By Moses Magadza in Palapye Botswana

The Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF) and the Parliament of Botswana held a three-day outreach programme  to flood-affected communities in Tswapong Distric from 30 March to 1 April 2026. 

The mission began on Monday with a comprehensive situational briefing delivered by disaster management officials, setting the stage for evidence-based parliamentary engagement with affected households.

The delegation, comprising staff of Parliament, communications and research staff, and programme personnel under the Sweden-funded Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), HIV and AIDS Governance Project, first paid a courtesy call on Honourable Kabo Ketshogile, the Chairperson of Palapye District.

During the courtesy call, Ms Mosarwa Segwabe, the Researcher under the project in Botswana, explained the purpose and scope of the programme.

She said the joint SADC PF and Botswana Parliament team would visit communities in Mokokwana, Selolwane and Mosweu to document lived experiences and identify service gaps to strengthen community preparedness in the face of recurring climate shocks.

Honourable Ketshogile explained that the floods that hit the district about three weeks ago were by far the most severe in living memory and communities were still reeling from the impact, with some areas yet to be fully accessed.

The delegation then met members of the Palapye District Disaster Management Committee and received a briefing from Mr Kagiso Seroke, the Principal Social welfare Officer, who outlined the scale of destruction caused by recent flash floods and the coordinated response mounted by local authorities and humanitarian partners.

According to the district disaster report, communities across the Tswapong North Constituency were struck by severe flash flooding between early and mid-March 2026 following heavy rainfall measuring as high as 235 millimetres in Majwaneng village.

The floods inundated internal and main roads, submerged agricultural fields and forced families from their homes across several villages, including Majwaneng, Lerala, Seolwane and Mosweu.

In total, 120 households and 139 individuals were directly affected, with children and elderly persons among the most vulnerable.

Relief teams responded swiftly, reaching affected communities within approximately one hour of reported incidents.

Some families were relieved with tents, food baskets for housing and psychosocial support continues to be provided by Social Workers under coordinated efforts of government agencies, the Botswana Red Cross Society and local leaders.

Many of the displaced families were already living in deep poverty before the disaster struck, compounding their vulnerability.

“Beneficiaries whose mud houses have collapsed have been assessed and were found to be living under abject poverty with no socio-economic support from relatives and immediate family members,” Mr Seroke noted.

Emergency assistance has included tents, blankets, tarpaulins and clothing, but he warned that shortages persist as assessments continue. Immediate relief needs have been estimated at P113,152.42, covering essential items such as solar lamps, water containers and cooking stoves.

The floods also inflicted significant damage on critical transport infrastructure, including sections of the Palapye – Martin’s Drift Road (B140) and the Dikabeya – Martin’s Drift Road (B152) which link Botswana to regional markets.

Mr Seroke said at one point, more than 800 metres of roadway near Majwaneng were submerged by fast-moving floodwaters, forcing temporary road closures and delaying emergency services. Engineers estimate that repairs to key culverts along the B140 road alone will cost approximately P936,298.91.

Health services in Maunatlala and Lerala catchment areas were also disrupted, with power interruptions, water shortages and reduced staffing levels reported as health workers struggled to reach clinics due to damaged roads. Outreach services were temporarily suspended, delaying the delivery of essential medicines.

Despite these challenges, officials confirmed that no fatalities were recorded during the disaster period, and critical services such as antenatal care and family planning remained accessible in some communities.

Heavy rains accompanied by a cold spell also led to a surge in influenza-like illnesses, placing additional pressure on already strained health facilities.

Mr Seroke reported that agriculture, an economic lifeline for many households in the region, has suffered significant losses. Preliminary assessments indicate that 161 farmers were affected, with total agricultural damage estimated at approximately P628,285.

Livestock deaths included goats, sheep and wildlife species such as gemsbok, while crop destruction has raised concerns about food security and rural livelihoods. Some farms have reportedly begun retrenching workers due to declining production and financial strain.

The situational briefing by Mr Seroke provided the foundation for the parliamentary outreach.

In an interview by telephone, SADC PF Secretary General Ms Boemo Sekgoma said the outreach aligns with the implementation of the SRHR, HIV and AIDS Governance Project, which aims to strengthen parliamentary oversight, improve access to essential health services and build resilient communities in the face of climate-related emergencies.

“By engaging directly with flood-affected communities, the joint SADC PF and Botswana Parliament team seeks not only to document the immediate impacts of the disaster but also to generate evidence that will inform legislative action, resource allocation and long-term preparedness strategies,” the Secretary General said.

-Moses Magadza is the Media and Communications Manager at the SADC Parliamentary Forum.