Deeper Trouble for the Okavango

By Gail C. Thomson & Mike Murray - Hudson

The Okavango Delta and its upstream catchment which is a home to hundreds of thousands of people are facing increasing danger. Although potential oil extraction in the region draws global attention, the ecosystem is being steadily weakened by numerous smaller, cumulative impacts. A recent report by John Mendelsohn for The Nature Conservancy shows that these pressures intensify each year.

Read More: https://conservationnamibia.com/articles/deeper-trouble-okavango-2025.php

Assessing the Information Seeking Behaviour of Researchers at the Okavango Research Institute, Botswana

Mosepele Mabutho, Janneke Mostert

Abstract

The Okavango Research Institute (ORI), a branch of the University of Botswana (UB), located in the North western region of Botswana, serves researchers in the natural and social sciences. ORI researchers need information to support research that contributes towards sustainable use of Botswana’s wetlands, which includes the Okavango Delta and other related wetlands. This study investigated the information seeking behaviour of ORI’s researchers. The aim of the study was to understand how they seek information, the information sources they use, and the problems they encounter when seeking information. Since ORI is a small institution, all the organization’s researchers were included in this study, which used a quantitative research method in the form of a survey. A structured questionnaire was used for data collection. The results showed that researchers in ORI seek information that is closely aligned to their research fields. Most researchers seek information to conduct research, write articles for publication, and to update their knowledge. Most of the researchers indicated that they prefer searching the internet and accessing the library remotely to satisfy their information needs. They reported poor internet connectivity, outdated library materials, and lack of time and skills to search for information as some of the challenges to successful information seeking. The study therefore recommends that acquisition of relevant and current information sources in appropriate formats be prioritised, and that library staff undertake information literacy skills sessions for researchers.

 

International Mother Language Day Celebration

 The National Day Of Languages has been celebrated in Botswana in 2008 after the United Nations declared it as the National Year of Languages. Since then, Botswana has hosted national celebrations yearly on the 21 February to commemorate this day.

This was a step in the right direction for our country because one can only understand him/her self better when he communicates with mother tongue language. One's mother tongue language is the one that orient him to a lot of things such as ones culture and moral issues. This is because the one's mother tongue language is the one that is mostly used during the first six years before starting primary schooling. It is used to introduces children to the cultural beliefs and general behaviours that are instilled in the early years of life. I was listening to Radio Botswana in the morning, a presenter of the morning show was saying that,  she  learnt and spoke  Setswana  and English language when starting her primary school. She further said that during the first six years of her younger years, family members were communicating in their tribal language. 

This was a general trend that happened to children in most families in the the past up the late 1980's. However, the introduction of "modern way of life" has resulted in some families preferring English as a language of communication to their children right from birth.  Mastering the English language is good, but children and young teenagers should also be able to speak their language and also learn their cultures. This should be instilled in their younger years so that it is not foreign to them when they go to tertiary education.

The late Sir Seretse Khama once said "chaba e e senang ngwao ke mo kang e suleng". He was trying to alert the nation that without culture one is lost. I don't think that any of us want to be lost or consumed by other peoples way of life. We should embrace  our unique Botswana,our culture,  the different tribes and cultural beliefs, traditional food, Attires, and cultural songs.  Celebrating and understanding all this makes us to be Truly Batswana - Batswana Tota!!!

A RE IPELENG,  RE IPELE KA BOTSWANA WA RONA - KA DITEME TSA RONA  -  PULA!!!

Elephant & Rhino Poaching in Botswana - A conservation Problem

 

 According to Mbaiwa, the Okavango delta and Chobe district have experienced prime poaching of large animals. He said that the African elephant and the rhinoceros are some of the endangered species that are targeted by poachers. This animals have experienced prime poaching in these areas because they have large populations in the two areas. 

He further said that  the demands for products made from ivory and rhino horn is  the reason why poachers target these species.

Read more about Prof Mbaiwa's article as published in The Ngami Times, 18 -25 February 2022 in the attached insert.

COVID- 19 - Information Resources

The COVID-19 (Coronavirus) is continuing to spread across other African countries, with thirty countries diagnosed to be having the virus. 

 Access to information is very important in combating the spread of the virus. Most people are now living in fear because of the disease. 

What is ‘novel’ coronavirus / COVID-19?

According to the United Nations International  Childrens Education Fund (UNICEF), the novel coronavirus (Cov) is a new strain of coronavirus that was identified in Wuhan, China, that has been named  coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – ‘CO’ stands for corona, ‘VI’ for virus, and ‘D’ for disease. Formerly, this disease was referred to as ‘2019 novel coronavirus’ or ‘2019-nCoV.’

Now, the COVID-19 virus is a new virus linked to the same family of viruses as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and some types of common cold.

Resources
 The following are some of the resources that the community can visit to get more information about the virus for Batswana:

The Ministry of Health and Wellness is closely monitoring the COVID-19 and  provides daily update on its Facebook page any information about COVID-19 in Botswana on:  https://www.facebook.com/COVID19.MOHW.BW/

The Government of Botswana Facebook page also post government press releases and any information pertaining to COVID-19. https://www.facebook.com/BotswanaGovernment/

The World Health Organization (WHO)  provides most up to date information about COVID-19. It provides:

-          - Public advice

-          - Situational updates

-          - Technical guidance and videos

-         -   Other media resources

It can be accessed on: https://www.who.int/

By Mosepele Mabutho

Botswana Release Precautionery Measures to Prevent COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

by Mosepele Mabutho


The government of Botswana through the leadership of the president His excellence Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi  & Ministry of Health of Wellness which is led by  Dr Lemogang Kwape has been very vocal in sensitizing the general public about precautionary measures they can practice to prevent the transmission of the virus.

As a way of preventing the transmission of the virus, the government of Botswana has implemented the following measures:

• All individuals coming to Botswana from the  high risk countries will not be allowed entry to the country

• Batswana have been asked  to postpone travel to affected countries to minimize the risk of COVID-19.

• International travel by all Government employees, parastatals and State owned Entities has been suspended with immediate effect.

• All government, parastatals and state owned entities international meetings and conferences are cancelled with immediate effect

• Social Distancing (public gatherings)

Total suspension of public gatherings of more than 100 people is imposed immediately for 30 days; these include: religious activities, restaurants supermarkets, conferences, wedding celebrations, night clubs/bars, music concerts, parties etc.

• To minimize risk of contracting and possible spreading of COVID-19, members of the public are advised to postpone non-essential local travel. To ensure continued safety of mourners/public at funerals/memorial services:

• To ensure continued safety of other users of health facilities, individuals who have cold symptoms (cough, fever, sore throat) and have had contact with returning travelers should:

a) Call 997, 3632756 /3632757 /363 2773;
b) Not use public transport; and
c) If using private vehicle or on foot, should alert health facility officers on arrival before entering the facility.

For a daily updated of the list of affected countries and more information on COVID-19 in Botswana, please refer to the following;  Facebook page: Covid-19_Mohw. TOLL FREE NO. 0800 600 740. 

Source: https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIAL.MOHW.BW/posts/1567003786780011?__tn__=K-R