Patience Makwele
Floods are making it difficult for workers at Chobe River Lodge in the Zambezi region, where staff continue to work under rising water levels and worsening conditions.
Parts of the lodge in Ngoma are submerged, with water surrounding chalets built on stilts and covering walkways.
Video footage taken on Tuesday shows large sections of the property under water as levels continue to rise.
Workers who spoke to the Windhoek Observer on condition of anonymity said they remain on duty because they fear losing their income.
“We are still working. It is business as usual because if we close, we might not get our salaries,” one worker said.
Another added: “We don’t really have a choice because if we stop working, we will not get paid.”
Employees said moving around has become difficult as water levels rise.
“Even moving around is difficult now. The walkways are under water, but we still have to report for duty. If we do not show up, it counts against us.”
Some workers said the floods could attract more visitors.
“This is when more tourists come, to see the floods. So we have to keep going, even in these conditions.”
Others said the situation is not the same for staff.
“For visitors it may look exciting, but for us it’s not the same. We are the ones staying in these conditions every day. We are worried, but we keep quiet because we need the jobs,” another employee expressed.
Workers raised concerns about safety risks linked to the flooding.
“You can see the place is underwater. There are risks, like snakes and mosquitoes, but we still have to work. We are scared of what might be in the water because it carries a lot of dangerous things like snakes, insects and even disease.”
“You are standing in water, working in water, and you don’t know what is coming next. It’s not safe, but we continue,” they narrated to the Windhoek Observer.
Staff said there is no clear plan if conditions worsen.
“There is nothing we can do. If we leave, we might lose our jobs. The water keeps coming. It’s getting stronger, and we just have to continue working.”
“We feel like we are on our own. There is no clear plan for us if things get worse.”
Water levels at the Ngoma Bridge gauge reached 4.02 metres on Tuesday morning and continue to rise.
The flooding is linked to backflow from the Zambezi River and has started affecting infrastructure in nearby areas.
Gondwana Collection Namibia said Chobe River Lodge remains operational despite the flooding.
Gondwana Collection Namibia Group’s brand and marketing manager, Jescey Bekker, said operations continue and rooms are still accessible.
“The lodge is fully operational at this point in time. The flood plains are underwater at the moment but rooms are still accessible, lodge operations continue,” she said.
She said road access is closed and guests must park at the Ngoma border post and travel to the lodge by boat.
The situation comes as lawmakers question the country’s ability to respond to disasters.
Members of parliament this week raised concerns this week about delays in flood response and limited capacity at the regional level.
They said more resources should be directed to local structures to improve response times and protect affected communities.
