Kavango West
Kavango West is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia. Its capital and only self-governed settlement is Nkurenkuru, its governor is Sirkka Ausiku. The Region was created in 2013 when the Kavango Region was split into Kavango East and Kavango West. In the north, Kavango West borders the Cuando Cubango Province of Angola. Domestically, it borders the following regions:
- Kavango East – east
- Otjozondjupa – south
- Oshikoto – west
- Ohangwena – northwest
Kavango West | |
---|---|
Region | |
The Kavango West Region (dark grey) in Namibia | |
Country | Namibia |
Seat | Nkurenkuru |
Government | |
• Governor | Sirkka Ausiku[1] (SWAPO) |
Time zone | South African Standard Time: UTC+2 |
Because of its rather high rainfall compared to most other parts of Namibia and its location on the Kavango River after which it was named, this region has agricultural potential for the cultivation of a variety of crops, as well as for organised forestry and agro-forestry, which stimulates furniture making and related industries. Kavango West and its sister region Kavango East are nevertheless the poorest regions in Namibia.[2]
Politics
The region is subdivided into eight electoral constituencies:[3][4]
The Fourth Delimitation Commission of Namibia, responsible for recommending on the country's administrative divisions suggested in August 2013 to split the Kavango Region into two. The president Hifikepunye Pohamba enacted the recommendations. As a result, the new Regions of Kavango East and Kavango West have been created.[4]
The first Governor of Kavango West was Samuel Mbambo, former Governor of Kavango Region and sitting Governor of Kavango East.[3] On 27 April 2014 Sirkka Ausiku, formerly Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development, was appointed.[5] He kept his position in 2015 in president Hage Geingob's new government.[1]
In the 2015 regional elections Swapo won in all eight constituencies.[6]
Population
The region is characterised by an extremely uneven population distribution. The interior is very sparsely inhabited, while the northernmost strip, especially along the Kavango River, has a high population concentration.
References
- "President announces governors". The Namibian. 10 April 2015. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
- Kandjimi, Shoki (5 November 2020). "Kavango East not a poor region - governor". New Era. p. 1.
- Haufiku, Mathias (22 August 2013). "Kavango awaits second governor". New Era. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. Retrieved 27 August 2013.
- Nakale, Albertina (9 August 2013). "President divides Kavango into two". New Era. allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
- "New broom in new region". The Namibian. 28 (76). NAMPA. 28 April 2014. p. 2.
- "Regional Council Election Results 2015". Electoral Commission of Namibia. 3 December 2015. pp. 7–8. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kavango. |
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kavango. |