Otjomuise

Otjomuise

Otjomuise (Otjiherero: place of steam) is a township in north-western Windhoek, Namibia.

Otjomuise is also one of the two traditional names of the town Windhoek. It references the hot springs near today's city centre. In May 2005, Democratic Turnhalle Alliance leader Katuutire Kaura introduced a motion into the National Assembly which would have changed Windhoek's official name to Otjomuise as part of a national Africanization of major towns and cities.^[1]

8ste Laan

8ste Laan (Afrikaans, 8th street) is an unincorporated informal settlement adjacent to the Otjomuise residential area. The City of Windhoek claims that the land is meant for recreational purposes and not for housing. It served the shack owners with evictions because the occupation of erf 4421 on which the 8ste Laan's shacks have been erected was not authorized by them.^[2]

Despite all this controversy the 8ste Laan community has gardening project that supplies Khomasdal soup kitchens with vegetables. This gardening project was launched by the founding father of Namibia, Dr Sam Nujoma, to stop people from depending on the government.^[3]

References

1. ^ Menges, Werner (12 May 2005). "Windhoek?! Rather make that Otjomuise". The Namibian. http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?id=28&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=17815&no_cache=1. 
2. ^ Shigwedha, Absalom (12 October 2010). "Squatters face eviction". The Namibian. http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2010/october/article/squatters-face-eviction/. 
3. ^ Kupulo, Chris (23 August 2010). "Community of 8ste Laan in Windhoek's Otjimuise residential area now have a gardening project". Namibian Broadcasting Corporation. http://www.nbc.com.na/article.php?id=2920.