Okavango close to highest level in 20 years

THE Okavango River is fast reaching its highest level recorded since 1984 – hovering just below the eight-metre mark yesterday.

According to NamWater’s division at Rundu, the river measured 7,9 metres yesterday morning, after gradual increases over the weekend from 7,83 m on Friday to 7,87 m on Sunday. Department of Water Affairs statistics indicated that the river last reached such levels at this time of year in 1984, when it registered a depth of 7,98 m.The highest level for that year was reached in April, at 8,20 m.Prior to that, the river reached an all-time high of 8,91 m in April 1969.Deputy Director of Hydrology, Guido von Langenhove, said yesterday that it was difficult to predict the levels the river was likely to reach in the coming months, with no data available from Angola – the river’s catchment area.Herbert Shixwameni, the Councillor for the Rundu Rural Constituency, the area most affected by the flooding, said yesterday that human lives were not yet in danger.Residents living along the Okavango River had been encouraged to move themselves and their livestock to higher ground, he said.”We can’t stop the waters from coming.Anything might happen,” he told The Namibian.A team set up to monitor the situation is expected to provide feedback to the Regional Emergency Management Unit (REMU) today on the extent of the flooding and assistance that may be required.Shixwameni has expressed particular concern about the Shipapo Wambangangu Fish Farm, some five kilometres east of Rundu, which he said was under threat from the encroaching waters.With both the breeding and nursery ponds affected, plans were under way yesterday to transport the fish to another farm in the Mukwe area.Mahangu fields both east and west of Rundu have been washed out.Travel by road, he added, was also becoming more difficult.Lodge owners, however, are still managing to transport their guests by boat to their establishments, while children from Mayana are having to travel to school by canoe.Shixwameni said the team set up to monitor the situation had begun educating people about treating the water before use, to avoid waterborne diseases.One positive to the flooding river has been an increase in the population of fresh water fish.Department of Water Affairs statistics indicated that the river last reached such levels at this time of year in 1984, when it registered a depth of 7,98 m. The highest level for that year was reached in April, at 8,20 m. Prior to that, the river reached an all-time high of 8,91 m in April 1969. Deputy Director of Hydrology, Guido von Langenhove, said yesterday that it was difficult to predict the levels the river was likely to reach in the coming months, with no data available from Angola – the river’s catchment area. Herbert Shixwameni, the Councillor for the Rundu Rural Constituency, the area most affected by the flooding, said yesterday that human lives were not yet in danger. Residents living along the Okavango River had been encouraged to move themselves and their livestock to higher ground, he said. “We can’t stop the waters from coming. Anything might happen,” he told The Namibian. A team set up to monitor the situation is expected to provide feedback to the Regional Emergency Management Unit (REMU) today on the extent of the flooding and assistance that may be required. Shixwameni has expressed particular concern about the Shipapo Wambangangu Fish Farm, some five kilometres east of Rundu, which he said was under threat from the encroaching waters. With both the breeding and nursery ponds affected, plans were under way yesterday to transport the fish to another farm in the Mukwe area. Mahangu fields both east and west of Rundu have been washed out. Travel by road, he added, was also becoming more difficult. Lodge owners, however, are still managing to transport their guests by boat to their establishments, while children from Mayana are having to travel to school by canoe. Shixwameni said the team set up to monitor the situation had begun educating people about treating the water before use, to avoid waterborne diseases. One positive to the flooding river has been an increase in the population of fresh water fish.