Oshakati
Oshakati
Omtata
A street market in Oshakati
A street market in Oshakati
Official seal of Oshakati
Nickname: 
shanangobe kashiiwa nambelela
Motto(s): 
Unity, Justice, Development
Oshakati is located in Namibia
Oshakati
Oshakati
Located in the north of Namibia
Coordinates: 17°47′.9594″S 15°41′57.84″E / 17.783599833°S 15.6994000°E / -17.783599833; 15.6994000
Country Namibia
RegionOshana Region
Government
 • TypeRepublic
 • MrsKatrina Shimbulu
Time zoneUTC+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

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In 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

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Oshakati 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]

Guest houses and hotels in Oshakati

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Locations in town

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Notable residents

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References

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  1. ^ Alliance of Mayors and Municipal Leaders on HIV/AIDS in Africa
  2. ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
  3. ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
  4. ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
  5. ^ Oshakati bomb blast remembered The Namibian, 20 February 2006
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Category:Oshana Region Category:Regional capitals in Namibia