There is a strong possibility that next year’s river floods in northern Botswana could be more serious than experienced in the past two years. Already warnings are being issued in neighbouring countries about the situation.
Water levels have been rising steadily since November as a result of heavy rains in the eastern highlands of Angola, parts of the Caprivi Strip in Namibia and western Zambia.
The rains have augmented the already flowing rivers resulting from the 2011 floods. At Sexaxa near Maun this week, rainfall figures indicated about 150mm had fallen in the first 10 days of December while at Island Safari Lodge the water level in the Thamalakane River has risen to over 3.2metres. According to the Hydrological Services in Namibia, the Kavango River – which feeds the Okavango River – is rising further due to good rainfall in northern Namibia and Angola over the past few days. The Zambezi River remains stable although heavy rains are predicted from the Congo River Basin to the Zambezi, which feeds the Chobe and also affected rivers in the far north of the country.
Earlier this year massive flooding inundated many parts of Ngamiland, the Okavango Panhandle, the Moremi Game Reserve, Maun, and the Rakops and Toteng areas.
Raging floodwaters also caused damage to bridges and other installations in Maun, Toteng and Rakops while other bridges were covered by water as well.
Ngami Times - 16 December 2011
