The deep, swirling mass of brown water that rushes through the culverts under the bridges carries schools of freshwater fish between Onashiku shaLabani and Oshuungu, day in and day out.
The water splurge into the pans where anglers fidget with their lines and nets to pull out their bounty.
Young men stand waist deep in the water after they have anchored their fishing lines with twigs plucked from the nearby trees.
Some say this is a bumper fishing season. The fish fills both their pots and their pockets.
On Monday, about 10 unemployed youths were found catching fish in the oshanas in the Omusati region.
Pizalo Kamaliwa from the Onashiku shaLabani village indicated that every time the efundja comes, he comes to the bridge to catch fish.
“Efundja brings fish which we catch and feed our families with,” he stated. Kamaliwa added that he is also able to save part of the money he makes from the fish sales.
“I thank God for bringing efundja sometimes. Otherwise, unemployed people like me would not find a way to survive,” he said.
He further said they wake up at 04h00 and knock off at around 20h00.
Efundja is the millions of cubic metres of water that flows into Namibia from Angola, usually in March in years of good rain. When the Cuvelai system, in the flat plains of central northern Namibia overflows, it often results in devastating flooding that causes damage to road infrastructure, property, the displacement of people from their homes and at times loss of income to businesses, it has also been a blessing in disguise for communities.
“We don’t starve here, there is plenty of fish, we cook it the way we want, we have our pot here, we quickly make fire and cook and continue with our work,” he explained.
According to Ruben Nuunyango from Okapumbu village, although they are done with their studies at different institutions, they are now depending on selling fish for survival.
“We have been applying for jobs but we are not getting any, I don’t want to sit at home doing nothing while there is something I can do to bring bread to my table,” said Nuunyango.
Eliakim Andreas told New Era that a bunch of 15 fish costs N$20 and if one works very hard they can make up to N$6 000 a month.
“I am here because I don’t want to steal, I don’t want to touch other people’s things that’s why I am working for myself,” said Andreas.