Oshana Region

Last updated
Oshana Region
Region
Oshana in Namibia.svg
Location of the Oshana Region in Namibia
Country Namibia
Capital Oshakati
Government
 • Governor Elia Irimari
Area
[1]
 • Total8,647 km2 (3,339 sq mi)
Population
 (2011) [2]
 • Total176,674
 • Density20/km2 (53/sq mi)
Time zone UTC+2 (CAT)
HDI (2017)0.669 [3]
medium · 4th
Websitewww.oshanarc.com

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.

Contents

Politics

The region comprises eleven constituencies:

Clemens Kashuupulwa was appointed governor of Oshana in 1998. [4] He was reappointed in 2015 following the 2014 election [5] and served in this position until November 2018. In March 2019 Elia Irimari was appointed to succeed him. [6]

The 2015 local and regional elections saw SWAPO win uncontested seven of the eleven Oshana constituencies. [7] The remaining four constituencies SWAPO won by a landslide, with results well over 90%. [8]

Typical landscape of Oshana Region Typical landscape of Oshana Region, Namibia.jpg
Typical landscape of Oshana Region

Economy and infrastructure

The Oshakati-Ongwediva-Ondangwa complex has experienced dramatic urban growth in recent years and forms an important commercial and potential industrial focus. As a whole, it forms the second largest population concentration in Namibia after Windhoek, but it still lacks basic infrastructure and most of the services and facilities normally found in urban areas of this size. The majority of businesses in northern Namibia are located here, providing a significant amount of employment. However, urbanisation is continuing within the region.

The area is far more densely populated in north, which is linked to Tsumeb and other regions by the high quality trunk road; this also facilitates the transport of freight. However, a significant improvement in the rest of the road network and in other forms of telecommunications are required. Oshakati and Ondangwa have airstrips which handle medium-sized airplanes in daylight only and provision can be made for both passengers and airfreight. The establishment of a control tower may contribute to the improvement of all-weather air and transport. Oshakati has a state hospital which supports a number of clinics. Although both primary and secondary schools are spread across the region, they are few relative to the amount of inhabitants of the region.

Omahangu is the principal staple crop grown in Oshana, which is suitable for agriculture. However, the soil is exhausted over much of the central area and requires substantial fertilisation in order to maintain reasonable productivity. Cattle also do well here and herds are extensive. The southern portion of Oshana is an extensive savannah plain stretching as far as the Etosha Pan, but the generally high salinity of soil and water render it unsuitable for grazing or cultivation.

According to the 2012 Namibia Labour Force Survey, unemployment in Oshana Region is 24.5%. [9] Oshana has 137 schools with a total of 50,740 pupils. [10] The centres of major economic activity are the towns Ondangwa, Ongwediva and Oshakati.

Geography

Oshana is one of only three regions without either a coastline or a foreign border. It borders the following regions:

The name Oshana describes the most prominent landscape feature in the area, namely the shallow, seasonally inundated depressions which underpin the local agro ecological system. Although communications are hindered during the rainy season, the fish which breed in the oshanas provide an important source of dietary protein.

Related Research Articles

Hardap Region 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.

ǁKaras Region Region in Namibia

The ǁKaras Region is the southernmost 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.

Erongo Region 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.

Khomas Region Region in Namibia

Khomas is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia. Its name refers to the Khomas Highland, a high plateau landscape that dominates this administrative unit. 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 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.

Otjozondjupa Region 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.

Oshikoto Region Region in Namibia

Oshikoto is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, named after Lake Otjikoto. Its capital is Omuthiya. The city of Tsumeb, Otjikoto's capital until 2008, and the towns of Omuthiya and Oniipa are also situated in this region.

Omusati Region Region in Namibia

Omusati 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. The region is home to the Ruacana Falls and the Omugulugwombashe Heritage Site, where the Namibian struggle for independence started in 1966.

Omaheke Region Region in Namibia

Omaheke is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia, its capital is Gobabis. It lies on the eastern border of Namibia and is the Western extension of the Kalahari desert. The name Omaheke is the Herero word for Sandveld. The self-governed villages of Otjinene, Leonardville and Witvlei are situated in the region.

Ohangwena Region 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 and the self-governed village of Okongo.

Kunene Region 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.

Ondangwa Town in Oshana Region, Namibia

Ondangwa is a town of 23,000 inhabitants in the Oshana Region of northern Namibia, bordering Oshikoto Region. Ondangwa was first established as a mission station of the Finnish Missionary Society in 1890. In 1914 it became a local seat of government.

Oshakati town in Oshana Region, Namibia

Oshakati is a town of 37,000 inhabitants in the Oshana Region of Namibia. It is the regional capital and was officially founded in July 1966. The city was used as a base of operations by the South African Defence Force (SADF) during the South African Border War.

Articles related to Namibia include:

Ongwediva Town in Oshana Region, Namibia

Ongwediva is a town in the Oshana Region in the north of Namibia. It is the district capital of the Ongwediva electoral constituency. As of 2010 it had 27,000 inhabitants and covered 4,102 hectares of land. Ongwediva has seven churches, two private schools and 13 government-run schools. Most of the inhabitants speak Oshiwambo.

Elim Constituency Constituency in Omusati region, northern Namibia

Elim Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Omusati Region of Namibia. It has 15,210 inhabitants, its district capital is the settlement of Elim.

Okaku Constituency

Okaku Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Oshana Region of Namibia. It has 19,262 inhabitants, its district capital is the settlement of Okaku.

Tuliameni Kalomoh is a Namibian diplomat who serves as Special Advisor on Foreign Affairs to the President, Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Namibia.

Trustco Bank Namibia, Ltd., formerly the FIDES Bank Namibia, is a commercial bank in Namibia owned by Trustco Group Holdings. Its main commercial activity is to provide microfinancing services.

Ondangwa Rural

Ondangwa Rural is an electoral constituency in the Oshana Region of Namibia. It has 13,613 inhabitants. Ondangwa Rural was created by splitting the former constituency of Ondangwa into a rural and an urban part in August 2013, following a recommendation of the Fourth Delimitation Commission of Namibia, and in preparation of the 2014 general election. The administrative centre of the constituency is the settlement Eheke.

References

  1. ↑ "Namibia's Population by Region". Election Watch. Institute for Public Policy Research (1): 3. 2013.
  2. ↑ "Oshana 2011 Census Regional Profile" (PDF). Statistics Namibia. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  3. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  4. ↑ "'People Say I'm the Second Mugabe'", New Era, 14 April 2015.
  5. ↑ "President announces governors". The Namibian . 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
  6. ↑ Ashipala, Nuusita (13 March 2019). "Councillor Irimari appointed as governor of Oshana". New Era . p. 1.
  7. ↑ Kangootui, Nomhle (23 October 2015). "Swapo gets ǃNamiǂNûs uncontested". The Namibian . Archived from the original on October 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Regional Council Election Results 2015". Electoral Commission of Namibia. 3 December 2015. p. 18. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
  9. ↑ Duddy, Jo Maré (11 April 2013). "Unemployment rate still alarmingly high". The Namibian . Archived from the original on 14 April 2013.
  10. ↑ Miyanicwe, Clemans; Kahiurika, Ndanki (27 November 2013). "School counsellors overstretched". The Namibian . p. 1.

Coordinates: 18°10′S15°45′E / 18.167°S 15.750°E / -18.167; 15.750

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.