NGAMILAND SET FOR RAIN

The continuous flow of water into Okavango Delta and Thamalakane River is expected this rainy season, which runs from October until March.

North West District Council Chairperson, Kebareeditse Ntsogotho, told the ongoing full council meeting that a wet season will be experienced this year.

“The rainfall situation in Angola will be good therefore we are expecting a continuous flow of water,” explained Ntsogotho.

The wet season is expected to keep the water flowing in Thamalakane River, which remains a lifeline for many residents of Maun and surrounding areas.

With the floods come opportunities for fishery, harvesting of water lilies, boat cruises and other tourism adventures.

Having been reduced to mud for the best part of a year, the water finally returned to the river this June. With the water levels slowly diminishing, locals had feared another dry spell was looming.

However, it seems their fears were unfounded.

Two months ago, Climate Scientists from Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) formulated a regional climate outlook and suggested that the region will enjoy normal to above normal rainfall this season.

The Twenty-fourth Annual Southern Africa Regional Climate Outlook Forum (SARCOF-24) was held in August, with Covid-19 regulations forcing the event to take place virtually.

In its report, SARCOF-24 predicted the western half of Botswana and other SADC countries, including the south-eastern half of Angola and the bulk of Namibia, would receive increased chances of normal to abovenormal rainfall.

Angola and Namibia always come into the picture where Okavango Delta and Thamalakane River are concerned.

This is because they form part of Cubango-okavango River Basin, a transboundary basin with a network of river systems traversing Angola, Botswana and Namibia.

These three countries have signed an agreement on the use of the water basins with the floods in Angola often expelled into Namibia water streams and into Okavango Delta through Mohembo.

This water basin supports mostly rural communities that live along its streams.