17 Dec 2019

North West District Council chairperson, Mr Kebareeditse Ntsogotlho has urged political leaders to mobilise communities to embark on a massive cleanup operation of the Thamalakane River given the rain showers the district has been experiencing lately.

Mr Ntsogotlho made the remarks when closing the full council meeting on Monday at Maun, noting that the river was overwhelmed by carcasses as a result of the drought season recently experienced in the district.

Failure to remove the carcasses, he said, would now pollute the river, open spaces and the river banks.

The house was informed that the council continuously collected dead animals in the village and that a mini-clean-up campaign was done targeting the river and river banks to remove the carcasses.

Councillors learnt that the council was in a process of mobilising resources to embark on a massive clean-up operation.

Cllr Luke Motlaleselelo of Bojanala ward enquired about the situation in the channels due to blockages caused by salvinia molesta weed, especially at Santatadibe channel.

In a written response, it was revealed that the existence of vegetation blockages consisting of predominately papyrus and hippo grass along the Santatadibe river system was observed more than 15 years back.

The Santatadibe river system, which covers a distance of approximately 42km starting from Dxaba, has been experiencing blockages, thus rendering it difficult to navigate by boats at some sections.

Since the discovery of blockages, it was reported that the relevant department embarked on the physical clearance of the vegetation until the exercise was stopped in 2016 due to lack of funds.

The response stated that the department was looking forward to funds during the 2020/21 financial year for the continuation of the blockage clearance exercise.

Low water levels in the river system resulting in accumulation of floating vegetation, especially where the river/channel sections are shallow and narrow, was identified as one of the factors that influence the formation of channel blockages.

Another way of removing the plant was through allowing elephants and hippos into the stream to uproot the plant.

Councillors learnt that the department had resorted to physical introduction of salvinia weevils from Qorokwe area to Nxara and Tshegetsang lagoons upstream of the channel, where thick infestations were observed.

During the months of October and November, it was reported that Okavango Kopano Mokoro Community Trust (OKMCT) in partnership with the department voluntarily embarked on physical removal of thick salvinia infestation and vegetation blockages upstream of Morutsha village for easy navigation of mokoro activities.

The control measure was carried out only where biological control was non-existence. ENDS