22 Oct 2020

Ngamiland is prone to misfortunes such as the foot and mouth disease (FMD), drought, floods, tsetse fly, lung disease, African migratory locust and the amblyomma tick.

Recently there was suspected outbreak of FMD in Nxamasere in the Okavango Sub-district and there were reports of sightings of the African migratory locust in the outskirts of Gumare.

During a consultative meeting organised by Okavango deputy district commissioner Thabang Waloka in Gumare, the community shared their experiences concerning some of these natural disasters.

Former Ngami MP, Mr Taolo Habano, said during the tsetse fly era, Ngamiland people lived in misery and agony because the insect caused cattle disease and sleeping sickness on people.

He said some people even migrated from various settlements along the delta to settle in Maun in fear of the tsetse fly.

Mr Habano warned that there were chances of an outbreak of the insect again in the area, adding that research had indicated that tsetse fly eggs could survive underground for 40 to 50 years just waiting for a suitable environment to hatch.

He, however, commended government for coming up with measures to eradicate tsetse fly.

As for the African migratory locust, the former MP said he first heard about it in 1954 from his mother who told him the locust was following the route it used many years ago.

About the amblyomma tick, which for the past years had resulted in high cattle mortality in the area, Mr Habano suggested regular dipping of animals and that farmers should also cooperate by availing their cattle during those times.

Ms Gosimilwe Molapisi said in 1987, there was another outbreak of the African migratory locust, which devastated farmers in Gumare and surrounding areas.

She said when invading a field of crops, the pest would destroy or feed on crops within a short period of time.

Ms Molapisi, however, noted that with an outbreak early this year, there was no prompt intervention by the department of crop production, hence.

Sub district crop production officer, Mr Onne Monamisi said the Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food Security had been making efforts to control the locust through the use of chemical spray, but they were considering another method of destroying eggs.

Commenting on FMD, Gumare Farmers Association committee member, Mr Onneile Tsile, advised that people should control movement of their cattle to minimise chances of getting the disease.

“When growing up, we were looking after our cattle with restricted movements. Maybe we should go back to that culture where cattle are looked after and not allowed to roam everywhere they want,” he said. ENDS