27 Sep 2013

As they say, ‘water is life”. Likewise, the Okavango River is a source of life for communities living around the Okavango Delta.  As the river starts flooding, the waters of life advancing into the remotest corners of the delta, bring with it a delicacy and a source of life for the communities- fish.

As fate would have it, these natural resources are normally accompanied by some dangerous elements to their final destination where the flood plains just disappears into the vast and thick sands of Kalahari desert. Tubu village, which is located some twenty kilometres north of Gumare is one of the villages that borders the Okavango delta’s channel and the residents have learnt to adapt and make a living out of it despite the obvious dangers that lurks in these still waters; hippos and crocodiles.

BOPA team visited this remote village recently to see how they have adapted and utilise the rare opportunity of leaving alongside such natural wonders.

Upon arrival, we were directed to one of the resident Mr Gosalamang Xhiywa who has mastered the art of fishing despite the fact that he has no formal training what so ever. Mr Xhiywa who is affectionately known as ‘Soldier’ amongst his peers told us that we should have come in the morning as his day normally starts at six.
The following day we were at Tubu to see with own eyes and truly understand how this man manages to maneuver his way through these hippo infested waters.

On the way to his favourite spot, Soldier told us that fishing is his livelihood and he has mastered the skill to the extent that he does not need another person to help him, adding that he can camp by the river for a week alone. As we approached his favourite spot there were unwelcoming calls from the residents of the pond; hippos.

Terrified, we asked him to go back or leave us by the river bank where we felt was much safer than being in the canoe. After setting his trap, he told us that hippos are territorial animals and the best way to avoid conflict is to avoid the deep waters where they spend most of the time but rather fish along the banks. He said that normally in a day he can make a kill of close to seventy school of fish and take the consignment to Gumare where fish is in high demand.

Xhiywa said though he is doing fishing in small scale, he is able to sustain his family without any hassle. A soft spoken Xhiywa said fish farming is a lucrative market because nowadays most of the people do not eat red meat hence the good market.

He said he never forgets the day when he almost got killed by Hippos during one of his fishing expeditions, where his canoe was turned upside down by these big mammals.

“I managed to swim to safety but that has not deterred me from doing my favorite job,” he reminisced. Meanwhile the village headman Mr Eastman Motshidiemang said plans are afoot to make fishing a lucrative enterprise in their village. He pointed out that they have formed and registered a cooperative society and already bought three canoes, a generator and a fridge.

Mr Motshidiemang said, members will be able to catch fish in bulk and the cooperative will in turn look for market for them. He concurred with Xhiywa that fishing is a lucrative market and on demand hence the intention to bring all fishermen under one roof so that they can make a better profit. ENDS