- 32 households displaced
Prolonged heavy rains across the Okavango region have left a trail of destruction, damaged homes and creating significant barriers for learners attempting to access schools in remote villages.
District authorities report that dozens of households have been affected, with some families forced into temporary shelter after their homes collapsed under the weight of continuous downpours.
In an interview, Okavango Deputy District Commissioner Gaehetswe Maphakwane stated that disaster management teams have assessed 21 households in Okavango East alone. To date, nine emergency tents have been allocated to families whose residences were either destroyed or deemed structurally unsound.
“Not all affected families required tents,” Maphakwane explained, noting that several displaced residents opted for community-led support. “Some households indicated they could share accommodation with relatives whose houses are still standing and structurally safe.”
The impact is particularly severe in Mohembo East, where nine households received assistance and four tents were deployed. Additional relief efforts include two tents allocated in Nxamasere, one in Mohembo West, and another in Xhaoga.
Beyond the residential damage, the rains have crippled the region’s transport network. Maphakwane noted that road conditions have deteriorated to the point of near-impassability, specifically for students commuting from Mohembo East to Gowa Junior Secondary School and Kauxwi Primary School.
“The roads are in a very bad state due to the rains. Muddy conditions and waterlogged sections are making travel difficult for both school children and villagers attempting to access essential services in neighbouring settlements,” the Deputy District Commissioner said.
Despite the treacherous conditions, Maphakwane commended the resilience of local learners, noting that there have been no recorded incidents of people being completely cut off from services by flooded crossings thus far.
However, she acknowledged that the fragility of infrastructure in remote settlements remains a major concern. The district’s primary focus continues to be the rising number of structural failures in residential buildings as the soil remains saturated.
The Deputy District Commissioner’s office confirmed it is continuing to monitor the situation and will conduct further assessments as rainfall persists across the Okavango region.
