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Ondangwa
Town
Ondangwa Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 17°55′S 15°57′E
Country	Namibia
Region	Oshana Region
Elevation	3,540 ft (1,080 m)
Time zone	UTC+1 (South African Standard Time)

Ondangwa (also Ondangua), is a town in the Oshana Region of northern Namibia, bordering Oshikoto Region. Ondangwa means "the end of the Ondonga area" (Ondonga is one of the kingdoms of Ovamboland). Located about 80 km (50 mi) from the Angolan border, Ondangwa is situated along the B1. It is one of the places of residence of the Kings of Ondonga. (currently King Eliphas Kauluma, father to the reigning king lives here). Most of the residents of the town speak Oshindonga.

The landscape is flat, monotonous and dotted with settlements. Mopane, Marula and Wild fig trees turn up occasionally between the fields and the kraals and one can also find Makalani palm trees here (symbol of the Ovambo area). After heavy rains in the region, many little lakes and ponds form. The water comes from the Cuvelai River reaching from the north to the Etosha Pan.

Ondangwa is the district capital of the Ondangwa electoral constituency.

History

Before the Apartheid era

In 1870, Onandjokwe, near Ondangwa, was the site of the first Christian (Finnish Lutheran) mission in Ovamboland was set up by Finnish Lutherans.

During Apartheid

In the sixties and seventies, Ovamboland became the scene of severe fighting between SWAPO and the South African army. The Ovambo bore the brunt of Namibia's independence struggle and thousands of lives were lost.

During Namibian War of Independence, Ondangwa was a major theatre of fighting between the rebel movement South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) and the South African Defence Force (SADF).

Economy and Development

Ondangwa features a shopping centre, a large open market, and several tourism facilities.

Many local authorities for the Oshana and Oshikoto regions are placed in the town, e.g. the Ministry of Education and police. The hospital is placed in the nearby town Oniipa.

Ondangwa remains an important transit point for Owambo contract workers going to or coming from the copper- and lead-mining town of Tsumeb, 170 miles (274 km) southeast. Moreover there is a 53 Battalion HQ at Ondangwa, just before the Ondangwa Airforce Base on the main Oshakati road in Sector 10. There are several schools in the town, among them Andimba Toivo ya Toivo Senior Secondary School. Some schools extend farthest from the town - for instance Ekulo Senior Secondary School. The most well-known football team is KK Palace and Volcano.

Since independence, the government has settled up an industry in the north, to create jobs and improve the poor infrastructure. Rössing Foundation, Kayec and Cosdec are the three vocational skills schools training young people in building maintenance, sewing, cooking, and Internet Technology.

Transport

In 2001, planning started on a railway line to link Tsumeb with Ondangwa, with extensions to Angola planned to follow. The rail line had its first official service on 11 May 2006. The passenger train Omugulugwombashe Star traveled once a week back and forth between Windhoek and Ondangwa before it broke down due to climatic conditions.

The town shares an airport with Oshakati. Ondangwa is linked to Oshakati and Oshikango by a tarred road. Rental car services are also available for tourists. Residents and car owners cars are often extra cautious and careful ,mostly when crossing and driving in the town, because livestock permission in town are not strictly regulated by the government therefore cattle and goats roam around especially at night.

See also

• Transport in Namibia
• Railway stations in Namibia

External links

• Maplandia Map
• Ondangwa
• "Ondangwa" Encyclopædia Britannica