Exactly 100 years since Batawana’s first relocation after settling in Ngamiland, Maun is staring at the worst drought in recent history. It is not just Maun. The entire south western part of the Okavango Delta is as dry as a bone.
The annual flood from the Okavango’s catchment was at its lowest levels this year. The low water found empty rivers and it is unlikely that the trickle will reach Maun this year.
If we were still in the 1800s, Kgosi Kealetile Moremi would be relocating from Maun now.
Historical records show that in 1820 Kwebe, the first capital of Batawana, located on the foothill of Kwebe Hills and peripheries of Lake Ngami, dried up forcing the then Kgosi Moremi to move to Namanyana, which is the current day Toteng. After Toteng there were many relocations - to Tshoroga, back to Toteng, then Tsau, before a final settlement in Maun in 1915.
These relocations were mainly due to droughts (drying of rivers) and natural disasters involving diseases such as Rinderpest.
Most of the Batawana royal settlements (Mauns) were concentrated on the western part of the Okavango Delta and around Lake Ngami that was fed by the Thaoge River.
Thaoge River is one of the three main splits of the Okavango Delta. Others are the Nqoga – Maunachira – Khwai and the Jao – Boro systems. The Thaoge River flow into Lake Ngami died in the mid-1900s. Is the Jao-Boro system next on the line, especially looking at its current state? Is the Okavango Delta dying?
Mmegi invited experts, who have extensively worked on the Okavango River Basin to explain the status of the current water levels.
No comments:
Post a Comment