Rakops Residents Fish With Treated Mosquito Nets

BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer | Monday September 6, 2010 00:00

 

Senatla said they have been made aware of the practice after a Kgotla meeting in Rakops early last month. He explained that the nets are treated with a chemical called 'icon,' which is not fit for human consumption. He warned that it is not good to use the nets for fishing because they could contaminate the Boteti River and harm aquatic animals and plants.

The government gave about 13,600 mosquito nets to the Boteti residents in July. Senatla said they have pleaded with the people to desist from using the mosquito nets for fishing. He said the authorities have to embark on a serious public health education if things do not change. 

Kgosi Kopano Mabona of Rakops said they have assembled an investigation team after somebody raised the issue of fishing with mosquito nets at a Kgotla meeting. 'Village Development Committee members, dikgosi, dikgosana and some village elders have been sent to investigate but they haven't found anything,' he said.

He did not deny that people might be fishing with mosquito nets because the perpetrators may be doing so covertly where no one can catch them. Mabona urged residents of Boteti not to disturb the natural flow of the river because when it dried up in the past, life was very difficult in the area. 'This river is a source of life. We fish and drink water from it. Our livestock drink from this source as well,' he said.

He warned that fishing with mosquito nets could be a health hazard. He advised people to refrain from so doing so. Boteti River dried-up in the early 1980s but started flowing again recently following  heavy rains in Angola and Namibia. The river had been a source of livelihood to the people of Boteti though it brings water borne diseases.