Oshakati
Oshakati Omtata | |
---|---|
A street market in Oshakati | |
Nickname: shanangobe kashiiwa nambelela | |
Motto(s): Unity, Justice, Development | |
Coordinates: 17°47′.9594″S 15°41′57.84″E / 17.783599833°S 15.6994000°E | |
Country | ![]() |
Region | Oshana Region |
Government | |
• Type | Republic |
• Mrs | Katrina Shimbulu |
Time zone | UTC+1 (South African Standard Time) |
Oshakati is a town[1] in Oshana Region, 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 and Namibian War of Independence. Oshakati is considered to be the largest town and capital of the northern area known as Owamboland.
Oshakati contains the electoral constituencies of Oshakati East and Oshakati West.
History
editIn Oshiwambo, the language of the Owambo, the town's name means "that which is in between", although some believe that the name (Oshakati, also Otshakati) was used to refer to the Tower, tallest freestanding structure in town. Oshakati is located near the B1, Namibia's main highway, which stretches from South Africa through the capital Windhoek and on to the Angolan border. The Oshakati town, (popularly known as 'Oshakati sha Nangombe' by the native Kwambi people) is within the Kwambi traditional authority.
In February 1988, a bomb blast occurred in Oshakati at the First National Bank, killing 27 people and badly injuring nearly 30 others and most of them were nurses and teachers. No one was ever officially convicted of the bombing and the issue was dropped upon independence in 1990 in favour of national reconciliation.[2]
Development and infrastructure
editOshakati has experienced much development since Namibia achieved independence on March 21, 1990. In April 2006, the Oshakati Town Council building was inaugurated by Botswana's President Festus Mogae.
Oshakati has a football team, Oshakati City FC where some of the star players such as KASKAS ANGULA ,BENSON SHILONGO and others plays.[3]
In Oshakati there are many primary and secondary schools like Iipumbu SSS, Oshakati SSS, Ngolo C.B, Erundu SSS, Kabatana primary,Evululuko SSS, Ehenye and others. There are also many shops and stores like Jet, Mr Price, Shoprite etc apart from that there are also furniture stores such as BEARS,FUNRCITY and clothes stores and household stores'etc. There are three main shopping centres: Game complex, Etango complex, and Yetu complex. There is also a stadium in Independence Stadium. There are two Universities in Oshakati UNAM Northern campus, Ongwediva campus. There is also a hospital in Oshakati OSHAKATI STATE HOSPITAL and many clinics.[4]
Locations in town
editNotable residents
edit- musician Lazarus Shiimi, known as Gazza
- soccer-playing twins Tara Katupose and Muna Katupose
- soccer player Kaskas angula
- A businessman Frans Aupa Indongo
- A determined, motivated and ambitious IT STUDENT IT STUDENT A-JAY.
References
edit- ^ Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa
- ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
- ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
- ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
- ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
External links
editCategory:Oshana Region Category:Regional capitals in Namibia