Ondangwa

Ondangwa
—  Town  —
Ondangwa Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 17°55′S 15°57′E / 17.917°S 15.95°E / -17.917; 15.95
Country	Namibia
Region	Oshana Region
Elevation	3,543 ft (1,080 m)
Population (2001)[1]
– Total	10,900
Time zone	South African Standard Time (UTC+1)

Ondangwa (also Ondangua), is a town of 11,000 inhabitants in the Oshana Region of northern Namibia, bordering Oshikoto Region. Ondangwa means the end of the Ondonga area (Ondonga is one of the kingdoms of Ovamboland). Located about 80 km (50 mi) from the Angolan border, Ondangwa is situated along the B1. It is one of the places of residence of the Kings of Ondonga. (currently King Eliphas Kauluma, father to the reigning king lives here). Most of the residents of the town speak Oshindonga.

Ondangwa is the district capital of the Ondangwa electoral constituency. It receives a mean annual of rainfall of 450 millimetres (18 in), although in the 2010/2011 rainy season rainfall was over 1,000 millimetres (39 in).^[2]

History

Before the Apartheid era

In 1870, Onandjokwe, near Ondangwa, was the site of the first Christian (Finnish Lutheran) mission in Ovamboland was set up by Finnish Lutherans.^[3]

During Apartheid

In the sixties and seventies, Ovamboland became the scene of severe fighting between SWAPO and the South African army. The Ovambo bore the brunt of Namibia's independence struggle and thousands of lives were lost.

During Namibian War of Independence, Ondangwa was a major theatre of fighting between the rebel movement South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and the South African Defence Force (SADF).

Geography

Climate

Ondangwa has a semi-arid climate (BSh, according to the Köppen climate classification), with hot summers and warm winters (with mild days and cool nights). The average annual precipitation is 447 mm (18 in), with most rainfall occurring mainly during summer.

Ondangwa
Climate chart (explanation)
J F M A M J J A S O N D     106   32 19     109   31 19     92   28 19     27   30 16     3   29 12     0   26 8     0   27 8     0   30 10     1   33 13     11   34 17     45   33 19     53   33 19 Average max. and min. temperatures in °C Precipitation totals in mm Source: World Climate Guide
Imperial conversion J F M A M J J A S O N D     4.2   90 66     4.3   88 66     3.6   82 66     1.1   86 61     0.1   84 54     0   79 46     0   81 46     0   86 50     0   91 55     0.4   93 63     1.8   91 66     2.1   91 66 Average max. and min. temperatures in °F Precipitation totals in inches

Economy and Development

Ondangwa features a shopping centre, a large open market, and several tourism facilities.

Many local authorities for the Oshana and Oshikoto regions are placed in the town, e.g. the Ministry of Education and police. The hospital is placed in the nearby town Oniipa.

Ondangwa remains an important transit point for Owambo contract workers going to or coming from the copper- and lead-mining town of Tsumeb, 170 miles (274 km) southeast. Moreover there is a 53 Battalion HQ at Ondangwa, just before the Ondangwa Airforce Base on the main Oshakati road in Sector 10. There are several schools in the town, among them Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Senior Secondary School. Some schools extend farthest from the town - for instance Ekulo Senior Secondary School. The most well-known football team is KK Palace and Volcano.

Since independence, the government has settled up an industry in the north, to create jobs and improve the poor infrastructure. Rössing Foundation, Kayec and Cosdec are the three vocational skills schools training young people in building maintenance, sewing, cooking, and Internet Technology.

Transport

In 2001, planning started on a railway line to link Tsumeb with Ondangwa, with extensions to Angola planned to follow. The rail line had its first official service on 11 May 2006. The passenger train Omugulugwombashe Star traveled once a week back and forth between Windhoek and Ondangwa before it broke down due to climatic conditions.^[4]

The town shares an airport with Oshakati. Ondangwa is linked to Oshakati and Oshikango by a tarred road. Rental car services are also available for tourists. Residents and car owners cars are often extra cautious and careful ,mostly when crossing and driving in the town, because livestock permission in town are not strictly regulated by the government therefore cattle and goats roam around especially at night.

Notable residents

• Eddie Amkongo

See also

• Transport in Namibia
• Railway stations in Namibia

References

1. ^ 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 0869766147. 
2. ^ Menges, Werner (26 May 2011). "Rainy season was one for the record books". The Namibian. http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/may/article/rainy-season-was-one-for-the-record-books/. 
3. ^ "Ondangwa" at britannica.com
4. ^ "Chinese rails for Oshikango railway". The Namibian. 13 November 2009. http://www.namibian.com.na/news-articles/national/full-story/archive/2009/november/article/chinese-rails-for-oshikango-railway/. 

External links

• Maplandia Map
• Ondangwa
• "Ondangwa" Encyclopædia Britannica

• MSN Map

Coordinates: 17°55′S 15°57′E / 17.917°S 15.95°E / -17.917; 15.95