Okongo

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Okongo
Okongo
Coordinates: 17°34′S 17°13′E / 17.567°S 17.217°E / -17.567; 17.217Coordinates: 17°34′S 17°13′E / 17.567°S 17.217°E / -17.567; 17.217
Country  Namibia
Time zone SAST (UTC+1)


Okongo is a village in the Ohangwena Region of northern Namibia, situated about 120 km east of Eenhana.[1] It is the district capital of the Okongo electoral constituency.

The area is sandy and forested, limiting road access to the village. The most commonly spoken language in the area is Oshiwambo. Most residents are subsistence farmers.[citation needed]

History

Okongo was settled by the San people, who, as a hunter-gatherer community, found the local abundance of wildlife and fruit attractive. The name Okongo derives from the Oshiwambo word meaning: a place or forest for hunting.[citation needed].

The San were eventually displaced in Okongo by the immigration of Bantu people.[citation needed]

Education

Okongo has two pre-primary schools, one primary school (Okongo Primary School), a combined school (Elia Weyulu Combined School) and a secondary school (Oshela Senior Secondary School). Access to educational technology is limited in the village.

Health services

Okongo has a 62-bed hospital equipped with a mortuary and accommodation for nurses. The is also a New Start Center in Okongo that provides HIV testing.

Development

There is a gravel road under construction that will run from Eenhana to Okongo.[citation needed] The Women's Action for Development (WAD) group conducted a project aimed at skills transfer to local women. A total of about 120 unemployed women graduated from this program in 2010.[2]

Structures

  • 230 metres high radio mast at 17 37 52S 17 23 24E, one of the tallest structures in Namibia

References

  1. "Okongo Map — Satellite Images of Okongo". 
  2. "Unemployed Okongo Women Graduates". Namibia Economist (allafrica.com). 24 September 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2011. 
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