Chaos erupted in Ongenga County this weekend as large swarms of locusts moved into the Ohangwena region. The locusts are reported to have come from Angola.
Residents tried to scare the insects by shouting, clapping their hands and burning tires.
Ongengi electoral councilor Matthews Shikongo says affected villages include Omatangela, Eengawa and Ofaytumbo.
“Yesterday afternoon we were surprised when the sky in the villages darkened and we wondered what was going on. Soon we saw that it was the locust clouds that had obscured the sun.
People feared that their crops would be destroyed, and began to beat drums, Set fire and shout, trying to drive off the locusts. However, this was not possible. There was too much of it, ”says the local headman.
Shikongo says he notified the governor’s office as well as the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Land Reform, which assessed the situation.
Agriculture ministry spokesman Magret Kahlo confirmed that the ministry was aware of the situation and sent a team to assess the situation and spray the area with an insecticide.
