By Reagan Malumo
Katima Mulilo
Life has become a challenge for the inhabitants of Impalila Island, who want to sell their garden produce in Katima Mulilo.
Impalila is an island located some 150 km east of Katima Mulilo, between the Zambezi and Chobe rivers. The residents have to sell their agricultural produce from garden projects at Katima Mulilo for them to put food on their tables. Since the route to Katima from the island via the eastern Caprivi flood plains is usually inaccessible, the only alternative for them is to cross into the nearby town of Kasane in Botswana and then travel via the Trans Caprivi highway through the Ngoma Border Post to Katima Mulilo.
According to the chairperson of Impalila Farmers’ Association, Godfrey Bainga, this route has become a challenge for farmers as they are compelled to pay N$120 for an emergency travel document in order to pass through Botswana in transit to Katima Mulilo. The travel document has to be replaced every six months when it expires.
According to Bainga, this coupled with transport costs, is unaffordable for farmers, together with the fact that customs and immigration authorities in Botswana normally demand a permit obtainable through payment in Botswana for the agricultural products to pass through their country.
It is against this background that the residents of Impalila request the Namibian Government to negotiate with the Botswana government for a facility that would enable them to travel freely between the two countries.
Pass documents were introduced two years ago between Zambia and Namibia, and the system has allowed people between the two countries to obtain them free of charge, in order for them to pass freely and trade freely between the two countries.
Meanwhile, Impalila Island produces the highest quantity of vegetables in the region and their only point of sale is the Katima Mulilo open market and according to them, if this alternative is impossible, Government should find them other markets.
Another challenge raised by the residents is the excessive damage to crops by wild animals such as hippos, elephants and buffalos. Though the island houses close to 50 villages, it is a proclaimed conservancy and conflict between animals and human beings has reached a climax.
A month ago, New Era carried a story of a man who sustained injuries after being trampled by an elephant in the same area. The man has since recovered.