Clearly Namibia is not doing so well in environmental protection,economic planning and food security sectors. And while we are facing these challenges, we are also faced with an important River ecosystem deterioration...the River in Question is a "dying" or neglected  Oshigambo river system ,which has the potential to significantly contribute to social and economic upliftment of Namibia.

Brief information of Oshigambo River:

Oshigambo River (Also known as Odila or Onathinge River ) is seasonal/semi perennial river which forms part of Cuvelai river system which runs from South Central Angola and flows into Etosha pan in North Central Namibia, so Oshigambo is an international river system ,which crosses the Namibian-Angolan international borders, and passes through Ohangwena Region flowing into Etosha pan in the Oshikoto region...

The  river existed since time immemorial,and all along used by local indigenous communities sustainably for ages.It was  first  l recorded by one of the earliest European explorer in Northern Galton Francis in his dairy of 1851, where he noted that the River was semi-perennial which means it does not really dry up, and 100 years later the river was still known to be a thriving water source that carries water for most of the year, as said by the late former mayor of Ondangwa Dr Otto Kapia who told the Namibian Newspaper that: "The Oshigambo River used to be a perennial river but it dried up in the 1950s when a dam was built in Angola".

-This version of witness is confirmed almost by every elder I come across in the Oshigambo river area.

Reliable sources from oral history and especially by former Namibian liberation war veterans who criss crossed the entire catchment area during during their operation times, also accounted that Oshigambo River ecosystem was still thriving until 1970s when it completely started to dry up since then and began to get more and more drier ,with only occasionally flooding recorded in extremely high rainfall years such as most recently the year 2006 and 2020. (Among the people who gives this accounts is local historians ,community members around Oshigambo River Ecosystem and Veterans of Liberation struggle who operated in the area since 70/80s) 

-Traditional Authorities in the area supports the claims above.

Challenges Noted:

1 .The River is  reported as "interrupted" by building of  a "Dam" or a sort of divertion in Angola.

2. The River is observed as silted at places.

3.The area along the River is Agricultural area, and less effort is done to create a reliable irrigation opportunity along the river.

4. Grasslands along the river are heavily under pressure and the trees (Riverline forests including protected tree species,are being cutdown in masses,with nothing much done by the government authorities to stop desertification and prevent extinction of important indigenous trees , and wild animals that thrives or once thrived  in those environment .

Therefore this petition seeks to Demand or recommend for the Namibian or legislature or  Executive to:

1.Engage their Angolan counterparts on ways to protect and revive the river system,and especially to investigate/report back on the claim(s) that river course is "interrupted or blocked by dam(s)" or diverted .

-Ministry of International Relations and Coorperation.

2.Investigate for implementation the opportunities to reduce silting up of the river course to allow a full free flow of water, suggestions are too allow sand mining in the river and or to escavate and   deepend  parts of the river considered as silted...

-Ministry of Agriculture ,Water and Forestry.

3.To additionally consider the establishment of permanent water solutions in a "usually dry" Oshigambo River to enable all year round crop irrigation and promote a green Namibia.. Suggestions includes: Pumping additional water into the river from sources such western /central Cuvelai floodplains , Kavango or Kunene rivers (or other water sources in Angola),Ohangwena or Tsumeb Acquifer,disalinated sea water etc.... establish Boreholes,Canals or Earth Dams (Dammsake)

 -Ministry of Agriculture.

4. Protect and revive the River line forests biodiversity along the river,.this will not only promote a healthy coexistence of Humans ,Plants and animals, but it will also promote ecotourism and as such increase economic activities...

-Ministry of Environment and Tourism.

5.Ministry of Regional and Local government Must engage Traditional Authority,experts  and the community at large to make sure the recommendations are considered, reviewed and implemented as far as possible.

.......End of Petition...Thank you..............

Petition commencement date 25-01-2024

Petition runs until a positive response or demands are met.

-To be signed by all interested individuals and environmentalists, and to be delivered to the Key Ministries (Ministers) Quoted and/or through the Secretary of Cabinet.

-This petition is inspired  by the International treaties on environmental and water resources and it must be treated as international.

Author :Sakaria Kandenge

(Namibian Development Planner and Consultant) 

-Member of Kayuhwena Hadhela Nyoko KHN community development initiative.

Tel: +264814470864

E-mail: sackykandenge@gmail.com

Chairperson Eshisha Development Organisation.