Seronga community loots own tourist camp

Down to the ground: Mbiroba Camp has been stripped down by looters PICS: THALEFANG CHARLES
Down to the ground: Mbiroba Camp has been stripped down by looters PICS: THALEFANG CHARLES

Just like a snake that mindlessly bites itself to death, the community of Seronga in the Okavango eastern panhandle has committed economic suicide by savagely looting their own community tourist camp in a shameful and barbaric act that left the village even poorer, reports Staff Writer THALEFANG CHARLES

“Owaii! Mbiroba bae nyombile!” This was the response we got from a friend in Seronga when we were looking for a place to stay in the area recently. The saying is Ngamiland’s equivalent of “they have totally looted the place”. And now there is no accommodation, no campsite, nor guesthouse in Seronga – a big village where the Okavango Delta starts.

About a decade ago Seronga had a booming tourist camp called Mbiroba Camp named after the location next to it. With its lush green lawns under the shades of cool giant acacia trees, cosy chalets with thatched roof, big ablution area with hot showers accommodating overland trucks, large common area with a kitchen, and fully serviced campsite, Mbiroba was beautiful.

Editor's Comment
Human rights are sacred

It highlights the need to protect rights such as access to clean water, education, healthcare and freedom of expression.President Duma Boko, rightly honours past interventions from securing a dignified burial for Gaoberekwe Pitseng in the CKGR to promoting linguistic inclusion. Yet, they also expose a critical truth, that a nation cannot sustainably protect its people through ad hoc acts of compassion alone.It is time for both government and the...

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