Khomas Region

Last updated
Khomas Region
Region
Khomas in Namibia.svg
Location of the Khomas Region in Namibia
Country Namibia
Capital Windhoek
Government
 • Governor Laura McLeod-Katjirua [1]
Area
[2]
 • Total36,964 km2 (14,272 sq mi)
Population
 (2023 census)
 • Total494,605 [3]
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
HDI (2018)0.732 [4]
high · 1st
Website https://www.khomasrc.gov.na/

Khomas is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia. Its name refers to the Khomas Highland, a high plateau landscape that dominates this administrative subdivision. Khomas is centered on the capital city Windhoek and provides for this reason superior transportation infrastructure. It is located in the central highlands of the country and is bordered by the Erongo region to the west and the northwest and by the Otjozondjupa region to the north. To the east is the Omaheke region, while in the south is the Hardap region. The region is characterized by its hilly countrysize and many valleys. It has well-developed economical, financial, and trade sectors. Khomas Region occupies 4.5% of the land area of Namibia [5] but has the highest population of any of its regions (16.2%). Khomas is one of only three Namibian regions to have neither shoreline nor a foreign border.

Contents

Politics

The Governor of Khomas Region is Laura McLeod-Katjirua. [1] The region comprises ten constituencies: [6]

Khomas is important electorally, as nearly 17% of the total votes in the 2004 election came from this region. As of 2020, it has 264,905 registered voters. [7]

Regional elections

In the 2015 regional elections, SWAPO obtained 81% of the total votes (2010: 78%) [7] and won in all ten constituencies. [8] In the 2020 regional election SWAPO obtained 38% of the total votes. It was still the strongest party but lost Windhoek Rural to the Landless People's Movement (LPM, a new party registered in 2018), Windhoek East to the Independent Patriots for Change (IPC, also a new party formed in August 2020), and Katutura Central to the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM). [7]

Economy and infrastructure

Khomas has 100 schools with a total of 73,302 pupils. [9]

Demographics

According to the Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census, Khomas had a population of 250,262 (123,613 females and 126,648 males or 102 males for every 100 females) growing at an annual rate of 4%. The fertility rate was 4.9 children per woman. 93% lived in urban areas while 7% lived in rural areas, and with an area of 37,007 km2, the population density was 6.8 persons per km2. By age, 11% of the population was under 5 years old, 18% between 5–14 years, 67% between 15–59 years, and 4% 60 years and older. The population was divided into 58,580 households, with an average size of 4.2 persons. 36% of households had a female head of house, while 64% had a male. For those 15 years and older, 61% had never married, 24% married with certificate, 3% married traditionally, 7% married consensually, 2% were divorced or separated, and 2% were widowed. [10] White Namibians and Coloureds form one third of the population of this region.

The most commonly spoken languages at home were Oshiwambo (37% of households), Afrikaans (24%), Nama/Damara (13%), and Otjiherero (9%). Other languages found in Khomas are English, German, and a smattering of other Namibian language groups. [11] For those 15 years and older, the literacy rate was 94%. In terms of education, 87% of girls and 86% of boys between the ages of 6-15 were attending school, and of those 15 years and older, 76% had left school, 12% were currently at school, and 8% had never attended. [10]

Households in Khomas earn by far the highest average annual income at N$47,407, well more than the national average of N$17,198. There is very limited subsistence farming in the region, with only 0.4 percent of the population engaged in farming, 0.3 percent of households are rearing animals, and 0.1 percent are earning income from cash cropping. Windhoek accommodates most of Namibia's light industry and manufacturing. Some of the most important are meat processing, bottling and canning, beer brewing, plastics, and refrigeration. The city is also Namibia's educational, commercial, and tourism capital. [11] In 2001 the employment rate for the labor force (46% of those 15+) was 71% employed and 29% unemployed. For those 15+ years old and not in the labor force (50%), 55% were students, 25% homemakers, and 20% retired, too old, etc. [10] According to the 2012 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in the Khomas Region stood at 26.5%. The two studies are methodologically not comparable. [12]

Among households, 98% had safe water, 20% no toilet facility, 69% electricity for lighting, 83% access to radio, and 9% had wood or charcoal for cooking. In terms of households' main sources of income, 1% derived it from farming, 74% from wages and salaries, 7% cash remittances, 11% from business or non-farming, and 4% from pension. [10]

For every 1000 live births there were 53 female infant deaths and 54 male. The life expectancy at birth was 56 years for females and 54 for males. Among children younger than 15, 5% had lost a mother, 10% a father, and 1% were orphaned by both parents. 4% of the entire population had a disability, of which 22% were deaf, 44% blind, 11% had a speech disability, 9% hand disability, 15% leg disability, and 4% mental disability. [10]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hardap Region</span> Region in Namibia

Hardap is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, its capital is Mariental. Hardap contains the municipality of Mariental, the towns Rehoboth and Aranos, and the self-governed villages Gibeon, Gochas, Kalkrand, Stampriet and Maltahöhe. It is home to the Hardap Dam.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ǁKaras Region</span> Region in Namibia

The ǁKaras Region is the southernmost, largest, and least densely populated of the 14 regions of Namibia; its capital is Keetmanshoop. The name assigned to the region reflects the prominence of the Karas mountain range in its southern part. The ǁKaras region contains the municipality of Keetmanshoop, the towns Karasburg, Lüderitz and Oranjemund, and the self-governed villages Aroab, Berseba, Bethanie, Koës and Tses.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Erongo Region</span> Region in Namibia

Erongo is one of the 14 regions of Namibia. The capital is Swakopmund. It is named after Mount Erongo, a well-known landmark in Namibia and in this area. Erongo contains the municipalities of Walvis Bay, Swakopmund, Henties Bay and Omaruru, as well as the towns Arandis, Karibib and Usakos. All the main centres within this region are connected by paved roads.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otjozondjupa Region</span> Region in Namibia

Otjozondjupa is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia. Its capital is Otjiwarongo. The region further contains the municipalities of Okahandja and Grootfontein and the towns Okakarara and Otavi. As of 2020, Otjozondjupa had 97,945 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oshana</span> Region in Namibia

Oshana is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, its capital is Oshakati. The towns of Oshakati, Ongwediva and Ondangwa, all situated with this region, form an urban cluster with the second largest population concentration in Namibia after the capital Windhoek. As of 2020, Oshana had 113,112 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Omaheke Region</span> Region in Namibia

Omaheke is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, the least populous region. Its capital is Gobabis. It lies in eastern Namibia on the border with Botswana and is the western extension of the Kalahari desert. The self-governed villages of Otjinene, Leonardville and Witvlei are situated in the region. As of 2020, Omaheke had 48,594 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ohangwena Region</span> Region in Namibia

Ohangwena is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, its capital is Eenhana. Major settlements in the region are the towns Eenhana and Helao Nafidi as well as the self-governed village of Okongo and the proclaimed settlements Ongenga and Omungwelume. As of 2020, Ohangwena had 150,724 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kunene Region</span> Region in Namibia

Kunene is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia. Its capital is Opuwo, its governor is Marius Sheya. The region's name comes from the Kunene River which forms the northern border with Angola. Besides the capital Opuwo, the region contains the municipality of Outjo, the town Khorixas and the self-governed village Kamanjab. Kunene is home to the Himba people, a subtribe of the Herero, as well as to Damara people and Nama people. As of 2020, Kunene had 58,548 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Samora Machel Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

Samora Machel Constituency is a constituency in Windhoek in the Khomas Region of central Namibia. The constituency is located across four northern suburbs of Windhoek: Wanaheda, Greenwell Matongo, Goreangab, and part of Havana. It had a population of 50,110 in 2011, up from 29,382 in 2001. As of 2020 it had 45,962 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katutura Central</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

Katutura Central is a constituency in the Khomas Region of Namibia, comprising the extensions 2–5 and 7–11 of Windhoek's suburb Katutura. Katutura is a township that was founded by the then apartheid government of Namibia for black people in the 1950s, when the previous township, Old Location, was converted into the suburb Hochland Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katutura East</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

Katutura East is a constituency in the Khomas Region of Namibia. It consists of the extensions 1, 6, and 19 of the suburb Katutura, a township within Windhoek that was founded by the then Apartheid government of Namibia for black people in the 1950s. It had a population of 18,501 in 2011, up from 17,745 in 2001. As of 2020, it has 15,878 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Khomasdal Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

Khomasdal Constituency is a constituency in Windhoek in the Khomas Region of Namibia. As of December 2019 it had 25,550 registered voters. The constituency consists of parts of the suburbs Khomasdal, Katutura, and Otjomuise. It had a population of 43,921 in 2011, up from 27,950 in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windhoek East</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

Windhoek East is a constituency in the Khomas Region of Namibia. It consists of the upper-class suburbs of Windhoek: Auasblick, Avis, Klein Windhoek, Ludwigsdorf, Luxury Hill, Olympia, and Suiderhof. It had a population of 22,712 in 2011, up from 17,674 in 2001. As of 2020, it has 17,308 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windhoek Rural</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

Windhoek Rural is a constituency in the Khomas Region of Namibia. Its district capital is the settlement of Groot Aub. It had a population of 22,254 in 2011, up from 20,212 in 2001. As of 2020, it has 13,625 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Pandeni Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

John Pandeni constituency, formerly known as Soweto is a constituency in the Khomas Region of Namibia. In 2008, it was renamed after John Pandeni, a member of the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and its militant wing, the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN). Pandeni was the first regional councilor for the former Soweto constituency and the first governor of Khomas. This constituency is inside the city of Windhoek in the formerly all-Black suburb of Katutura. It had a population of 15,121 in 2011, up from 13,865 in 2001. As of 2020, it has 14,758 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Katutura</span> Place in Namibia

Katutura is a township of Windhoek, Khomas Region, Namibia. Katutura was created in 1961 following the forced removal of Windhoek's black population from the Old Location, which afterwards was developed into the suburb of Hochland Park. Sam Nujoma Stadium, built in 2005, is located within Katutura. Katutura Community Radio, a community-based radio station, also operates from the township. Katutura State Hospital, one of two State Hospitals in the Windhoek area, is located in the township.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobias Hainyeko constituency</span> Electoral constituency in the Khomas region of central Namibia

Tobias Hainyeko constituency is an electoral constituency in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It had a population of 45,912 in 2011, up from 34,348 in 2001. As of 2020 it had 36,530 registered voters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hochland Park</span>

Hochland Park is a residential suburb in Windhoek, the capital of Namibia. It is named after the German Khomas Hochland, the central-Namibian plateau area in which Windhoek is situated.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Windhoek West Constituency</span> Electoral constituency in Windhoek, Namibia

Windhoek West Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Khomas Region of Namibia. It contains the affluent suburbs of Hochland Park, Pioneers Park, Academia, Cimbebasia, Rocky Crest, Windhoek North and Windhoek West. It had a population of 53,438 in 2011, up from 42,201 in 2001. As of 2020, it has 33,556 registered voters.

Moses Mague ǁGaroëb was a Namibian politician, founding member of SWAPO, and member of SWAPO's Politburo and Central Committee. During his political career, ǁGaroëb served in the Constituent Assembly of Namibia and was a Member of Parliament from the day of Namibian independence, 21 March 1990. He was appointed Minister of Labour and Human Resources in 1995, a position he held until his death.

References

  1. 1 2 "President announces governors". The Namibian . 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  2. ↑ "Namibia's Population by Region". Election Watch. Institute for Public Policy Research (1): 3. 2013.
  3. ↑ "2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Report" (PDF). Statistics Namibia.
  4. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2020-09-18.
  5. ↑ Kapitako, Alvine (12 November 2010). "ELECTIONS 2010: Khomas Region profile / New Era - Skills Shortage Worries Govt". New Era . Archived from the original on 5 December 2012.
  6. ↑ Khomas constituencies Archived 2009-08-28 at the Wayback Machine at the Electoral Commission of Namibia
  7. 1 2 3 "Regional Council 2020 Election Results". Interactive map. Electoral Commission of Namibia. 18 January 2021. Archived from the original on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. ↑ "Regional Council Election Results 2015". Electoral Commission of Namibia. 3 December 2015. pp. 9–10. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Miyanicwe, Clemans; Kahiurika, Ndanki (27 November 2013). "School counsellors overstretched". The Namibian . p. 1.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Khomas Region – Census Indicators, 2001". National Planning Commission. 2001. Archived from the original on 2012-01-11. Retrieved 2008-12-27.
  11. 1 2 Tonchi, Victor L., William A. Lindeke, and John J. Grotpeter, "Khomas Region" Historical Dictionary of Namibia. 2nd edition. Toronto: The Scarecrow Press, Inc, p. 211.
  12. ↑ Duddy, Jo Maré (11 April 2013). "Unemployment rate still alarmingly high". The Namibian . Archived from the original on 14 April 2013.

22°48′S17°00′E / 22.800°S 17.000°E / -22.800; 17.000

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.