| Rundu | |||
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| — Village — | |||
| Eugene Kakururu Street | |||
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| Nickname(s): Ru-town | |||
| Motto: Unitiy & Development | |||
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Rundu
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| Coordinates: | |||
| Country | Namibia | ||
| Region | Kavango Region | ||
| Constituency | Rundu Urban constituency | ||
| Government | |||
| • Mayor | Sikerete Mandema (SWAPO) | ||
| Elevation | 1,095 m (3,593 ft) | ||
| Population (2010 calculation)[1] | |||
| • Total | 81,501 | ||
| Time zone | South African Standard Time (UTC+1) | ||
| Area code(s) | 066 | ||
| Website | http://www.runducity.iway.na/ | ||
Rundu is the capital of the Kavango Region, northern Namibia, on the border with Angola on the banks of the Okavango River about 1000 m above sea level. The place normally receives an annual average rainfall of 565 millimetres (22.2 in), although in the 2010/2011 rainy season 757 millimetres (29.8 in) were measured.[2]
Rundu grows rapidly. The 2001 census counted 36,964 inhabitants;[3] for 2010 it is estimated to have grown to over 80,000 people.[1]
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In 1936 it became seat of the local governor and replaced Nkurenkuru as capital of the Kavango district. The town has since grown into a multilingual city of the Kavango region, but its official status is still that of a village.[4]
The oldest houses in Rundu are those in the Katutura area. These houses are mainly 2 bedroom homes with large backyards even though they are situated next to the CBD. On the west is Tutungeni, which means "let's build". This area was previously occupied by executives of the white-dominated businessplace, but now it is open for any willing buyer in need of a quiet neighbourhood. On the East is Safari. This are the middle-priced houses and were built in the 1970s.
These three main localities dominated Rundu residential life until the turn of the millennium in 2000, when new housing projects by O'B Davids Properties built a new residential area named Millennium Park. After which two others have been built by the NHE, Queens and Kings Parks respectively.
Rundu has a humid subtropical climate (Cwa, according to the Köppen climate classification), with hot summers and relatively mild winters (with warm days and chilly to cool nights). It borders on a semi-arid climate (BSh). The average annual precipitation is 571 mm (22 in).
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Outside the formal suburbs shanty towns symbolise the rapid urbanisation of the town and high unemployment rates. Kehemu, Sauyemwa and Ndama are the most informal areas while a fourth, Donkerhoek (Dark Corner) is rapidly becoming formal since the start of the Build Together Campaign in 1992.
Rundu Airport, mostly used for tourism and cargo, is 5 km southeast of the town.[5]
The Rundu State Hospital is situated in the center of the town, off Markus Siwarongo street. It's the largest hospital in Kavango.
There are four tertiary Institutions in Rundu, namely Rundu College of Education, Rundu Vocational Training Centre, Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL) and Triumphant College. The University of Namibia and Polytechnic of Namibia both maintain centres that provide support for students who are studying on distance. There are five secondary schools in the town: Rundu Secondary School, Dr. Alpo Mbamba Secondary School, Dr. Romanus Kampungu Secondary School, Noordgrens and Kamunoko Secondary School.
Rundu Open Market is the most well-known and biggest open market in the town. It was founded in 1996 through cooperation between the government of Namibia and the government of Luxembourg.[6][7][8]