The water level in the Okavango River has started receding following warnings of possible flooding in some parts of the district when the fresh floods arrived raising the amount of water in the river.
Residents in Ikoga and Etsha 13 villages in the Okavango region were last month warned of possible floods due to the high-water levels of the Okavango River which had approached some yards located by the river bank. However, a steady decline in the water levels has been observed which therefore indicates that there may be no more flood threats.
Speaking at the Okavango District Full Council session, the acting Head of Department of Water and Sanitation, Leabile Mosweu said currently, the Okavango River water level at Mohembo is at 2.430m (20th May2025) after experiencing a steady decline from the highest level of the year at 3.000m on the 25th April 2025.
Mosweu said the water levels are generally higher for the current hydrological year as compared to those recorded the previous year when 1.610m water level was recorded for the reporting period (20 May 2024).
Due to major inflows into the Okavango River this year, Mosweu said some water courses that have been dry for some times have since received significant recharges. Some of this water courses borders closely to some villages like Etsha 13, Ikoga and Xakao. Similar occurrences were observed during the previous years of major inflows in 2020, 2016, 2014 and 2012.
“During these previous occurrences no floods intrusions or destructions of property were recorded and are still not expected for the reporting period as we are already at end of the wet season and with water levels having begun to recede in most areas,” Mosweu added.
District Commissioner for Okavango, William Keareng added that as the water levels have declined significantly, the water is running through dried channels hence many households won’t be affected by floods.
In sensitising communities, Keareng indicated that continuous monitoring will be done daily in the river channels especially villages along the river bank noting that Etsha 13 and Ikoga will continue to be villages of high interest.
Keareng indicated that the public has since been informed about the water situation adding that village leadership and VET members were engaged as members of Village Disaster Committee to be on high alert.
He stated that so far, they do not have any record of flood victims because the water is just going through its natural channels. “Only one household was minimally affected and a marque tent was availed in response. Other households will continually be monitored to determine response approach as the water situation is declining,” he added.
