11 Nov 2019

Shortage of water will be the thing of the past for Ghabamochaa community, thanks to Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation for drilling and connecting a borehole to supply potable water. 

Ghabamochaa, a catchment area of Shorobe, is situated on the western side along the road to the Okavango Delta. 

It was reported that the community had been fetching water from as far as Machaba and Shorobe areas, which are about 20km away.

The foundation donated a borehole with a stand pipe, a tank, solar panels and also a community res troom at the kgotla. 

All the projects were constructed to the cost of over P80 000.

Speaking during the hand over of the projects, co-founder of Elephant Havens Wildlife Foundation, Mr Boago Poloko said they embarked on the projects as part of their corporate social responsibility.

He explained that Elephant Havens was a newly established non-profit making organisation dedicated to protecting and preserving the African elephants, stating that they found it prudent to plant back into the community they operate in.

He said the foundation relied much on international donors and ‘we found it fit to share the little we get with the communities as they are our key partners in wildlife conservation’.

He revealed that human life was precious, hence they prioritised borehole water provision as a necessity, adding that the district was hard hit by severe drought due to lack of rainfall, which resulted in the drying of water sources.

Mr Poloko appreciated that community involvement in wildlife conservation was critical, noting that it was also ideal to ensure they benefited from such efforts, and said the projects marked a new beginning with the community, the partnership they wish to take to another level going forward.

He explained that they had a lot to offer, citing the purchasing of a vehicle to rescue pupils who travel long distance to access education. 

He said they were concerned that pupils passed through elephant transits to school at Shorobe, which situation puts their lives at risk.

The project, he said, was still in the pipeline and hoped all the logistics would be finalised soon. 

Residents were encouraged to instill the spirit of ownership and to take care of the borehole project.

He said they had constructed an electric fence around the tank to protect it from elephants. 

Residents were also advised to report any breakdowns to the foundation management for assistance.

The foundation, he said, was willing to work with the community including farmers associations to educate them about ways to co-exist with wildlife in an effort to reduce human/wildlife conflicts. 

Village leaders thanked the foundation for the noble gesture, especially for the provision of water. 

They said for years, they had endured the sufferings of travelling long distance to fetch water and showered the foundation with accolades for rescuing them.

They appreciated that the borehole produced quality, good tasting water. 

Giving a brief history of the settlement, Kgosi Dichaba Maphomo said Ghabamochaa had been in existence in the early 1950s and it was unfortunate that many residents relocated to Maun and neighbouring villages because of the tsetsefly outbreak, which left many impoverished while some found jobs in safari camps in the delta.

Traditionally, he said residents were more into agriculture, adding that the settlement was the bread basket of Maun and surrounding areas. 

An elderly, Mr Kgosietsile Tando thanked the foundation for ensuring that they access water closer. ENDS