28 Aug 2022

Some farmers around Lake Ngami have called on government to consider drilling and equipping boreholes within the vicinity of the lake to save livestock from getting  trapped in the lake.

In an  interview, the farmers  expressed fear over losing their livestock, with some saying they  have started experiencing problems as some cattle, donkeys and horses helplessly got trapped in the mud of the drying lake Ngami.

The annual floods did not  reach the lake leaving livestock and wildlife competing for the little water along the edge of the lake.

Farmers said the situation required an urgent attention and appealed to the government to rescue their livestock. Some even proposed that since the lake was home for some wild animals, government should also consider pumping water from boreholes into the lake.

Mr Christopher Morangi said, “We anticipated this year’s floods to be better, unfortunately the lake has not recieved any in flow. It’s a pity that mostly cattle are dying like flies since the past two months, and the situation is worsening daily.”

Livestock farming, he said was a source of livelihood to most people in Sehithwa and surrounding areas.

Mr Morangi argued that during the 2019 drought government intervened by drilling a borehole and pump water for the hippos at Nxaraga hippo pool and further proposed that the same arrangement could be  extended to Lake Ngami.

Another farmer, Mr Kanang Kanang concurred that drilling of boreholes could rescue farmers. He said the situation was so bad that some farmers had volunteered to rescue the trapped animals daily.

Describing the situation as worse and worrying because carcasses were around the lake which he said was likely to contaminate the little drop in the lake and thus posed a risk to the welfare of the animals and the environment.

Mr Kanang also noted that farmers were making efforts to keep their animals away from the lake to prevent more deaths but it seemed they preferred lake water.

Sehithwa Farmers Committee chairperson, Mr Zacharea Nguvauva said the situation at the lake was worrisome as it was threatening to wipe off their animals. He said it was unfortunate as they experienced it yearly due to variations of floods and called on government to assist. 

“Every year, we experience a spate when the lake dries up since its rebirth in 2012. In the past the same situation was experienced but was manageable. Today we experience a high elephant population which exacerbates the situation as they also drink from the lake,” he added.

He said that one syndicate at Ruha area in the outskirt of Sehithwa was assisted with an equipped borehole and urged the government to revisit the issue.

About  10 000 livestock depend on the waters from the lake and during the 2019 drought, the department of Veterinary Services in collaboration with farmers managed to remove over 350 animals which were stuck in the lake. ends