Delta communities await clinics since 2019

Already living on the edge with dangerous wildlife, residents of the Okavango Delta villages of Kauxwi and Ngarange now face another threat: endless delays in the completion of their long-promised clinics.

Frustrated by years of waiting, Kgosi Disho Ndhowe raised the matter before Ntlo Ya Dikgosi, demanding that Local Government and Traditional Affairs Minister Ketlhalefile Motshegwa explain why the two clinics, under construction since 2019, remain unfinished.

Motshegwa acknowledged the delays, noting that they have prolonged the provision of improved primary health care services to the two villages and their catchment areas.

On Kauxwi Clinic, he explained that the project was initially held back by discrepancies between the allocated plot and the approved design. A new plot was later secured, allowing construction to begin.

Progress was swift at first—40 per cent completion within six weeks—but was soon disrupted by Covid-19 restrictions, poor contractor performance, persistent cash-flow challenges, and the late appointment of mechanical and electrical subcontractors.

The clinic is now in its final stages. Building and electrical works have been partially handed over, mechanical installations are 95 per cent complete, and water tank installations are at 35 per cent.

The remaining works are expected to be finished by mid-March 2026. However, construction of 10 staff houses remains outstanding after the initial contractor was terminated for non-performance. The

Ngarange Clinic project, meanwhile, is 80 percent complete but has been stalled for three years due to a contractual dispute between the contractor and the Ministry of Health.

The matter is under arbitration, with no activity currently taking place on site. Completion will depend on the resolution of the dispute. Notably, the 10 staff houses for Ngarange Clinic have been

completed.