Okavango Delta Management Plan - Ramsar Convention on Wetlands

The District Council is responsible for all other roads (paved, gravel or sand) in the <strong>Ramsar</strong>
site. .
2.1.7.3 Public Transport
Public transport is provided by private operators. There are three main modes of transportbuses,
aeroplanes and boats. The boats and aeroplanes are generally used by tourists
whilst buses run along the bitumen standard roads. Buses run between the district centre
Maun and Shakawe/Mohembo. On the eastern side of the river there is no public
transport due to the poor state of the roads.
Maun has an international airport. There are also some smaller airfields in some of the
villages and camp sites. Airfields in the campsites are owned by the operators and those in
the villages are operated by the Department of Civil Aviation. The most common mode of
transport for short journeys is horse riding, donkey carts and canoe.
2.1.7.4 Postal Services
Postal services are provided through a network of post offices and postal agencies.
Currently, there are six (6) post offices and nine (9) postal agencies in the <strong>Ramsar</strong> site
(NDSS, 2004). Post offices are located in Maun, which has two, Sehithwa, Gumare, Etsha 6
and Shakawe. Postal agencies are located in Maun, Shorobe, Komana, Toteng, Nokaneng,
Sepopa, Nxamasere, Ngarange and Seronga. Maun Post Office is the headquarters for
postal services in North West and Ghanzi Districts.
2.1.7.5 Energy Supply
Some villages in the district are supplied by power from the Namibian Grid, while the rest
are connected to the Botswana Grid. Villages supplied from the Namibian Grid are
Nokaneng and those further west.
The following villages have power reticulation: Maun, Shorobe, Toteng, Sehithwa, Tsau,
Nokaneng, Gumare, Sepopa, Shakawe and Mhembo West. Most of these villages benefited
from the recent Government programme of extending electricity to rural villages.
Most settlements are not connected with electricity power supply, so the main alternative
sources of energy are firewood, gas, paraffin and candles. The area has good trees for
firewood; over-harvesting is being discouraged in order to reduce the impact on the trees.
Alternative sources of energy and affordability need to be explored in order to ensure the
sustainable use of wood resources. The supply of electricity to more villages should be
considered as one of the priority areas of concern.
2.1.7.6 Telecommunications
Most of the main centres and villages have telephone facilities while cellular phones are
increasingly used. Telecomuunciation services are provided by both Mascom and Orange.
Internet facilities are available in Maun, but limited elsewhere.
2.1.7.7 Education
There are 55 primary schools in the Ngamiland District with 30 in the Ngami Sub-District
and 25 in the <strong>Okavango</strong> Sub-District. There are ten (10) Community Junior Secondary
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