Katima Mulilo — The Caprivi Region has been hit by smoke pollution in recent days as huge bush fires burn forests in Botswana, driving a thick column of grey smoke into Caprivi where the sun's rays are sometimes blocked thereby reducing the sun into a fiery ball.

A regional representative of the Directorate of Forestry at Katima Mulilo, Dennis Sikabongo, confirmed to New Era yesterday that authorities in Botswana are battling a huge wild fire along the border.

Sikabongo said the fire started on the Botswana side and is burning along the border areas. His officials are monitoring the situation. He stressed that the flooded Linyanti River has always prevented the fire from crossing over to the Namibian side. The fire has left nearly the entire Caprivi Region with dark skies and poor visibility.

The situation left many people wondering what was going on. Some people thought the region was in for an unexpected eclipse as the sun resembled the moon but with a strange red colour. Officials from the local

Meteorological Office at Katima Mulilo said they were inundated by calls from the control tower at the local M'pacha Airport where conditions were affecting pilots. They also confirmed that the "strange weather" was a result of smoke, which they suspected was coming from somewhere.

Meanwhile, Sikabongo warned residents of the region, especially honey hunters and farmers clearing their fields, to be extra careful when using fire. Villagers usually smoke out bees while hunting for honey

He said wild fire is a threat because it destroys grazing lands for wild animals and livestock. It also destroys vital trees species and insects.

He said the region is receiving a lot of tourists due to the precious environment and that the region cannot afford to lose it.