Oshikuku

Oshikuku is a town in Omusati Region in the north of Namibia. It is the district capital of Oshikuku Constituency.[2]

Oshikuku
Town
Nickname(s): 
tjaa-kwambi
Motto(s): 
Together we can succeed
Oshikuku
Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 17°38′00″S 15°28′00″E
Country Namibia
RegionOmusati Region
ConstituencyOshikuku Constituency
Population
 (2011)[1]
 • Total2,761
Time zoneUTC+2 (SAST)
CurrencyNamibian dollar
LanguagesOshiwambo, English, Afrikaans, German
ReligionsProtestant, Roman Catholic
Efundja flooding near Oshikuku

Oshikuku features a secondary school, Nuuyoma Senior Secondary School, and a hospital. Its neighbouring villages are Outapi, Elim and Ogongo.

History

After Iipumpu Ya Tshilongo, king of the Uukwambi from 1907 to 1932, had resisted the establishment of mission stations in his territory for years, he finally allowed the Catholic Church to establish the first mission station in former Ovamboland in Oshikuku in 1924.[3] The station was established under the leadership of missionary and later Archbishop Joseph Gotthardt.[4] Oshikuku is until today home to a Roman Catholic Church parish.[5]

Politics

Oshikuku was a village until early 2011, when it was granted town status.[6] It is now is governed by a town council that has seven seats.[7]

Omusati Region, to which Oshikuku belongs, is a stronghold of Namibia's ruling SWAPO party. In the 2015 local authority election SWAPO won by a landslide (497 votes) and gained all seven council seats. The Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) also ran but gained only 16 votes.[8]

Economy

Open Market

Oshikuku Town hosts numerous informal traders and hawkers, who frequently sell at roadsites and public spaces (e.g. in front of the hospital). In 2014 the construction of a modern market facility was completed and the majority of street vendors moved to this new facility. After an initial completion of the construction in 2013, the potential tenants demanded several improvements before showing willingness to move in. The market features numerous open stalls and several rooms with access to electricity, water and sanitation. The market is expected to increase safety and hygiene of trade in Oshikuku.[9]

Industrial Park

Since 2007, Oshikuku has a government built and managed industrial park, accommodating various SMEs and larger businesses. The facility aims at increasing the town´s manufacturing potential by providing subsidised business amenities, preferably to local small and medium enterprises. Oshikuku Industrial Park was developed by the Offshore Development Company (ODC).[10]

Notable residents

Oshikuku is the birthplace of Liborius Ndumbukuti Nashenda, Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in Namibia. Iipumpu Ya Tshilongo, eighteenth king of the Uukwambi, died here in 1959.[11]

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gollark: It was in a dungeon chest. I don't actually need it, probably.
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gollark: Did I remember to actually plant it? I might not have. There are saplings and slimy dirt in storage at least.

References
  1. "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 24 August 2016.
  2. Hartman, Adam (27 Aug 2010). "Town regrading a 'sad move'". The Namibian. Archived from the original on 2012-12-11.
  3. Nujoma, Sam (26 August 2002). "Heroes' Acre Namibia Opening Ceremony - inaugural speech". via namibia-1on1.com.
  4. Shiremo, Shampapi (22 July 2011). "Bishop Joseph Gotthardt: A determined missionary along the Kavango River (1880-1963)". New Era. Archived from the original on 11 January 2013.
  5. Oshikuku Parish at RCChurch.na
  6. With New Town CEOs, Namibian Sun, 14 Feb 2011
  7. "Know Your Local Authority". Election Watch (3). Institute for Public Policy Research. 2015. p. 4.
  8. "Local elections results". Electoral Commission of Namibia. 28 November 2015. p. 6. Archived from the original on 10 December 2015.
  9. Ileka, Merja (23 June 2014). "Development at the heart of Oshikuku". Namibian Sun.
  10. Mbangula, William J (23 January 2007). "New Industrial Parks for the North". New Era. allafric.com.
  11. Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, I". www.klausdierks.com. Retrieved 8 August 2012.
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