Oshikango

Oshikango is a former village in northern Namibia and since 2004 part of the town of Helao Nafidi,[1] although it still maintained its own village council for a number of years. Oshikango is still the name of the border post with Angola and the electoral constituency for this suburb. It is estimated to have grown from "a tiny cluster of shebeens around an open market into a thriving boomtown with around 5,000 to 8,000 inhabitants over a period of 10 years".[2]

Not to be confused with Otjikango.
Oshikango
village
Oshikango
Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 17°24′S 15°53′E
Country Namibia
RegionOhangwena Region
RegionOshikango Constituency
Elevation
3,606 ft (1,099 m)
Time zoneUTC+1 (South African Standard Time)

History

The Oshikango area was heavily affected by the 1966 to 1989 South African Border War between South Africa and its allied forces (mainly UNITA) and the Angolan government and the South West Africa People's Organisation (SWAPO). The war ended with South Africa agreeing to Namibian independence. In 1996 Oshikango, along with many other settlements in the area, was proclaimed a village with the aim of increasing border trade.[3]

Economy

The border post between Namibia and Angola has brought business opportunities to Oshikango and the surrounding area. With the help of the European Union an Export Processing Zone consisting of 14 warehouses was established there. The nearby village of Omafo, now a suburb of Helao Nafidi, hosts an annual trade show.[3]

The parallel prevalence of land owned by the village of Oshikango, the town of Helao Nafidi, and land under traditional jurisdiction has led to uncertainties about ownership that had to be settled in court.[4]

There are some manufacturing companies in Oshikango, for example Fatima Plastic which donated Engela hospital the cost of building a bridge after a flood. Chicco, a building material wholesaler, has also set up shop in Oshikango, and there are also large retailers like Pick n Pay and Fysal Fresh Produce. Most villagers however, still mainly survive by agriculture and face the risk of periodic drought.

Transport
Street in Oshikango

In mid-2005, the second stage of the new Northern Railway between Oshikango and Oshivelo began construction. By mid-2006, it had reached Ondangwa. A train service known as the Omugulugwombashe Star traveled weekly on this track until the locomotives broke down after a few rounds of service.[5] In 2008, a short extension across the border was proposed to bypass the congested border post.[6] The next station to the south is Ohangwena.

Life

Oshikango is considered the business hub of the North in Namibia. Many foreign as well as local investors have chosen Oshikango as their stepping-stone for exports into Angola. A governing body dubbed the Oshikango Business Association, in conjunction with Local Government as well as the NCCI (Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry) regulate all business related matters in the area.

References
  1. Shivute, Oswald (26 September 2006). "Transition to modern town life tough for villagers". The Namibian.
  2. Niikondo, Andrew (August 2010). "Potential of friction in border town developments: A case study of Oshikango in the Helao Nafidi Town Council, Northern Namibia" (PDF). Journal of US-China Public Administration. 7 (8). ISSN 1548-6591.
  3. "Helao Nafidi Handelskou" [Helao Nafidi Trade Show] (in Afrikaans). Die Republikein. 9 November 2007. Archived from the original on 22 July 2011.
  4. Terblanché, Niël (1 September 2008). "Oshikango se dorpsraad dalk voor hof oor grond" [Oshikango's village council taken to court over land] (in Afrikaans). Die Republikein.
  5. "Chinese rails for Oshikango railway". The Namibian. 13 November 2009. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
  6. "Govt extends rail link into Angola". The Namibian. 6 October 2008.

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