15 Oct 2020

Households that were affected by the recent hailstorm have been urged to fast-track the process of repairing their structures as the rainy season has approached.    

Ngamiland District commissioner, Mr Keolopile Leipego said in an interview that there was no provision in the disaster management policy that allowed for the renovation of victims’ houses, saying it only permitted for those who had been affected to be assisted with tents and food packages.

The policy, he said, allowed the victims to use tents for three months with expectation that they would manage to renovate their structures within the same period.

The district commissioner noted that a total of 15 households were affected, five of which were assisted with tents, eight were given food rations while the rest did not qualify for assistance.

The affected families were stranded and homeless as the winds swept away their roofing, tuck-shops, churches, some shops and trees, among others.

The most affected wards were Boseja, Bombadi and Thito, but no casualties were reported.

He also urged Maun community to remain cautious as the rainy season had started, as such disaster was highly anticipated. 

Mr Leipego also encouraged residents to build strong and secure structures that would survive extreme weather conditions such as torrential rains. 

During assessment, he said they realised that some residents built poor quality structures, hence they were easily swept away by strong winds.

He observed that weak foundation and roofing could post risk to inhabitants and the neighbours, hence the need to build strong buildings that would remain upright when disaster struck.

Meanwhile, according to seasonal rainfall and temperature outlook report provided by the Department of Meteorological Services for October 2020 to March 2021, generally a moderately wet season is expected countrywide with the upcoming season being wetter than the previous one.

The report states that during the first half of the season, from October to December, most of the country with the exception of southwest, expects normal to above normal rainfall.

During the second half of the season, from January to March 2021, the bulk of the country will receive normal to above normal rains with the northern parts including Ngamiland region receiving above normal rainfall. 

Temperatures will be normal with a tendency to below normal over most areas.

In a recent interview, chief technical officer from Department of Meteorological Services in Maun, Mr Omphemetse Mokgweetsi revealed that the weather forecast had indicated that the SADC region would experience more rainfall this year than the previous years.

He stated that last year the rain condition was neutral. ENDS