14 Jun 2021

One of the popular ponds in the periphery of Gumare dubbed Chadichadi is filled again after drying up in 2019.

Chadichadi was badly affected by the dry spell in the Okavango Delta.

The pond, which is home to animals such as crocodiles, hippos as well as various species of fish and also a watering point for livestock and wild animals.

When water levels at the pond drastically reduced and eventually dried up, habitants started dying and some migrated to nearby water sources.

It was during the time that the water situation at Chadichadi was deteriorating that Gumare wildlife officer in charge, Mr Rabogwe Rampe said about 100 hippos were stranded at the pond.

However, in mid-2020, Okavango Delta flood waters reached Chadichadi and the pond started to slowly fill up until it reached full capacity this year. Its ‘inhabitants’ among them, hippos and crocodiles have now resurfaced at the pond.

Kgosi Eastman Motshidiemang of Tubu said they were excited about the current status of the pond as their livestock would survive.

He said when filled to capacity, Chadichadi took some years to dry up, adding that ‘this pond has existed for a long time, and for years it has never gone completely dry’. 

Kgosi Motshidiemang said it was only in 2019 that they saw such a misfortune, which led to the death of animals such as hippos and crocodiles.

One of the farmers, Mr Onalesego Keoremile of Tubu cattle posts said the drying up of the pond was frustrating, but now they were happy because the pond was a water source for their livestock. ENDS