≠OTCAQKXAI – Residents of ≠Otcaqkxai in the Tsumkwe constituency still risk injury and even lives by climbing up tall trees in search of network reception to connect with the rest of the world, loved ones or emergency services.
The remote village – located about 90 kilometres east of Tsumkwe and 10 kilometres before the Dobe border post in the Otjozondjupa region – remains disconnected from civilisation due to a lack of this infrastructure.
When New Era visited ≠Otcaqkxai at around 18h00, the news team found Kxao G/aQo, one of the residents, perched atop a tree, desperately trying to get network reception to call for an ambulance.
The 23-year-old held his cellphone in one hand, balancing with the other, and pinned his hope for help on the tree top.
His brother, Kunta N≠amce, had woken up with a swollen, bleeding eye from an unknown cause.
Sweat ran down his face as he shouted: “I’m trying to find network. My brother is sick, his eye is swollen, and we don’t know why. We need to get him to the hospital before it gets worse.”
His voice had a mix of desperation and urgency.
Upon spotting the New Era vehicle, he carefully made his way down the tree.
His reddish jersey was soaked with sweat, and his brown trousers bore the marks of dust from the climb. He grabbed his cellphone tightly as it held the key to his brother’s survival.
After G/aQo climbed down from the upper branches of the tree, he approached this journalist for any kind of help.
He said he had been on the tree for 30 minutes, trying to call the hospital in Tsumkwe and the local conservancy. But poor network reception had thwarted all his efforts.
At this point, an elderly woman walked towards the same tree.
“This is not the first time we’ve struggled like this. The network is a big problem,” she said quietly, her voice breaking with frustration before the village headman unpacked a series of challenges the villagers face.
Struggles
Headman Glaqo Tsama said climbing up tall trees for network access has been a daily reality for them for decades.
He spoke of a tragic incident when a woman, identified as //Ang ≠Oma, was bitten by a snake as she gathered Devil’s Claw plants in the veld.
“There was no way to call the clinic for an ambulance because of the lack of network, and she died of the bite,” he lamented.
“May her soul continue to rest in peace,” Tsama said, shaking his head.
He also recounted the death of a child who suffered from diarrhoea. Villagers had to walk 30 kilometres to find reception that day. Only a day later, they managed to secure transport to the hospital, but the child did not survive.
“We tried everything, but the network failed us,” he said, his tone heavy with resignation to fate.
Tsama appealed to the government to expedite the installation of a network tower to save lives.
Impact
Tsumkwe constituency councillor Johannes Hausiku confirmed the challenges, highlighting
that even officers stationed at the Dobe border post have not been spared.
“The Field Force members face immense emotional strain because they are cut off from
their families and the outside world. They must drive 30 kilometres from their duty station to access network connectivity,” he stated.
He added: “It’s not just about work. Imagine being stationed far from home, unable to hear your child’s voice, or know if your family is safe.”
Hausiku said the issue also affects neighbouring villages, including Ben Se Kamp, Paradise and Bakaka.
He had brought the issue to the attention of the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology already.
The councillor is hopeful for swift government action to end the people’s long-standing struggle for network connectivity.
Pipeline
Responding to the issue, information executive director Audrine Mathe confirmed visiting the area last July to assess the situation.
“We’ve allocated N$110 million over the
next three years to address network connectivity in areas with no commercial interest for mobile operators.
Ten sites have already been identified for installation of towers this year, but I cannot confirm off-hand if Tsumkwe is among them,” he said.
Mathe gave assurances that if the Dobe border post, which is close to ≠Otcaqkxai, does not receive a tower this year, it will be prioritised in the next financial year.
“We are committed to ensuring connectivity in such areas, especially near the Dobe border post, where Botswana is also strengthening infrastructure on their side,” he added.