The evolution of Xhaoga

For residents of Xhaoga, July 25 will go down in history as a joyous and memorable day. It was on that day that the Minister of Local Government and Rural Development, Mr Peter Siele, declared that Xhaoga was no longer a settlement but a fully fledged village. The village lies in the Okavango Sub-district, 15 km to the south of Shakawe. It has a small population of 767 residents. However, the village of Xhaoga has a rich array of ethnic groups ranging from Basarwa, Bakgalagadi, Bambukushu, Bayeyi and Baxhereku. All of them have combined their diverse cultures and agreed to be identified only as residents of Xhaoga village. The scenery of the village is very unique, with short bushes and grass- thatched -mud houses dotting the landscape. One cannot miss the homogeneity that defines the village as one enters Xhaoga from all its four corners. All the households are adorned with reeds (letlhaka) that frame every house in a specific manner. Xhaoga has been in existence since 1984. Back then the settlement was situated along the Okavango River. This posed danger to the lives of the residents, as the river over spilled and flooded their homesteads during heavy rains. In the early 90’s, Kgosi Mphaleng Kgosiyatamma led his people two kilometres away from the river to the West, where they set up present day Xhaoga. Read more in the Daily News http://www.dailynews.gov.bw/news-details.php?nid=5612