Opuwo
Town in Kunene Region, Namibia
title: "Opuwo" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-the-kunene-region", "towns-in-namibia"] description: "Town in Kunene Region, Namibia" topic_path: "general/populated-places-in-the-kunene-region" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opuwo" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary Town in Kunene Region, Namibia ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Opuwo |
| other_name | Ohopoho |
| native_name | Otjihinamaparero |
| settlement_type | Town |
| image_skyline | Opuwo, Kunene Region, Namibia (aerial view - 19 05 2005).jpg |
| imagesize | 250px |
| image_caption | aerial view of Opuwo |
| pushpin_map | Namibia |
| pushpin_label_position | bottom |
| pushpin_map_caption | Location in Namibia |
| subdivision_type | Country |
| subdivision_name | Namibia |
| subdivision_type1 | Region |
| subdivision_name1 | Kunene Region |
| subdivision_type2 | Constituency |
| subdivision_name2 | Opuwo |
| leader_title1 | |
| established_title | |
| unit_pref | Imperial |
| area_total_km2 | 9.89 |
| area_land_km2 | |
| population_as_of | 2023 census |
| population_footnotes | |
| population_total | 12,335 |
| population_density_km2 | auto |
| population_blank1_title | Ethnicities |
| timezone | SAST |
| utc_offset | +2 |
| coordinates | |
| elevation_footnotes | |
| postal_code_type | |
| area_code | 065 |
| blank_name | Climate |
| blank_info | BWh |
| official_name | Town of Opuwo |
| :: |
| name = Opuwo | other_name = Ohopoho | native_name = Otjihinamaparero | nickname = | settlement_type = Town | motto = | image_skyline = Opuwo, Kunene Region, Namibia (aerial view - 19 05 2005).jpg | imagesize = 250px | image_caption = aerial view of Opuwo | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | pushpin_map = Namibia | pushpin_label_position = bottom | pushpin_mapsize = | pushpin_map_caption = Location in Namibia | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Namibia | subdivision_type1 = Region | subdivision_name1 = Kunene Region | subdivision_type2 = Constituency | subdivision_name2 = Opuwo | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 = | leader_name1 = | established_title = | established_date = | area_magnitude = | unit_pref = Imperial | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 = 9.89 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | population_as_of = 2023 census | population_footnotes = | population_note = | population_total = 12,335 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = Ethnicities | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi= | timezone = SAST | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | elevation_ft = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code = 065 | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = BWh | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = | official_name = Town of Opuwo ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Opuwo_town.webp"] ::
Opuwo is the capital of the Kunene Region in north-western Namibia. The town is situated about 720 km north-northwest of the capital Windhoek, and has a population of around 12,300 (2023). It is the commercial hub of the Kunene Region.
Economy and infrastructure
Opuwo is situated at the intersection of the C41 and C43. There is a small airfield in town, the Opuwo Airport.
Putuavanga Senior Secondary School in town is among the best government schools in the Kunene Region. There is also the Opuwo Primary School 39 teachers and 1,200 learners.
The following organizations and offices are situated in the town: Opuwo Police Station, Opuwo District Hospital, Ministry of Home Affairs (Department of Civic Affairs / Regional Civic Registration Office / Kunene Region), and Opuwo Department of Works. There is a Christian church. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/eb/Opuwo_Country_Lodge_-Namibie-panoramio(1).jpg" caption="Opuwo Country Lod"] ::
Politics
Opuwo is governed by a town council that has seven seats.
Electoral history
::data[format=table title="[[2020 Namibian local and regional elections|2020 local authority election]]{{Cite web | title=2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats | page=9 | date=29 November 2020 | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | url=https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114234818/https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | access-date=| archive-date=14 January 2021 }}"]
| Party | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Popular Democratic Movement | 1376 | 4 |
| SWAPO | 1127 | 3 |
| National Unity Democratic Organisation | 128 | 0 |
| Independent Patriots for Change | 120 | 0 |
| Rally for Democracy and Progress | 46 | 0 |
| Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters | 15 | 0 |
| :: |
::data[format=table title="[[Namibian local and regional elections, 2015|2015 local authority election]]{{cite web | title=Local elections results | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | page=4 | url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | access-date=13 September 2017 | archive-date=10 December 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210194328/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | url-status=dead }}"]
| Party | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Turnhalle Alliance | 1504 | 3 |
| National Unity Democratic Organisation | 155 | 0 |
| Rally for Democracy and Progress | 44 | 0 |
| :: |
::data[format=table title="[[Namibian local and regional elections, 2004|2004 local authority election]]{{cite web | title=Local elections results | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | page=7 | url=https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/local-Authourity-Election-2004.pdf| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230330204338/https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/local-Authourity-Election-2004.pdf | archive-date=30 March 2023 }}"]
| Party | Votes | Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Democratic Turnhalle Alliance | 538 | 2 |
| Congress of Democrats | 396 | 2 |
| National Unity Democratic Organisation | 259 | 1 |
| :: |
::data[format=table title="Mayors"]
| Name | Term | Party |
|---|---|---|
| Uaurikua Kakuva | June 2004 – 2010 | DTA |
| Pieter de Villiers | June 2006-? | CoD |
| Tuarungua Kavari | 2010-15 | SWAPO |
| Albert Tjiuma | December 2015 - December 2020 | SWAPO |
| Rosa Mbinge-Tjeundo | December 2020 - Current | PDM |
| :: |
History
Etymology
The name Opuwo was given in the 1920s by the commissioner of Ondangwa, , the grandson of Carl Hugo Hahn, who came in search of land to build an office. Upon his arrival, he asked the local headman to give him land where he could build an office. The headman gave him a small plot, and when the headman tried to give him more land, Hahn responded, saying, "Ohopoho (it’s enough for me). I don't want any more land". The word Ohopoho was changed to Opuwo in 1974 due to orthographic reform. The residents of Opuwo called it Otjihinamaparero at the time, and some still call it that.
Colonial administration
The first office to be established in the Kaokoland area was the colonial administrative office in Swartbooisdrift on the banks of the Kunene River. This was the administrative centre of the area from 1925 to 1939. Afterwards, administrative control of the area shifted to Ohopoho, later called Opuwo.
The police station in Swartbooisdrift was run by Sergeant Herbert, and he aimed to receive the Angola Boers who had trekked to Angola out of refusal to accept the British government in South Africa. Sergeant Basson took over the office at Swartbooisdrift and excavated Opuwo's first borehole. Basson had the nickname “Katjiriamakaja” (a person who eats tobacco).
Culture
The Opuwo Town Council hosts the annual Opuwo Trade Fair, which was launched in 2012. The festival combines a modern business exhibition with cultural performances, live shows, and entertainment. The Opuwo Trade Fair takes place in the month of May. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Opuwo,Namibia-panoramio(2).jpg" caption="Herero woman in Opuw"] ::
References
References
- "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)". Namibia Statistics Agency.
- "2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Report".
- {{GCM. OPW
- (11 January 2017). "Kunene schools overcrowded". [[Namibia Press Agency.
- "The photographs of Opuwo, October 2017". independent-travellers.com.
- (2015). "Know Your Local Authority". Institute for Public Policy Research.
- (29 November 2020). "2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats". [[Electoral Commission of Namibia]].
- "Local elections results". [[Electoral Commission of Namibia]].
- "Local elections results". [[Electoral Commission of Namibia]].
- Dentlinger, Lindsay. (8 June 2004). "Opuwo councillors take oath, Swapo to head to court". [[The Namibian]].
- (2023-05-14). "Opuwo Rural Constituency Councillor has died {{!}} nbc".
- (2023-04-26). "Swapo, PDM Exposes Each Other Over "Baffling" Past Land Dealings at Opuwo – Eagle FM".
- (2023-05-14). "Kavari re-elected as Opuwo mayor".
- "Home".
- (2023-05-14). "Tjiuma re-elected as Opuwo mayor - Namibia News Digest".
- (2023-05-14). "Opuwo mayor marks 100 days in office - Namibia News Digest".
- (2023-05-14). "Opuwo Re-Elect's Mbinge-Tjeundo As Mayor – Eagle FM".
- Dierks, Klaus. "Biographies of Namibian Personalities, H".
- Hihanguapo. M.(2000). How Opuwo got its name. In G. Miescher & D. Henrichesen (Eds.), ''New notes on Kaoko'' (p. 9). Basel: Basler Afrika Bibliographien.
- "Home".
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