Ongwediva
| Ongwediva | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town | ||
| ||
| Nickname(s): The Valley of the Leopard | ||
| Motto: Freedom & Hard work | ||
  Ongwediva Location in Namibia | ||
| Coordinates: 17°47′S 15°46′E / 17.783°S 15.767°E | ||
| Country |
 Namibia | |
| Region | Oshana Region | |
| constituency | Ongwediva Constituency | |
| Proclaimed | 1992 | |
| Government[1] | ||
| • Mayor | Patricia Kashuupulwa | |
| Population (2011)[2] | ||
| • Total | 20,260 | |
| Time zone | South African Standard Time (UTC+1) | |
| Climate | BSh | |
| Website | http://www.otc.com.na/ | |
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.[3]
History
The settlement of Ongwediva was established in the 1960s while Namibia was under South African occupation, in the area of headman Mr Nandjebo Mengela. Its purpose was to serve as a residential area for people employed by businesses and government in Oshakati and Ondangwa. All main educational institutions in the north of Namibia (at that time called the Ovamboland) were situated here.[4]
Economy and development
Ongwediva hosts an annual trade fair, the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) since the year 2000, after one initial trade fair, the Northern Namibia Trade Fair, was held in 1995.[5] Opposite of the open market, there is a shopping mall (Maroela Mall, Mandume Ndemufayo St.).
Ongwediva is an urban area that experiences rapid growth. It had less than 11,000 inhabitants in 2001.[6]
Ongwediva is the second largest entertainment town in Namibia just behind the capital Windhoek. Ongwediva is a fast-growing town in terms of development and status as a second most livable town in Namibia. It also features one of the few private hospitals in Namibia.[7]
Politics
Ongwediva is governed by a town council that currently has seven seats.[8]
Education
There are currently only two high schools in Ongwediva, Mweshipandeka High School and Gabriel Taapopi SSS. There are also five primary schools. The newly created Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology of the University of Namibia is based in Ongwediva and it started its first official academic year in 2009. There is also an Educational College for teachers.
Notable residents
- Sunny Boy, a hip hop and kwaito musician
- Erastus Uutoni, a politician and former Mayor of the town
- Benjamin Hauwanga, a businessman, owner of Bennies Entertainment Park and Lodge and the BH Group of Companies
Gallery
ELCIN church
Roads Authority office
Police station
Shopping Center Maroela Mall in Ongwediva, Namibia
Private hospital
References
- ↑ "Ongwediva Mayor welcomes visitors". Namibian Sun. 1 September 2010. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ↑ "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)" (PDF). Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
- ↑ "Location". Ongwediva Town Council. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ↑ "Historical background". Ongwediva Town Council. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ↑ "Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair, About us". Ongwediva Town Council. Retrieved 30 December 2010.
- ↑ Republic of Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census (Basic Analysis with Highlights ed.). Windhoek: Central Bureau of Statistics, National Planning Commission. July 2003. p. 21. ISBN 0-86976-614-7.
- ↑ http://www.informante.web.na/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4197&Itemid=108
- ↑ "Know Your Local Authority". Election Watch (3). Institute for Public Policy Research. 2015. p. 4.
Coordinates: 17°47′S 15°46′E / 17.783°S 15.767°E