noted. However, he stated that there is a high optimism that the water levels for January 2025 monitoring will show a rise due to the recent rains that are being experienced in the district.
On another note, Kelebetseng stated that despite the high optimism that the water level will rise, the water supply situation in the North West District remains unstable owing to ongoing water supply project works and occasional interruptions emanating from pipeline failures and power outages. The Maun village water supply demand is 15.62 million litres per day against available water supply of 12.54 million litres per day, which translates to 23% deficit, he added. He further said to sustain supply, WUC is implementing some rationing and water browsing to areas that are not serviced.
He indicated that to improve water supply, the WUC through the Ministry of Water and Human Settlement is implementing several development projects in the district. Kelebetseng noted that the Maun Phase 2 project, which is one of the main development projects in the village, is progressing well with some packages of the project completed and beneficial use realised.