04 Aug 2026

A total of 60 cases of teenage pregnancy and 15 cases of defilement have been recorded in the first quarter of 2026 (April to June) in the Okavango District.

This was revealed by Okavango District Council, acting Chief Social and Community Development Officer (S&CD), Ms Tebogo Letshabamang.

According to Ms Letshabamang, the Okavango District still hold tight to some cultural practices perpetuating risks and vulnerability of some societal groups like children.

Ms Letshabamang was presenting at a consultation meeting between Okavango District leadership and the Chief of Staff, Dr Oupa Tsheko, who is the chairman of a task force on Social Protection Programme aimed at assessing challenges of poverty on Thursday in Gumare.

However, she said efforts on sensitising to change and do aware with cultural norms that oppress some sectors of the society were hampered by shortage of funds. 

Ms Letshabamang said sensitisation and education on sustainable livelihoods would go a long way in improving the status quo.

Therefore, she said government’s plan to develop a social protection policy and framework was a welcome development, as it will prioritise district based on peculiar challenges contributing to extreme poverty such as outbreaks of animal diseases, limited markets for agriculture produce. 

Currently, she said the district has registered 3 848s destitute, 2 720 needy students, 611 children in need  and receiving protective care and 755 orphans.

In his address, Dr Tsheko said government was concerned by the level of poverty in the country, despite having programmes aimed at its alleviation.

Therefore, Dr Tsheko said the task team was consulting district leadership and other economic and development stakeholders  to appreciate the challenges at hand and gather evidence to help formulate a policy and framework on social protection. ENDS