Omusati
Encyclopedia
Omusati region is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia
. Uutapi
at Ombalantu forms a natural centre for this region. Mopani tree
is the dominant species; the Makalani palm
s decrease rapidly westwards from the border with Oshana
region. The change in vegetation type reflects ecological conditions forming a natural boundary between the two regions.
The northern part of this region is far more densely populated than the south, where the grazing
is of poor quality and the water generally saline. This is predominantly an agricultural region in which mahangu is cultivated successfully. With intensive fertilisation and tilling of the soil, self-sufficiency should be attainable. A canal carries water from the Ruacana river to Oshakati, passing through Uutapi
. Water from this canal has been used to irrigate a large, government-run farm at Etunda where crops from maize to watermelon to bananas are grown. Non-agricultural employment opportunities will need to be created, however. The electrical network is expanding; while the rural areas may still lack electricity, towns including Uutapi, Ruacana, Tsandi, Oshikuku, and Okahao all have electricity.
The region is traversed by a high standard trunk road
which provides a direct link to adjacent regions and the rest of the country. Although passenger and freight transport along this route is easy, the rest of this road network, in common with all the communal areas of northern Namibia, is of poor quality. Okahao and Uutapi both have small hospitals, and a network of clinics provides basic services. The provision of school
s is also inadequate and improvement in the position is expected.
In the north, Omusati borders the Cunene
Province of Angola
. Domestically, it borders the following regions:
, Outapi, Okalongo, Oshikuku
, Elim
, Okahao
, Anamulenge, Otamanzi, and Ruacana
.
Electorally, Omusati region is dominated by the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO). In the 2004 parliamentary election, Omusati voters selected SWAPO with 97.68% of their votes.
Regions of Namibia
The administrative division of Namibia is tabled by Delimitation Commissions and accepted or declined by the National Assembly. The First Delimitation Commission chaired by Judge President Johan Strydom suggested in 1992 that Namibia be divided into 13 Regions, a number that has not been amended...
. Uutapi
Uutapi
Outapi, also known as Uutapi and Ombalantu, is a town in northern Namibia near the border with Angola situated 90km northwest of Oshakati. It is the capital of Omusati region and the district capital of the Outapi electoral constituency...
at Ombalantu forms a natural centre for this region. Mopani tree
Mopane
The mopane or mopani tree grows in hot, dry, low-lying areas, in elevation, in the far northern parts of southern Africa, into South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Angola and Malawi. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus Colophospermum...
is the dominant species; the Makalani palm
Hyphaene petersiana
The Real fan palm , locally known as the Makalani palm, is a palm tree native to the subtropical, lowlying regions of south central Africa. They are found in open woodland, flood plains, banks of rivers and the fringes of pans and swamps.As with other Hyphaene spp., they are dioicous and the female...
s decrease rapidly westwards from the border with Oshana
Oshana
Oshana is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The name Oshana lends itself well to this region as it describes the most prominent landscape feature in the area, namely the shallow, seasonally inundated depressions which underpin the local agro ecological system...
region. The change in vegetation type reflects ecological conditions forming a natural boundary between the two regions.
The northern part of this region is far more densely populated than the south, where the grazing
Grazing
Grazing generally describes a type of feeding, in which a herbivore feeds on plants , and also on other multicellular autotrophs...
is of poor quality and the water generally saline. This is predominantly an agricultural region in which mahangu is cultivated successfully. With intensive fertilisation and tilling of the soil, self-sufficiency should be attainable. A canal carries water from the Ruacana river to Oshakati, passing through Uutapi
Uutapi
Outapi, also known as Uutapi and Ombalantu, is a town in northern Namibia near the border with Angola situated 90km northwest of Oshakati. It is the capital of Omusati region and the district capital of the Outapi electoral constituency...
. Water from this canal has been used to irrigate a large, government-run farm at Etunda where crops from maize to watermelon to bananas are grown. Non-agricultural employment opportunities will need to be created, however. The electrical network is expanding; while the rural areas may still lack electricity, towns including Uutapi, Ruacana, Tsandi, Oshikuku, and Okahao all have electricity.
The region is traversed by a high standard trunk road
Trunk road
A trunk road, trunk highway, or strategic road is a major road—usually connecting two or more cities, ports, airports, and other things.—which is the recommended route for long-distance and freight traffic...
which provides a direct link to adjacent regions and the rest of the country. Although passenger and freight transport along this route is easy, the rest of this road network, in common with all the communal areas of northern Namibia, is of poor quality. Okahao and Uutapi both have small hospitals, and a network of clinics provides basic services. The provision of school
School
A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...
s is also inadequate and improvement in the position is expected.
In the north, Omusati borders the Cunene
Cunene (province)
Cunene is a province of Angola. It has an area of 87,342 km² and a population of approximately 200,000 to 300,000.-Overview:Ondjiva is the capital of the province it was previously known as Vila Pereira d’Eça . Ondjiva is the only city in this province...
Province of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. Domestically, it borders the following regions:
- OhangwenaOhangwena RegionOhangwena is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The northern and western parts of the region are the most densely populated of this essentially subsistence agricultural region in which small scale mahangu cultivation and the keeping of cattle form the predominant activities...
- northeast - OshanaOshanaOshana is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The name Oshana lends itself well to this region as it describes the most prominent landscape feature in the area, namely the shallow, seasonally inundated depressions which underpin the local agro ecological system...
- east - KuneneKunene RegionKunene is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia and home to the Himba ethnic group. Compared to the rest of Namibia, it is relatively underdeveloped...
- south and west
Politics
The region comprises eleven constituencies: Onesi, TsandiTsandi
Tsandi is a village in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia and the district capital of the Tsandi electoral constituency. It is situated at a geographical coordinate of 17° 45' 0" South, 14° 53' 0" East ; on the main road MR123 ....
, Outapi, Okalongo, Oshikuku
Oshikuku
Oshikuku is a village in Omusati Region in the north of Namibia. It is the district capital of Oshikuku Constituency and scheduled to be upgraded to "town" status before November 2010....
, Elim
Elim Constituency
Elim is a village in the north-east of the Republic of Namibia. It is the district capital of the Elim Constituency in the administrative Omusati Region. It is situated in a formerly forested area that has largely been converted into agricultural grassland....
, Okahao
Okahao
Okahao is a town in the Omusati Region of northern Namibia and the district capital of the Okahao electoral constituency. It is situated in the Ongandjera tribal area 73 kilometers west of Oshakati on the main road MR123 ....
, Anamulenge, Otamanzi, and Ruacana
Ruacana
Ruacana is a town in Omusati Region, northern Namibia and the district capital of the Ruacana electoral constituency. It is located on the border with Angola on the river Kunene. The town is known for the picturesque Ruacana Falls nearby....
.
Electorally, Omusati region is dominated by the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO). In the 2004 parliamentary election, Omusati voters selected SWAPO with 97.68% of their votes.