Okakarara
Encyclopedia
Okakarara is a town in Otjozondjupa Region
, Namibia
, located 50km southeast of Waterberg National Park
. It has an estimated population of 7000 and is currently growing by 1500 inhabitants annually.
Okakarara consists of the residential areas of Opamue, the former whites-only area, and Okakarara Proper, the former black residential area. It is the district capital of the Okakarara electoral constituency
that includes surrounding settlements.
Formerly part of the Apartheid-era bantustan
Hereroland
, the area is still mainly populated by the Herero people. Because of this, Okakarara is one of the few towns in Namibia where the otherwise dominant SWAPO party came only second in the 2004 elections
, and the Herero-dominated NUDO
won. Due to a very unusual coalition
between SWAPO and DTA, the elected town mayor Ehrnst Katjiku has SWAPO affiliation.
. This initiative also led to the erection of a trade centre and an SME park.
The town further features a secondary school,a government hospital, a vocational training centre, and an abbatoir.
of the communal area around the town together to showcase the animals and as well as share ideas on how they can help improve farming methods. Marquees are erected at the Okakarara Community Cultural Centre which was built with funding from Germany
, to accommodate the increased number of exhibitors, as the existing hall is too small to cater to all the exhibitors. Exhibitiors include automobiles dealers showcase their latest models. Farmers showcasing their livestock
, food stalls beverages and many other stalls available. Other exhibitors engaged in the selling of agricultural equipment and vehicles are placed around the fairground on open stands,. Because Okakarara is in a rural area, agriculture is important and so the trade fair is a great opportunity to attract investment to the town and it also allows communal farmers to showcase their breeds.
Otjozondjupa
Otjozondjupa region is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. An outstanding landmark within this region is the Waterberg Plateau Park. Administration offices are based in Otjiwarongo which is the largest town in the region....
, Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, located 50km southeast of Waterberg National Park
Waterberg National Park
Waterberg National Park is a national park in central Namibia on the Waterberg Plateau, 68 km east of Otjiwarongo.The Waterburg Plateau is a particularly prominent location, elevating high above the plains of the Kalahari of Eastern Namibia. Waterburg Park and some 405 km² of surrounding land were...
. It has an estimated population of 7000 and is currently growing by 1500 inhabitants annually.
Okakarara consists of the residential areas of Opamue, the former whites-only area, and Okakarara Proper, the former black residential area. It is the district capital of the Okakarara electoral constituency
Okakarara Constituency
Okakarara Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It has 21,336 inhabitants and consists of the town of Okakarara and the surrounding rural area....
that includes surrounding settlements.
Formerly part of the Apartheid-era bantustan
Bantustan
A bantustan was a territory set aside for black inhabitants of South Africa and South West Africa , as part of the policy of apartheid...
Hereroland
Hereroland
Hereroland was a bantustan in South West Africa , intended by the apartheid government to be a self-governing homeland for the Herero people. It was set up in 1968 and self-government was granted two years later....
, the area is still mainly populated by the Herero people. Because of this, Okakarara is one of the few towns in Namibia where the otherwise dominant SWAPO party came only second in the 2004 elections
Namibian parliamentary election, 2004
General elections were held in Namibia on 15 and 16 November 2004 to elect the President and National Assembly. The National Assembly election resulted in a landslide win for SWAPO, which won 55 of the 78 seats with over 75% of the vote. SWAPO's candidate for president, Hifikepunye Pohamba, won the...
, and the Herero-dominated NUDO
National Unity Democratic Organisation
The National Unity Democratic Organisation is a political party in Namibia that is based among the Herero. NUDO was part of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance from the Turnhalle Constitutional Conference of the 1970s until it withdrew in September 2003, accusing the DTA of failing to work for...
won. Due to a very unusual coalition
Coalition
A coalition is a pact or treaty among individuals or groups, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest, joining forces together for a common cause. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant...
between SWAPO and DTA, the elected town mayor Ehrnst Katjiku has SWAPO affiliation.
History
The first house was built by Salathiel Kambamba Kambazembi and Reinard Tjerie who arrived in the area in 1923. The settlement grew over time and was proclaimed a town in 1992.Economy
Since 2007, Okakarara houses an annual trade fairTrade fair
A trade fair is an exhibition organized so that companies in a specific industry can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities...
. This initiative also led to the erection of a trade centre and an SME park.
The town further features a secondary school,a government hospital, a vocational training centre, and an abbatoir.
Okakarara Trade Fair
The Okakarara trade fair is an annual four-day trade fair event which was first started in 2007 as a way to bring the breedersBreeder (animal)
In agriculture and in the hobby of animal fancy, a breeder is an individual animal used for selective breeding. Usually a breeder is a purebred animal bred with the intent of producing purebred or even show-quality animals...
of the communal area around the town together to showcase the animals and as well as share ideas on how they can help improve farming methods. Marquees are erected at the Okakarara Community Cultural Centre which was built with funding from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, to accommodate the increased number of exhibitors, as the existing hall is too small to cater to all the exhibitors. Exhibitiors include automobiles dealers showcase their latest models. Farmers showcasing their livestock
Livestock
Livestock refers to one or more domesticated animals raised in an agricultural setting to produce commodities such as food, fiber and labor. The term "livestock" as used in this article does not include poultry or farmed fish; however the inclusion of these, especially poultry, within the meaning...
, food stalls beverages and many other stalls available. Other exhibitors engaged in the selling of agricultural equipment and vehicles are placed around the fairground on open stands,. Because Okakarara is in a rural area, agriculture is important and so the trade fair is a great opportunity to attract investment to the town and it also allows communal farmers to showcase their breeds.
Notable residents
- Esau TjiuoroEsau TjiuoroEsau Tjiuoro is a Namibian football goalkeeper with F.C. Civics Windhoek and the Namibia national football team.-Career:...
, a footballer in the Namibia Premier LeagueNamibia Premier LeagueThe Namibia Premier League , also known as MTC Namibia Premier League due to sponsorship reasons, is the highest level of domestic association football in Namibia...
and Namibia national football teamNamibia national football teamThe Namibia national football team, nicknamed the Brave Warriors, is the national team of Namibia and is controlled by the Namibia Football Association...