25 Jun 2026

The Chobe District Household Food Security and Vulnerability Assessment for 2025/26 indicated that the escalating human-wildlife conflict have impacted agricultural production and livelihoods.

Human-wildlife conflict remains a critical challenge in Chobe District, with 333 incidents reported in 2025.

Of the 333 cases, 285 qualified for compensation, costing government approximately P3.6 million.

Addressing the ongoing full council session, Chobe District Council Chairperson, Mr Johane Chenjekwa said increased crop destruction by wild animals was a burden for farmers.

Mr Chenjekwa said according to the district assessment, normal to above-normal rainfall was experienced during the 2025/26 agricultural season.

He said the situation resulted in improved water availability, grazing conditions, and livestock performance.

However, Mr Chenjekwa said despite the favourable rainfall conditions, a number of challenges were recorded, being flooding of ploughing fields in the Chobe Enclave and Pandamatenga areas, rodent infestations and locust outbreak.

He indicated that although heavy rains and flooding further affected households and agricultural areas, livestock conditions remain generally good due to improved grazing and water availability.

Mr Chenjekwa stated that the district assessment recommended continued implementation of the Lemang Dijo Programme to support resource constrained farmers and build climate resilience in Chobe District.

Additionally, Mr Chenjekwa said Lemang Dijo provided subsidised irrigation equipment to promote climate smart farming adding that it would bolster human-wildlife conflict mitigation measures through improved operational capacity.

He pointed out that 23 wild land fire outbreaks were recorded which affected approximately 112 923 hectares across the district.

Councillor Chenjekwa said Chobe District has received normal to above normal rains in the past raining season which resulted with an increase in fuel load across the whole district, therefore fueling possible veldt fires.

He said the situation posed a high risk of both local and trans- boundary wild land fires with a high anticipation of hot and intense fire incidences in the current fire season due to thick vegetation.

Mr Chenjekwa noted that the Department of Forestry and Range Resources in collaboration with the International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI) of Australia commenced early dry season prescribed burning on June 8 2026 to reduce fuel load and protect properties located in the wilderness. ENDS