05 Jul 2022

Residents of Okavango have called for their region to be split into two due to its geographical location and cultural diversity.

They made the suggestion during the Delimitation Commission consultative meeting held in Shakawe Monday with residents from communities on the western side of the Okavango River.

Although most residents argued that the two proposed constituencies of Okavango East and West be separated by the Okavango River, some submitted that the division should be determined by the number of constituents on the proposed constituencies.

In his proposal, Nxamasere village development committee (VDC) chairperson, Mr Dithapi Atsuwe said the proposed Okavango West constituency should stretch from Etsha 1 to Mohembo West village while Okavango East should start from Mohembo East settlement to Gudigwa village.

Mr Atsuwe appealed to the Delimitation Commission to consider that communities in the western side of Okavango had interrelated cultures of Sehambukushu, Shiyeyi and Sesarwa.

He said the vastness of Okavango constituency currently impended developments as one Member of Parliament was overwhelmed.

“There will be effective service delivery if we are to have two Members of Parliament,” he said.

Xhaoga VDC chairperson, Mr Malwetsi Monnawaditau also suggested that Okavango constituency be divided into Okavango East and West.

He said communities on either side of the Okavango River had similar cultures and languages.

Shakawe VDC chairperson, Retired Major Lefedile Andreck argued that the Okavango constituency was broad with bad terrains.

He said the western side of Okavango currently had 10 villages while the Eastern side had nine villages, saying if Etsha 6 village was added the whole Okavango would have a total of 22 villages that could be considered for division.

Ret. Maj Andreck said Okavango needed a special dispensation  due to other factors such as population quota for a constituency.

One member from the communities, Mr Pitso Mohembo argued that the Okavango division be equally determined by the number of constituents on both sides of the proposed constituencies not the river as most residents proposed.

However, a member of the delimitation commission, Mr Thebeyame Tsimako said Okavango constituency had a population of 44 690 as per the recent population census while the population quota for a constituency was 41 396.

Nonetheless, Mr Tsimako said there were other factors that were considered when demarcating constituencies.

He said at the end of the day the commission would come up with a report that summarised all the suggestions made by different communities. Ends