Maseheka

Flooding in the Caprivi region: villages on the outskirts of Katima Mulilo

Caprivi is one of the 13 regions of Namibia. It takes its name from the Caprivi Strip which in turn was named after Leo von Caprivi. The Caprivi is a tropical area, with high temperatures and much rainfall during the December-to-March rainy season, making it the wettest region of Namibia. These are two of the contributing factors of the flood. It is estimated to begin between November and December each year and estimated to end between May and June the following year. The flood mainly affects villages namely Isize, Lisikili, Shukumansberg, kalimbeza, libula, kabe etc. these villages all lie in the caprivi flood plain.

The flood has disadvantages and advantages over the people living in the flood areas the disadvantages are mainly death and loss of property. Young children mostly under the age of 8 years- 1year drown in deep water, one other cause of death is predators like crocodiles and hippos attacking the people as they try to do their daily chores or try to walk through the water to get to dry land, death is also associated with the death of their livestock. Loss of property is another disadvantage as the water washes away their belongings and causes their houses to collapse. Advantages are that the waters provide the people with a means of survival and employment it also gives them a chance to teach their children the old ways of their people/ancestors. Most people in the village do not have the necessary qualifications to get employment in the government or in companies so women get their husbands to fish so they can sell the fish in the market as their husbands can get the fish from nearer places then walking for miles to find fish. Men also use their canoes to transport people from one place to another and this provides them with a means to earn an income. Women don’t only depend on their men but they also get a chance to rebuild other people’s houses after the flood. Katima Mulilo is a small town where nothing seems to happen or go wrong but on its outskirts a lot of things happen that no one seems to notice.

[1] [2] region [3]