Also known as: the Kavango River · Kavango River at Rundu · Kavango River at Divundu
News reports
Order a long-term news report on Kavango River
Every mention in the Namibian press over the period you choose, compiled as a PDF or Word document.
Verbatim sentences from the source article.
Informanté
… According to Namibia Meteorological Services, the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo recorded a level of 6.89 m on Monday morning, while the Kavango River at Rundu measured 7.13 m on the same date. …
Heavy rains hit several areas, raising flood concernsInformanté
… The same warning applies to communities near the Chobe River at Ngoma and the Kavango River at Rundu, which recorded water levels of 3.86 metres and 7.13 metres respectively on Monday. …
Zambezi floods submerge villages, communities urged to stay alertNew Era
… The governor paid tribute to liberation giants and the ordinary villagers of Kavango East, noting that the region served as a frontline where the Kavango River once carried the tension of conflict. …
Hambyuka calls for economic liberation, growthInformanté
… The Kavango River at Rundu has now surpassed the 7-metre threshold, reaching 7.28 metres on Thursday, while the Kavango River at Divundu recorded a water level of 4.16 metres on the same day. …
North-eastern rivers continue to riseNew Era
Kavango East is one of Namibia’s 14 regions, situated in the northeast along the Kavango River and covers an area of 23 983.2 km2. …
Know your Regional Councillors -Kavango East RegionInformanté
… Meanwhile, the Kavango River at Rundu is also nearing the 7-metre mark, rising from 6.75 metres on Friday, 13 March, to 6.98 metres on Monday, 16 March. …
Zambezi River still rising, caution advisedInformanté
… Namibia, noting that the country’s wetlands support multiple sectors, from agriculture to tourism. “In Namibia, we have quite a number of important wetlands and water bodies such as Etosha Pan, the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin, the floodplains of the Zambezi Region, and the Kavango River …
SASSCAL calls for protection of Namibia’s wetlandsInformanté
… According to the Hydrological Services, the Kavango River at Rundu recorded a water level of 6.73m on Tuesday, 10 March 2026, slightly higher than the 6.35m recorded on the same date in 2025, as well as the 5.55m recorded on 10 March 2024 and the 4.64m recorded on 11 March 2023. …
Public urged to remain cautious as Zambezi River levels surgeInformanté
… The Kavango River water level also remains high. At Rundu, the river rose from 6.56m last Monday to 6.78m this Monday, while at Divundu it increased from 3.98m to 4.09m during the same period. …
Zambezi River rises past 6 metres, surrounding communities urged to be cautiousInformanté
… The Kavango River at Rundu rose from 6.50 m last week to 6.75 m this week, while the Kavango River at Divundu increased from 3.79 m to 4.02 m over the same period. …
Zambezi River overflows, public urged to exercise cautionA Grade 12 learner from Max Makushe Senior Secondary School in Kavango East is in intensive care in Windhoek with severe head and spinal cord injuries following a dive into the Kavango River.
13 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
A Grade 12 learner from Max Makushe Senior Secondary School in Kavango East is in intensive care in Windhoek with severe head and spinal cord injuries following a dive into the Kavango River.
13 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
A 14-year-old girl, Salome Nanonge, died after being swept away by strong currents in the Kavango River near Mabiye on Saturday while fishing with five friends. Her body was found floating in the river about 500m from the incident site on Sunday morning; five other girls in her group were rescued.
11 October 2026 · The Namibian →
A 14-year-old girl drowned in the Kavango River at Mabiye near Rundu on Saturday after being swept away by strong currents while fishing with five other girls. Her body was recovered approximately 500 metres downstream on the Angolan side near the old crossing bridge to Calai and taken to Rundu State Hospital mortuary.
11 October 2026 · Namibian Sun →
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism says it has only closed illegal routes at Bwabwata Game Park, while approved roads remain open. Tour guides represented by a group called Concerned Local Guides have complained that closures of roads along the Kavango River, where most wildlife viewing occurs, have effectively closed the park for tourism.
10 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Ninety mothers and caregivers in Kamutjonga village near Divundu have received reusable cloth nappy starter kits through the Kavango Cares Reusable Cloth Nappy Project, which aims to reduce disposable nappy waste and household costs while protecting the environment.
4 October 2026 · The Namibian →
Two children—a Grade 1 pupil and a 15-year-old—drowned in the Kavango River at Divundu after a canoe capsized in a strong current. Residents say police did not respond until Saturday, a day after the Friday incident, raising questions about emergency-response systems in communities along rivers.
25 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Namibian Chamber of Environment has urged the government to abandon the Kavango Link project, a decades-old plan to transfer water from the Kavango River to Windhoek and central areas, arguing it is environmentally unsustainable and could strain relations with Botswana. The chamber's chief executive Chris Brown warned that the river is already exploited by unmonitored green schemes and farms.
19 August 2026 · The Namibian →
A National Unity Democratic Organisation MP has called for an independent audit into a series of fatal electrocution incidents in the electricity sector, citing repeated workplace deaths at regional distributors and claiming eight fatalities have occurred in the sector over the past four years.
7 August 2026 · The Namibian →
The Kamutjonga Inland Fisheries Institute, located on the Kavango River in Kavango East Region, conducts scientific research, fish population monitoring and aquaculture development to ensure sustainable management of Namibia's freshwater resources. The institute, established in 2008 and now part of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform, focuses on freshwater fish communities, conservation and fisheries ecology to benefit current and future generations.
1 August 2026 · Informanté →
The Namibian reports that Namibia's traditional music communities are systematically excluded from commercial benefits when their ancestral songs and rituals are recorded and licensed by outsiders, receiving minimal compensation while those with recording equipment profit from their heritage.
18 July 2026 · The Namibian →
NamWater says water will be extracted from the Kavango River only during the wet season under the proposed Kavango Link Project, to safeguard the river.
23 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →
Kavango East and West traditional leaders and community members are opposing NamWater's proposed N$7-billion pipeline to Windhoek, demanding an audit of the Kavango River first and citing inadequate consultation during the planning stages.
22 June 2026 · The Namibian →
Leaders and residents from Kavango East have rejected NamWater's proposed Kavango Link Project, accusing the utility of reviving plans to divert water from the Kavango River.
15 June 2026 · Namibian Sun →
President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah visited the Sikondo Green Scheme Irrigation Project in Kavango West Region to assess agricultural productivity and operational progress as part of her national familiarisation tour of Namibia's green schemes.
2 June 2026 · Informanté →
The Kunene River's discharge rose by more than 300 cubic metres per second over the past week to 894.10 m³/s, and the Kavango and Orange rivers also recorded rising water levels, according to the Hydrological Services of Namibia. In contrast, the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo declined over the same period.
13 May 2026 · Informanté →
The Kunene River's flow rate at Ruacana declined from 1,540.50 m³/s on Saturday to 1,125.50 m³/s by Monday, though still higher than the 708.10 m³/s recorded on the same date last year. The Zambezi River and other waterways have also experienced declining flows, but water levels remain significantly higher than those of last year.
28 April 2026 · Informanté →
Namibian and Angolan police are intensifying efforts to combat cross-border smuggling of fuel, cigarettes, counterfeit medicines, and other illicit goods along their 400-kilometre porous border. Despite ongoing raids and arrests, officials acknowledge there is no quick fix to the entrenched cross-border crime.
25 April 2026 · Informanté →
The Kunene River's flow rate rose from 1,543.9 m³/s on Thursday to 1,545.9 m³/s on Friday, according to Namibia's Hydrological Services, which advised communities downstream of Ruacana to remain on high alert as localised flooding remains a likely risk. The Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo has declined but remains significantly higher than last year's corresponding level, prompting a flood alert for the eastern Zambezi floodplains.
24 April 2026 · Informanté →
The Kunene River's flow rate at Ruacana increased from 1,351.4 m³/s on Wednesday to 1,543.9 m³/s on Thursday, with the Hydrological Services warning communities of sustained upstream inflows and elevated levels. The Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo also rose slightly, prompting flood alerts for the eastern Zambezi floodplains.
24 April 2026 · Informanté →
The Kunene River recorded a flow rate of 1,197.80 cubic metres per second on Tuesday morning, an increase from 1,058.80 m³/s a week earlier, though down from Monday's 1,386.10 m³/s. The Kavango and Zambezi rivers have seen slight declines, and the Hydrological Services of Namibia has issued a flood alert for the eastern Zambezi floodplains, urging communities to remain vigilant and activate flood preparedness measures.
22 April 2026 · Informanté →
At celebrations in Nkurenkuru, Speaker Saara Kuugongelwa-Amadhila commemorated Namibia's independence and the sacrifices of liberation heroes, while calling for renewed focus on socio-economic transformation, agricultural development, and inclusive growth to fulfil the vision of Vision 2030.
26 March 2026 · The Namibian →
Heavy rainfall hit multiple regions including Windhoek, the north, and north-east, causing localised flooding in the capital and rapid river rises in the Zambezi and Kavango regions. Authorities recommend activating flood contingency plans in vulnerable areas across the country.
25 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Zambezi River has overflowed into eastern floodplains, submerging villages in Kabbe South and Kabbe North, while the Kavango and Chobe rivers also record high water levels. Communities along all three rivers have been advised to remain on alert and activate flood preparedness measures.
24 March 2026 · Informanté →
Kavango East Governor Hamunyera Hambyuka called on residents to transition from celebrating political freedom to generating shared prosperity, addressing youth unemployment, water provision, and housing as critical challenges while emphasizing that independence must include access to quality education, healthcare, and economic opportunities for all families in the region.
23 March 2026 · New Era →
Water levels in Namibia's north-eastern rivers—including the Zambezi, Chobe, and Kavango—continued to rise this week, with the Zambezi at Katima Mulilo reaching 6.84 metres and the Kavango at Rundu surpassing 7 metres. The Hydrological Services of Namibia has warned the public to remain vigilant in flood-prone areas and recommended activation of flood risk mitigation and preparedness measures, particularly near the Zambezi River, where the river has overflowed its banks and floodwaters are spreading into the eastern Zambezi floodplains.
21 March 2026 · Informanté →
Kavango East is one of Namibia's 14 regions in the northeast, covering 23,983.2 km² with Rundu as its administrative centre. The region is divided into six constituencies and its population speaks multiple languages, with Rukwangali (46%), Angolan languages (21%), and Rumanyo (18%) being most common.
20 March 2026 · New Era →
Namibia's Hydrological Services warns that the Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo is rising toward the 7-metre mark and nearly double last year's level, with water overflowing into eastern floodplains. Communities in flood-prone areas across Namibia are urged to activate flood preparedness measures as thundershowers are expected to continue river rises.
18 March 2026 · Informanté →
The United Democratic Front highlighted pressing challenges affecting communities in Kunene and northern regions during a consultative meeting with President Nandi-Ndaitwah, including human-wildlife conflict that is impoverishing rural households, a legal dispute involving the regional council, housing shortages, and educational inequality between rural and urban schools. The party noted that rural residents bear the costs of wildlife conservation while wild animals are regarded as national assets, and proposed dialogue-based solutions to ongoing disputes.
13 March 2026 · New Era →
SASSCAL's Namibia Programme Coordinator emphasised that Namibia's wetlands—including Etosha Pan, the Cuvelai-Etosha Basin, and river systems—are critical for agriculture, fisheries, tourism, and water supply, and require protection as they face threats in the dry country. He noted that wetland protection is both an environmental and climate adaptation responsibility, and highlighted SASSCAL's WeMAST monitoring initiative while calling for inclusive science and stronger community and women's voices in water governance.
13 March 2026 · Informanté →
The Zambezi River at Katima Mulilo has risen to 6.76 metres, significantly higher than recent years and well above last week's 3.99m reading. The Hydrological Services of Namibia has issued a flood alert for the eastern Zambezi floodplains and recommended that communities nationwide activate flood preparedness measures, as several other rivers including the Kavango and Orange are also elevated.
12 March 2026 · Informanté →