Omusati Region | |
---|---|
![]() Location of the Omusati Region in Namibia | |
Country | Namibia |
Capital | Outapi |
Government | |
• Governor | Erginus Endjala |
Area | |
• Total | 26,551 km2 (10,251 sq mi) |
Population | |
• Total | 316,671 |
• Density | 12/km2 (31/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
HDI (2017) | 0.617 [4] medium · 9th |
Website | omusatirc |
Omusati (Ndonga : Mopane , after the dominant tree in the area) is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, its capital is Outapi. The towns of Okahao, Oshikuku and Ruacana as well as the self-governed village Tsandi are situated in this region. As of 2020 [update] , Omusati had 148,834 registered voters. [5]
The region is home to the Ruacana Falls, among the largest waterfalls in Africa, and the Omugulugwombashe heritage site, where the Namibian struggle for independence started in 1966.
In the north, Omusati borders the Cunene Province of Angola. Domestically, it borders the following regions:
The region got its name from the Mopane tree (omusati: Ndonga : Mopane) which is the dominant species in the region. The Makalani palms decrease rapidly westwards from the border with Oshana region. The change in vegetation type reflects ecological conditions forming a natural boundary between the two regions.
The region is home to the Ruacana Falls. The waterfall is 120 meters (390 ft) high and 700 meters (2,300 ft) wide in full flood and is among the largest waterfalls in Africa, both by volume and width.
The northern part of Omusati is far more densely populated than the south, where the grazing is of poor quality and the water is generally saline. This is primarily an agricultural region where mahangu, also known as pearl millet, is successfully grown. [6] A canal carries water from the Ruacana river to Oshakati, passing through Outapi. Water from this canal has been used to irrigate a large, government-run farm at Etunda where crops from maize to watermelon to bananas are grown. The electrical network covers towns including Outapi, Ruacana, Tsandi, Oshikuku, and Okahao.
The region is traversed by a high standard trunk road which provides a direct link to adjacent regions and the rest of the country. Although passenger and freight transport along this route is easy, the rest of this road network, in common with all the communal areas of northern Namibia, is of poor quality. Okahao and Outapi both have small hospitals, and a network of clinics provides basic services. [7]
Only 17% of households in Omusati have access to improved sanitation (toilet facilities). [8] According to the 2012 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in the Region is 28.9%. [9] Omusati has 274 schools with a total of 86,365 pupils. [10]
The governor of Omusati since 2015 is Erginus Endjala. [11] [12] The region comprises twelve constituencies:
Electorally, Omusati region is consistently dominated by the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO). For instance, Omusati voters selected SWAPO with 97.68% of their votes in the 2004 parliamentary election, [13] and again with 98% in the 2014 election.
In the 2004 regional election for the National Assembly of Namibia, SWAPO won in all constituencies by a landslide. In Anamulenge and Otamanzi no opposition party even nominated a candidate. [14]
The 2015 local and regional elections saw SWAPO obtain 99.4% of the total votes (2010: 99.0) [5] and win uncontested eight of the twelve Omusati constituencies, and two of the five towns. [15] The remaining four constituencies SWAPO won by a landslide, with results ranging from 89% (Ruacana) to 98% (Ogongo). [16] Although SWAPO's support dropped to 86.5% of the total votes in the 2020 regional election, it again won all constituencies by a large margin. [5]
Oshikoto is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, named after Lake Otjikoto. Its capital is Omuthiya. Further major settlements in the region are Tsumeb, Otjikoto's capital until 2008, and Oniipa. As of 2020, Oshikoto had 112,170 registered voters.
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.
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.
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.
Epupa Constituency is a constituency in the Kunene Region of Namibia. The constituency contains the Epupa Falls after which it is named, located on the Angolan-Namibian border. Its population in 2004 was 12,816. In 2020 it had 12,182 registered voters.
Oshakati is a town in northern Namibia. It is the regional capital of the Oshana Region and one of Namibia's largest cities both by population and as an economic center.
Outapi wa Nakafingo na Temba, also Outapi or Uutapi and Ombalantu, is a town in northern Namibia near the border with Angola, situated 90 km (56 mi) northwest of Oshakati. It is the capital of the Omusati region and the district capital of the Outapi electoral constituency. The language spoken there is Oshiwambo.
Oshikuku is a town in Omusati Region in the north of Namibia. It is the district capital of Oshikuku Constituency.
Okahao is a town in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia and the district capital of the Okahao electoral constituency which is the largest constituency in Omusati region in terms of area. It is situated in the Ongandjera tribal area 73 kilometres (45 mi) west of Oshakati on the main road MR123. It is a former mission station of the Finnish Missionary Society.
Anamulenge Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia. It had 12,470 inhabitants in 2004 and 11,186 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the settlement of Anamulenge.
Elim Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia. It had 15,210 inhabitants in 2004 and 7,883 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the settlement of Elim.
Etayi Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia. It had 34,970 inhabitants in 2004 and 16,716 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the settlement of Etayi. The constituency contains the settlements of Iipandayamiti, Oneheke, Onheleiwa, Otindi, Ekangolinene, Oshivanda, Onamhindi, Omutundungu, Olupandu, Onampira, Otshikuyu, Okaleke, Oshipya, and Oikokola.
Ogongo Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region northern part of Namibia. It had 18,498 inhabitants in 2004 and 9,140 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the settlement of Ogongo. The constituency further contains the settlements of Eengolo, Eendombe, Pyamukuyu, Iipanda, Ombathi, and Omuthitu.
Okahao Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia. It had 26,035 inhabitants in 2004 and 12,390 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the town of Okahao the birth place of Namibia's Founding Father Sam Nujoma. Okahao Constituency was created in 1998 from existing constituencies of Omusati, following a recommendation of the Second Delimitation Commission of Namibia, and in preparation of the 1998 general election.
Oshikuku Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia. It had 8,089 inhabitants in 2004 and 9,701 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the village of Oshikuku.
Outapi Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia on the border of Angola. It had 30,313 inhabitants in 2004 and 23,516 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the town of Outapi.
Ruacana Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia on the border to Angola. It had 10,722 inhabitants in 2004 and 9,285 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the town of Ruacana.
Tsandi Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia. It had 26,834 inhabitants in 2004 and 15,618 registered voters in 2020. Its district capital is the settlement of Tsandi.
Namibia held elections for their local and regional councils on 27 November 2015. Ballots were cast using electronic voting.