Okakarara
| Okakarara | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
  Okakarara Location in Namibia | |
| Coordinates: 20°35′9″S 17°27′28″E / 20.58583°S 17.45778°ECoordinates: 20°35′9″S 17°27′28″E / 20.58583°S 17.45778°E | |
| Country |
 Namibia |
| Region | Otjozondjupa Region |
| Constituencies of Namibia | Okakarara Constituency |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | John Viakondo |
| Population (2011)[1] | |
| • Town | 4,709 |
| • Urban | 7,000 |
| Time zone | South African Standard Time (UTC+1) |
| Climate | BSh |
Okakarara is a town in Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia, located 50 km southeast of Waterberg National Park.[2] It has an estimated population of 7000 and is currently growing by 1500 inhabitants annually.[3]
Okakarara consists of the residential areas of Opamue, the former whites-only area, and Okakarara Proper, the former black residential area. It is the district capital of the Okakarara electoral constituency that includes surrounding settlements.
History
The first house was built by Salathiel Kambamba Kambazembi and Reinard Tjerije who arrived in the area in 1923. The settlement grew over time and was proclaimed a town in 1992.[3] Okakarara became the centre of the Herero Tribal Authority in the early seventies.
Politics
Okakarara is governed by a town council that currently has seven seats.[4] Formerly part of the Apartheid-era bantustan Hereroland, the area is still mainly populated by the Herero people. Because of this, Okakarara is one of the few towns in Namibia where the otherwise dominant SWAPO party came only second in the 2004 elections, and the Herero-dominated NUDO won. Due to a very unusual coalition between SWAPO and DTA, the elected town mayor Ehrnst Katjiku has SWAPO affiliation.
Economy
Since 2007, Okakarara houses an annual trade fair. This initiative also led to the erection of a trade centre and an SME park.[3] The town further features a secondary school,a government hospital, a vocational training centre, and an abbatoir.
Okakarara Trade Fair
The Okakarara trade fair is an annual four-day trade fair event which was first started in 2007 as a way to bring the breeders of the communal area around the town together to showcase the animals and as well as share ideas on how they can help improve farming methods. Marquees are erected at the Okakarara Community Cultural Centre which was built with funding from Germany, to accommodate the increased number of exhibitors, as the existing hall is too small to cater to all the exhibitors. Exhibitors include automobile dealers who showcase their latest models. Farmers showcasing their livestock, food stalls, beverages and many other stalls are available. Other exhibitors engaged in the selling of agricultural equipment and vehicles are placed around the fairground on open stands. Because Okakarara is in a rural area, agriculture is important and so the trade fair is a great opportunity to attract investment to the town and it also allows communal farmers to showcase their breeds.
Twin towns
Okakarara has twinning agreements with the following Namibian towns:[3]
Notable residents
- Ngarikutuke Tjiriange, former Namibian Minister of Justice
References
- ↑ "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 10 September 2013.
- ↑ Okakarara namibia-travel profile
- 1 2 3 4 Goreseb, Lesley G (September 2009). "Okakarara Town Council". Supplement to several Namibian newspapers.
- ↑ "Know Your Local Authority". Election Watch (3) (Institute for Public Policy Research). 2015. p. 4.