This article is about the Region, the first-level administrative unit of Namibia. For the electoral constituency, see Ohangwena Constituency. For the suburb and former village of Ohangwena, see Helao Nafidi.
Ohangwena is traversed by the northwesterly line of equal latitude and longitude. In the north, Ohangwena borders Angola: the Cunene Province, except for a small border with the Cuando Cubango Province in the far northeast. Domestically, it borders the following regions:
The northern and western parts of the region are the most densely populated of this essentially subsistence agricultural region in which small-scale mahangu cultivation and the keeping of cattle form the predominant activities. Although the region depends on rain-fed agriculture, other crops can be established under intensive cultivation.
The main settlements in the region straddle the good paved road from the Angolan border to Ondangwa, where it joins the Oshakati-Tsumeb trunk road. The eastern part of the region possesses good grazing land, but the shortage of water and poor communications render it uninhabitable at present. There is a tarred road from Onhuno to Okongo that was recently completed, which is thought to greatly increase the area's agricultural potential.
Ohangwena has 234 schools with a total of 90,703 pupils.[7]
Libraries
Ohangwena region has a regional library (Ohangwena Regional Library) which is an answer for learners and students to their research and school projects. It is situated in Helao Nafidi Town.
There are also other Community libraries in the Ohangwena Region.
Ohangwena is one of the regions where many Namibian politicians are from, including former president Hifikepunye Pohamba, Hidipo Hamutenya (founding president of the Rally for Democracy and Progress, RDP), Minister of Environment and Tourism Pohamba Shifeta, former deputy minister and ambassador Hadino Hishongwa, founding member of SWAPO Mzee Kaukungwa , Charles Namoloh (former diplomat, politician and military figure who served in the cabinet of Namibia as Minister of Safety and Security) and several other ministers and high-profile politicians.
According to the Namibia 2023 Population and Housing Census, Ohangwena had a population of 337,729 (178,028 females and 159,701 males or 90 males for every 100 females), growing at an annual rate of 2.7%. The fertility rate was 5.0 children per woman. 14.5% lived in urban areas while 85.5% lived in rural areas, and with an area of 10,703km2, the population density was 31.7 persons per km2. By age, 16.2% of the population was under 5 years old, 29.1% between 5–14 years, 46.7% between 15 and 59 years, and 8% 60 years and older. The population was divided into 67,820 households, with an average size of 4.8 persons. 58% of households had a female head of household, while 42% had a male. For those 15 years and older, 73.2% had never married, 15.5% married with a certificate, 4.6% married traditionally, 1.2% married by a consensual union, 1.0% were divorced or separated, and 3.9% were widowed.[12]
The most commonly spoken languages at home were Oshiwambo, spoken in 97% of households. For those 15 years and older, the literacy rate was 84.6%. In terms of education, of those 15 years and older, 57.7% had left school, 24.2% were currently at school, and 14.8% had never attended.[12]
In 2001, the employment rate for the labor force (43% of those 15+) was 64% employed and 36% unemployed. For those 15+ years old and not in the labor force (53%), 35% were students, 41% homemakers, and 24% retired, too old, etc.[12] According to the 2012 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in the Ohangwena Region stood at 34.6%. The two studies are methodologically not comparable.[17]
Among households, 84.3% had access to safe water but only 38.3% to improved sanitation (toilet facilities).[18] 20.7% of the households have electricity for lighting, and 83.2% have wood or charcoal for cooking. In terms of households' main sources of income, 22.1% derived it from farming, 24.9% from wages and salaries, 10.5% from business or non-farming, and 23.8% from old-age pension.[12]
Oupili is situated in the Oshikunde constituency and approximately 30 kilometres (19mi) from Okongo
Ongenga, 47 kilometres (29mi) from Oshakati and approximately 20 kilometres (12mi) from the Angolan border. As of 2011[update], the village was headed by Paulus Muxwangi Nghifilenya, and the village counselor was Shimutwikeni Leonard. The village hosts about 10,000 inhabitants. There is a clinic, a church, a community hall, a sub-police station, and three schools: Ongenga Primary School, Ongenga Junior School, and Ongenga English Private School. Entrepreneurs established businesses such as salons, lodges, tailoring, Omahangu pounding machines, and China shops.[citation needed]
Onamahoka, approximately 45 kilometres (28mi) from the Angolan border. The village is headed by mr David Kasheshe. It has one combined school known as Onamahoka Combined School, ruled by Ms Hambeleleni Shikulo, and it also has multiple of pre-primary schools such as Okasheshe Kindergarten.[citation needed]
Omukukutu is a village in Epembe Constituency, located some 12km from the main tar road from Eenhana to Okongo along a two-track gravel road with relatively thick sand. The distance from Eenhana to the turnoff from the main tar road is just under 40km.[19]
Omundaungilo is a settlement area, not officially proclaimed, but regarded as the de facto capital of Omundaungilo Constituency. Omundaungilo is located about 15km north of the main tar road from Eenhana to Okongo; the turnoff is about 40km east of Eenhana. The San community lived on the outskirts of the settlement in an area called Omiishi in Oshikwanyama and N!u10 in the local! Xun dialect.[19]
Onane, a village in Okongo Constituency, is located about 12km from the main tar road from Okongo to the Okongo Community Forest and Conservancy and on to Rundu. Onane is reached via a two-track gravel/sand road (primarily gravel, with relatively thick sand in parts). The distance along the tar road from Okongo to the turnoff to Onane village is approximately 30km.[19]
Ouholamo is a neighbourhood of the town of Eenhana. Located on the eastern outskirts of the town, Ouholamo is reached via a small sandy track through the bush.[19]
Ouhongo in Engela constituency, is located on the western outskirts of Helao Nafidi town council from Engela. It shares its borders with Engela, Omatunda, Onghala, and Onambango.
Onamwilwa in Ohangwena constituency is located on the eastern outskirts of Helao Nafidi Town Council. It shares its border with Omungholyo waShikolalye, Onekwaya, Ohangwena ya Amoni, and Eemboo villages.
1 2 3 4 Mouton, Dirkx, Randolph, Erik (2014). "Ohangwena Region"(PDF). In Ute Dieckmann; Maarit Thiem; Erik Dirkx; Jennifer Hays (eds.). "Scraping the Pot" San in Namibia:Two Decades After Independence. Legal Assistance Centre and Desert Research Foundation of Namibia. pp.233–288. ISBN978-99945-61-52-0.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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