Nkashi Classic revives the forgotten Okavango East :: Mmegi Online

In Okavango East, sometimes dubbed ‘Overseas’ due to its daunting inaccessibility, where elephants still roam freely and dusty untarred roads stretch for kilometres along an iconic river, a remarkable event is breathing life into this forgotten land. The Nkashi Classic, a thrilling mokoro race, has become a lifeline for these isolated communities that are left behind in Botswana’s development story, writes THALEFANG CHARLES

Hosting a national event in Seronga, Okavango East, is no small feat. The constituency, once colloquially known as ‘Overseas’, remains one of Botswana’s most neglected regions. Even though it might sound like an affectionate name that residents would call their countryside, it is not a term of endearment, but a warning: You’re entering another world.

The Okavango East is the forgotten constituency. According to the 2022 Delimitation Commission Report, Okavango East had a population of 21,412 covering an area of 14,065 square kilometres. But after 58 years of our Independence, this area still feels like “Bechuanaland”. It is the only constituency in the country without a single tarred road.

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