Namibia Town of the year 2019

from Namibia Town of the Year 2019

by Absai Haiduwa

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NAMIBIA TOWN OF THE YEAR

A CLEANER TOWN - A CLEANER NAMIBIA

- 2019 FINALISTS -ONDANGWA ORANJEMUND SWAKOPMUND WALVIS BAY

NAMIBIA TOWN OF THE YEAR 2019

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THANK YOU

TO ALL OUR SPONSORS

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NAMIBIA TOWN OF THE YEAR 2019

A CLEANER TOWN - A CLEANER NAMIBIA

Ondangwa, Oranjemund, Swakopmund and Walvis Bay are the

four finalists out of 21 towns that participated in the competition to become ‘Cleaner Towns of the Year’, which started running from July 2018. Detailed assessments on the towns’ waste management and recycling programmes formed part of questionnaires, which were completed by all towns that participated. With the 2019 Namibia Town of the Year competition, Namibia Media Holdings has taken the initiative of promoting cleanliness in towns by engaging them to “work towards a cleaner town in Namibia”. We are excited to announce that this will be an ongoing project for the next three years, with assessments to be done annually. This initiative is not only aimed at encouraging the continuous efforts to clean up our towns and improve on appearance, but also seeks to instil a set of values that will encourage citizens to take pride in their residences and their towns. The competition, which is linked to the Namibia Tourism Expo, encourages the participating towns and those willing to participate in the future, around the need for keeping their towns clean and making them pleasant for their tourists and residents alike. We believe this initiative will support government efforts in providing a cleaner Namibia. We are happy to have learned and experience different communities working together for the common goal during the visits to all towns that took part in the competition this year. We regard all towns as winners because they all have imperative strategies that are fully supported by their communities and all aimed at promoting a cleaner Namibia. Finally, I would like to thank our partners, Namibia Tourism Board, Environmental Investment Fund of Namibia, Coke and Kanaal7 for their commitment and support in promoting a cleaner Destination that we are all proud of.

Maggy Mbako - PR Executive, NMH

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Editorial: Maggy Mbako, Ileni Nandjato, Otis Finck, Elizabeth Joseph, Evany Van Wyk, Ester Kamati, Mariselle Stofberg, Michelline Nawatises & Justicia Shipena

Photography: Gabriela Dawids,

NMH Archives

Layout and Design: Absai Haiduwa

Printed by Newsprint Namibia Tel: +264 (0) 61 330 500 print@newsprintnamibia.com

www.newsprintnamibia.com

May the best town win!

This publication is produced,

published and distributed as a free copy of Namibia Media

Holdings (Pty) Ltd.

Publication Date: June 2019

A CLEANER TOWN A CLEANER NAMIBIA

CHALLENGE

2019

SUPPORTED BY

4 ONDANGWA — 2019 FINALIST

17.9052° S, 15.9759° E

The second largest town in northern Namibia is on a mission to maintain and promote cleanliness through initiatives such as their annual clean-up campaign, which was launched in 2011. The Ondangwa Town Council retains enthusiasm about the campaign through engaging schools and local businesses to help seeing that it is everybody’s responsibility to care for the environment. The town also has a group of environmental guards whose sole duty is to educate the community on the importance of keeping the surrounding clean. In addition to those efforts, companies are also taking part in the initiative through engagements at school level and community projects. The First National Bank of Namibia sponsors a school competition in which learners are required to come up with creative products made from recycled materials. The municipality also engages schools by requesting and

receiving proposals from scholars on how the town can be made a cleaner and more environmentally friendly place. In addition, the mayor of Ondangwa gives incentives to community members who clean the town. Achieving the ultimate goal to be a waste free town that is attractive to tourists and investors is an attainable goal for Ondangwa.

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ONDANGWA — 2019 FINALIST

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6 ORANJEMUND — 2019 FINALIST

28.5597° S, 16.4347° E

As one of the four finalists for the cleanest town of the year title, Oranjemund is putting all measures in place to manage waste in an efficient and effective manner. “In a few months the council will pass a regulation that focus on the management of zero waste in Oranjemund,” He added they started with the landfill site that supports waste management for both domestic and hazard waste. The first phase of the project has commenced. He urged community members to keep their environment clean in order to attract tourists to the diamond town. Oranjemund Spar manager Mike Alexander said they are committed to helping the community with regards to cleaning up the town by sponsoring more than 200 school children to take part in the local beach clean-up campaign. He added they also have a recycling project, which promotes the use of reusable paper bags. “We have banned the use of plastic bags when you purchase a single item. The shop has also restricted the use of plastic straws at the coffee shop that will be replaced by corn starch straws. Oranjemund is one of the newest tourism destinations in Namibia. Founded in 1928, Oranjemund was only opened for visitors in October 2017, after having been proclaimed as a town in 2011. Inhabitants speak with great pride of their town, which is now accessible via a brand new highway from Rosh Pina known for its tree-lined avenues, lush green parks and iconic Oryx. Oranjemund is situated within the

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(Sperrgebiet) National Park, which lies adjacent to the /Ai-/Ais-Richtersveld Transfrontier Park. New housing projects have already started and planned developments include a shopping mall and marina. Apart from creating commercial opportunities, new industries are required to transform Oranjemund, says town council CEO Shali Akwaanyenga. “We are very happy and excited to be amongst the finalists,” he said. The involvement of all stakeholders and the entire community, according to Akwaanyenga, gives Oranjemund an edge. “We are very unique, as the only town in the south located next to a river and the ocean.” Environmental protection is, according to him, of paramount importance to Oranjemund. “Diamonds are not forever and that is why we need to diversify our local economy, and for that reason, we are looking into tourism,” says Henry Coetzee, mayor of Oranjemund. Its close location to South Africa, with Alexander Bay creating additional accommodation for tourists, will in Coetzee’s opinion be important.

ORANJEMUND — 2019 FINALIST

He views the Namibia Town of the Year competition as an opportunity to put Oranjemund on the proverbial map. “Certainly we will see a boom in tourism,” the mayor says. “We would really like people to come in numbers to Oranjemund.” The town has a twinning agreement with Ondangwa, with which it has a strong historical link as a source of labour for the diamond industry. According to town council public relations and community development officer, Glennadette Scholtz, an influx of tourists has been evident since the opening of the town, especially during December 2017. Day visitors entering from South Africa, are common and camp next to the river, and visits to the beach are popular. New visitors also flock in from the rest of Namibia and foreigners from at least three continents have been among the tourism clientele.

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8 SWAKOPMUND — 2019 FINALIST

22.6467° S, 14.6005° E

Although challenging, Swakopmund is one of the finalists to become a cleaner town. “Swakopmund is a visible clean town with solid waste disposal processes in place and a zerotolerance to waste attitude” says Lydia Mutenda, the manager for health services at the municipality. The town is regarded as the number one holiday destination in Namibia and all residents and visitors are constantly reminded to put waste in its rightful place. There is a cleaning plan in place for the whole town which entails the removal of waste. Skip containers have also been placed at various open spaces for waste disposal purposes and emptied on a weekly basis. Three hundred skip bins were place at hot spots where dumping is a regular occurrence. Two trucks operate and collect bulk waste in the Mondesa and town areas. According to Kluivert Mwanangombe, the head of waste management at the municipality. The removal of heavy rubble

such as building material, however, remains the biggest challenge. The municipality introduced a ward cleaning system with ten persons appointed to collect rubbish, which they put into black bags. These are collected and disposed of by council. A system involving street sweepers is also firmly in place with more than 40 groups allocated to various sections of Swakopmund for the purpose of keeping the town clean. In addition to that, a four-member team has been employed by council to clean beach areas specifically. Dumping in the CBD area is rare with incidence of building rubble disposed of during night time and over weekends occasionally by smallscale contractors. Behavioural change remains a challenge. Efforts to control illegal dumping however gained momentum with the introduction of ward cleaners who also educate community members on maintaining a clean and healthy environment. The landfill site is well controlled and its management

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SWAKOPMUND — 2019 FINALIST

was contracted to Enviro Fill for the past 10 years. Some persons earn a living from waste management by collecting reused pavers for example. Such individuals are provided with protective clothing. No burning of material is allowed within the confines of the site. The oil dumping site is currently being rehabilitated and another site near the NamPower facility on the outskirts of town has been identified for development of a new waste disposal site. Council also initiated Women’s Action for Development (WAD) training groups and with the initiative aims to address unemployment in communities and illegal dumping in the DRC suburb. Twenty teams consisting of four members each are serving six months terms to keep the area clean. This is cost effective with groups being rotated to give different community members an opportunity to be employed. Community involvement also ensures that tender corruption is prevented. Members, who maintain and keep areas clean, receive a small payment every month. Legislation to curb the use of plastic shopping bags has been successfully implemented. Plastic bags are now sold for N$1 by retailers to customers since December 2018 as part of an initiative by the Otto Herrigel Environmental Trust. There is also a competition taking place to

create awareness on the issue. Rent-A-Drum is currently the biggest municipality partner in the field of recycling. Council entered into an agreement with the company by investing in a recycling sorting plant to promote recycling and waste management. Households received orange recycling wheelie bins and Rent-A-Drum collect recyclables free of charge from household and business premises. Scrap yards for used iron and reclaimable material are also operational. Operations to improve the cleanliness of the town as it expands are ongoing. Clean up campaigns such as Project Shine by a non-profit organisation which involve schools and churches in cooperation with sponsorship from corporates such as Bannerman and FNB have been successfully implemented and takes place every sixth months. The Mayoral clean-up, Beach Clean-up and National Clean-up campaigns are well supported and executed. These initiatives are supplemented by a Green Environmental project which aims to raise awareness about recycling amongst kids who receives plastic refuge bags and gloves for operations. Council is also open to suggestions from community groups and will assist committed persons wanting to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

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10 WALVIS BAY — 2019 FINALIST

22.9584° S, 14.5058° E

Walvis Bay is one of four finalists in the Town of the Year competition. The municipality has embarked on numerous cleaning campaigns. According to David Uushona, manager of solid waste and environmental management, one of the first initiatives that was started included the allocation of open erven that was misused as illegal dumping sites. “Many of the erven are privatelyowned. To curb illegal dumping we wrote letters to the owners giving them a certain amount of time to clean up, or the option of the municipality charging for cleaning up the areas in contention. This move was partly a success and we are now cleaning these erven every Friday.” Uushona explained that since this effort required a lot of time, resources and organising to clean every Friday, the ‘Team Up To Clean Up’ campaign came about. Kuisebmond was identified as the first suburb to be cleaned in September 2017 with the help of the navy, army, Namport, local

citizens, schools as well as ministries to kick-start the campaign. “This action was followed up with a cleaning operation in October 2017 in Narraville. Early in 2018, we cleaned the town area. On 1 May 2018 we headed President Hage Geingob’s call and hosted another clean up in line with the National Clean Up Campaign. It was a huge success, and after the May Day Clean-up, it was followed by a car wreck removal exercise.” Late last year, the municipality had a Pre-Festive Clean-Up to clean the beach areas in Walvis Bay up to Long Beach in preparation of the festive season. According to Uushona, after the clean-up exercises, the municipality felt they needed political intervention. “In 2017 council resolved that every councillor will be given an area and a theme and that councilor needs to take ownership of it. There is a councillor for parks and greenbelts, open spaces and access roads, sewer, trade areas, business premises, sand removal, construction and

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WALVIS BAY — 2019 FINALIST

building rubble, car washes and awareness raising.” Councillors were hand-picked an allocated a certain area. Councillor Hilka Erastus, who is a teacher by profession, was tasked to raise awareness. This is an ongoing exercise and it is expected that these councillors will assist staff in addressing these issues in keeping our town clean. Uushona pointed out that the Walvis Bay landfill site is one of the few in the country that has a landfill management plan, and has been officially gazetted as a waste deposit site. “In 2017 council allocated an area to Rent-A- Drum to establish a material recovery facility. We are also in the final phases of signing a concession with waste power generators. Here the idea is to take nonrecyclable waste and turn it into energy. This will be a first for Namibia.” Council also signed an agreement with the Otto Heringel Trust to regulate the use of plastic bags in Walvis Bay, at the moment various shops are charging N$1.00 for the use of plastic bags. They involve the schools in their campaigns, and established a competition called ‘My Trash, My

Treasure’, in collaboration with the Swakopmund Municipality. Schools had to come up with innovative ideas on how to turn waste into useable items.” Aside from all these initiatives council also appointed three representatives serving on the Association of Local Authorities who are part of a professional forum that deals with waste and environment. In addition, they have another three members on the National Waste Management Strategy Advisory Panel of the ministry of environment and tourism. Uushona said the municipality is in talks to start with ‘an extra bin’ campaign. “The current situation in Walvis Bay is that numerous houses have additional shacks in their yards. With more people, there’s more waste and usually when the refuse bin is full, the waste ends up in the street. The intention here is to provide every second ghetto on the premises with a bin” he said. He reiterated efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment. “Do not stop as council is busy drafting an Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan as well as a Landfill Site Development Plan”.

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ARANDIS

While driving through the streets of Arandis,

you will see a clean and litter-free environment. Rubbish bins have also been placed all over town along with signs that discourage pollution of any kind. It is clear that the town residents take pride in their town and its appearance to the outside world. The town has three cleaning campaigns a year in which contractors, schools as well as community members are involved in. These groups are eager to make a difference and live in a clean environment. They walk all over town and make sure that that every possible piece of rubbish is in the place it should be. The household refuse removal services are also provided six days a week. The rubbish is then taken to the dump, which is situated far outside town just to make sure that it is not unsightly and diseases aren’t spread. The town also makes sure that owners of animals such as dogs take responsibility for their animals. The fact that Arandis is surrounded by seven uranium mines makes it the unopposed uranium capital of the world.

Tourists can visit the Rössing Uranium mine, the first and oldest mine, and Husab mine, which is the largest. Mining museum is being established by Rössing Uranium in partnership with the Arandis town council to document the history and journey of uranium mining in Namibia. A recreational park facility at Soutpan, situated three kilometres from Arandis, is being renovated to provide high standard accommodation and leisure facilities. This is being done under the auspices of a public-private partnership (PPP). Popular tourist destinations such as Spitzkoppe and Brandberg are also in close proximity to the town. Fauna and flora found in the Arandis area include springbok, zebra, ostriches and Welwitschia mirabilis plants 10 kilometres south of the airport. The Arandis Airport is up to standard and equipped with floodlights to enable planes can land at night. The airport is very useful and has offered unrestricted access throughout the years due to the climatic conditions of the area.

EENHANA

The Eenhana Town Council has contracted certain individuals who are in charge of encouraging, especially the unemployed youth, to clean up litter and make sure that the town looks tidy. They also maintain the dump sites. It takes about four to five months for people to actually come and get involved, but so far the initiatives have proven to be successful. The people are not rewarded in monetary value but they take pride in cleaning up their town and that is the reward in itself. There is also the process of picking up recyclable material, especially bottles because people from all over town come to buy it. Having developed tremendously over the past five years, the town’s offerings continue to grow, with many new accommodation options, business complexes and an impressive SME Park. One word, which comes up every time you ask someone how they would describe Eenhana, is tranquil. Whether they mean the people, the place or an indescribable mixture of the two, they would be correct in every case. Known as the ‘Green Side’, thanks to the surrounding forests, Eenhana is situated near the border with Angola and is strategically located along the B1 main road between the Kavango West Region and the border town of Oshikango. Its soft sand and lush green forests help soak up the area’s good rains, making Eenhana a haven from the heat for the weary traveller, who’ll be welcomed to what locals believe is the safest and most friendly town in Namibia. “Even if you decide to wake up in the middle of the night and take a walk, there would never be a moment when you feel you were in danger of being attacked or robbed. That just does not happen here,” says Eenhana CEO Valde Ndevashiya. This points to a town on the move and Ndevashiya says they are investigating a number of different opportunities to harness this momentum and to benefit from Namibia Media Holdings’ Small Town of the Year competition (NTY2018) by promoting the town in terms of tourism and industrial development. “Amongst many exciting projects we have in

the pipeline, we are at the advanced stages of planning a proposed recreational water park, that would use Eenhana’s unique selling points to draw more tourists to the town,” Ndevashiya says. “This is simply one of the ways that we’re aiming to capture more of the tourist market, while also building on our attractiveness to investors and we look forward to showcasing these at the upcoming Namibia Tourism Expo.” The most widely known attraction in the town is the wellknown Eenhana Shrine, which is located on the outskirts of the town at the site of three mass graves. A monument was erected here to pay homage to those felled during the war for liberation and sees regular visits from tourists and enthusiasts of history. The site commemorates the three mass graves, with a bronze sculpture of a soldier and murals on either side. Plans are underway to further maximise the tourism potential of the site in the near future. Eenhana also played host to a South African army base during the pre-independence years and former enlistees have been known to visit the town on occasion. Eenhana’s annual trade expo is a highlight that attracts hundreds of attendees and businesses from around the country. This mixture of epic scenery, soulful inhabitants and solemn historical significance, makes Eenhana a town with exceptional potential that must be explored and experienced.

HENTIES BAY

Henties Bay is serious about reclaiming its status

as the cleanest town in SADC and also wants to be the cleanest in terms of crime. Mayor Herman Honeb confirmed that the municipality is looking to establish an alternative dumpsite and said officials have already engaged the environment ministry for a clearance certificate. A team effort resulted in the fixing of the damaged mesh fence at the rubbish dump, as well as the collection of waste that was blown away by winds due to this recently. Henties Bay became the first Namibian town to win the South African televised ‘Town of the Year’ competition organised by Kwela on KykNET in 2016. The town is predominantly regarded as a tourist destination for anglers and 4x4 enthusiasts. The Hentiesfees, which was previously known as the Visfees or Hengelfees, is by far the most important and biggest annual event in Henties Bay. Many people from all over the country and even South Africa flock to the town to join in the festivities and jolly atmosphere. Henties Bay boasts an adequately-equipped uniquely-shaped tourism centre, constructed at a cost of approximately N$8.1 million, which is manned by qualified tourism officials. Tourists can enjoy beverages and acquire information and locally-produced artworks at the centre. There is a wide variety of accommodation available for visitors. The municipality recently managed to encourage investors to upgrade Solitude Beach Restaurant and the De Duine Hotel, as part of efforts to provide facilities with high standards for tourists and visitors alike. Rock and surf angling is a very popular sport, with hundreds of anglers visiting the town. There are numerous well-known angling spots with names such as Bennie se Rooi Lorrie, Popeye, Predikant se Gat, Sarah se Gat, Canopy, Blare and many more, with edible species such as kabeljou, steenbras, galjoen and blacktail in abundance. Shark angling is also a popular activity. Under the national action plan for the conservation of shark species, no shark may

be taken for a trophy or left on the beach. All sharks must be returned to the sea alive and unharmed. The town is also famous for hosting the Angling Bonanza and the Touchies Rugby Tournament, both annually contested in December. The Henties Bay environs and the surrounding desert offer a diversified natural environment, with many sites of interest such as outstretched beaches, sensitive lichen fields and a wide variety of desert plants. Tourists are also flock to the Messum Crater experience and the enormity of its surroundings. There are huge lichen fields with excellent specimens of the famous (big forest) Welwitschia mirabilis desert plant and many other species of desert plants. Exploring the Namib Desert is also becoming a popular pastime. All 4×4 routes in the Dorob National Park - Ugab Menhir, Messum Crater and the Minerals/ Strathmore South ‘Dead Sea’ - are now signposted and the roads graded. A permit to drive these routes can be obtained from the Henties Bay Tourism Office.

KARIBIB

The town of Karibib is a historic town and serves as a gateway to the Namibian coast. The town has plenty of campaigns in place to make sure that it remains in good condition. One of such initiatives is the idea of sustainable waste management. This will benefit the locals as well as bring more tourists. Karibib has around 12 skit containers and the members of the public goes to companies and schools and collect waste materials. It is the one of the few, I not the only town which manages its own waste from the start till the end. These steadfast initiatives will go a long way in making sure that the town remains clean and peaceful. Karibib is situated on the beautiful Khan River in the Erongo Region. The town became an important overnight stop after it was founded in 1900 as a railway station. North of the town is the location of the headquarters of the Namibian air force at the Karibib air base. The air base has an asphalt runway, parallel paved taxiways and an apron. Mining is the prominent job-creator in the town because of

the Navachab gold mine. Karibib is also famous for being one of the few places where pure black marble is found. This very hard marble is mined at the Karibib quarry and is exported worldwide. However, Karibib is not only a mining hub or an engine for transport and logistics. The town has a rich history with numerous historic buildings and monuments. The Klippenberg Country Club and Guesthouse provides ideal accommodation for visitors. It is situated close to the Klippenberg Mountain, hence its name. The guesthouse has a tennis court, a restaurant, pub and a small golf course. The Henckert Tourist Centre in Main Street makes for an interesting visit. It offers jewellery; precious and semi-precious stones and other arts and crafts of Namibia are displayed in this centre. Tourists can also use the centre to gain vital information during their stay. Natural features are also prominent in and around the town. The Erongo Mountain range, which is on the outskirts of the town, rises 2 320 metres and is of volcanic origin.

KEETMANSHOOP

Keetmanshoop is proud of having a company that

specifically focuses on recycling and waste management. Recycled Products Namibia collects various items from the dumpsites at Keetmanshoop and uses machines to press these items and then transport them to South Africa to be recycled. This includes glass, paper, plastic and metal. This arrangement with the municipality of Keetmanshoop allows the company to assist the municipality in working towards a cleaner and more environmentally responsible town. The municipality also employs people to sweep the streets on a regular basis. This not only creates jobs, but also a cleaner town. The town also hosts regular cleaning

campaigns where the community and municipality staff work together to clean up the town. These campaigns aim to have the community actively involved in picking up trash and refuse. Regular health and safety talks on the importance of proper waste disposal are held at different schools to educate learners on the importance of waste management. The town council has also acquired a skip truck and skip bins, which are bigger metal containers that are placed in the town to combat illegal waste dumping. These containers create easier access to proper waste disposal. The council recently also fenced off the dumpsite to allow community members to have a safer space to dump their waste.

MARIENTAL

Mariental was named after Marie Brandt, the wife of the pioneer settler Herman Brandt who bought the farm, Enkelkameeldoringboom “/Gui//ganabes” in 1890 from the Nama leader Hendrik Witbooi. The indigenous name is Tsaraxa Aibes, meaning place of dust. The farm Khoichas, adjacent to Mariental was sold to police sergeant Ernst Stumpfe for 40 Pfenning by the German government in 1905. In 1912 he gave 70ha of this land back to the government for the building of a railway station. Mariental was accorded full municipal status on 21 January 1946. Mariental is situated on the banks of the Fish River, 275 km southeast of Windhoek on the B1 national highway. It is the capital of the Hardap Region and has a population of more than 80 000 people. The main spoken language is Khoe-khoe, but Afrikaans is also widely spoken. It has a desert climate with hot summers and cool winters and an average annual rainfall of 196 mm which varies from year to year. Soil conditions vary from light sandy soils to clayish in some areas. The Hardap Dam was built in 1960 and is currently the largest in Namibia. It provides water to Mariental, Gibeon and other towns and villages downstream. Agriculture is the main employer followed by public administration and retail. The main economic activities are small stock farming and agronomy. The Hardap Irrigation Scheme produces lucerne, maize and wheat for the local market, while grapes, watermelons, melons, fruits and vegetables are produced mainly for the export market in South Africa. Mariental also supplies 60% of Namibia’s milk through the !Aimab Superfarm, which is one of

the most modern dairy farms in the world. The Mariental Piggery produces 45% of the country’s pork with close 14 500 pigs at the farm situated less than 10 kilometres outside Mariental. The Farmers Meat Market’s abattoir provides 80% of lamb and springbok for both the local market and export. Mariental is also renowned for its quality clay which is suitable for ceramics and high quality clay bricks.

OKAHAO

Okahao town lies on the direct route linking

Oshakati to Kamanjab, Opuwo and Ruacana. Historically the home of the Ongandjera kings and their families, this town has birthed many prominent Namibians, most notably Founding President Sam Nujoma, who still maintains a residence near the town. The name has become historically fascinating due to a traditional practice for electing a new King for the Ongandjera traditional district, which made use of this small clay pot. Potential candidates would have to retrieve the pot after it was hidden in a sacred communal water pond. The candidate who found the small clay pot and the sacred kingship items within, was then crowned the new King of Ongandjera. Those same waters are considered sacred to this day and add to the mystique of the town and its surroundings. Proclaimed a town in 1997, Okahao has seen substantial growth and while some are waiting for its inevitable economic boom, many have already seized the opportunity to invest in this beautiful town. “Okahao is one of the emerging towns in the north,” says the Chief Executive

Officer of the Town Council, Timoteus Namwandi. “Especially thanks to our strategic location on the national road infrastructure network, namely the C1 road, we have major competitive advantages.” “We are committed to seeing our strategic plan for our town reach fruition and therefore are very accommodative to those eager to invest in our town,” explains Namwandi. “The cultural attachments to Okahao are so rich. That is why it is a key part of our strategic plan to develop our tourism infrastructure and to market our town and its heritage. We believe by capturing more of the tourist market, we will greatly stimulate our local economy.” In the centre of Okahao town is another hugely important attraction, the Okahao Baobab Tree. This ancient marvel undoubtedly held significant historical importance to the indigenous people of the area but is sadly known today as a site of mass torture and execution of inhabitants. The South African military used the massive tree and the area around it as a base and in its shade would often inflict heinous injury to captives by means of torture and violence.

OKAKARARA

Okakarara, although still a relatively small town in terms of development, prides itself on being geared up to maintain a cleaner town. A number of initiatives have been implemented by the town council, in partnership with several private organisations. One such organisation is the Otjozondjupa Sustainable Waste Management Forum - a forum that is geared toward making sure that all towns in the Otjozondjupa Region are clean. In addition to this partnership, the town council has a recycling programme in place. Areas were identified where bins can be placed for recycling purposes - a process that is managed by a contractor who is also in charge of clean-up operations, including rehabilitating the dumping site. Other programmes in place to compliment cleaning initiatives are wheelie bins and a compact truck acquired by the town council, people along the streets that clean and sweep the main streets, as well as cleaning days as identified by the town council. Okakarara is situated on the western fringes of the Omaheke Region, although it finds itself in the politically defined region of Otjozondjupa. The Otjiherero word Omaheke can essentially be translated as “sandveld” or “great sand desert” and is essentially an extension of the Kalahari Desert and semi-desert region stretching from far south in Botswana to the eastern regions of Namibia and reaching right up to Bushmanland. The Omaheke is a wondrous area and reflects Namibia and its everchanging environments, with vivid colours of deep red and orange-yellowish sands being broken by lush green grass or acacia trees turning yellow, once the short rainy season comes to an end. Okakarara is a reflection of this tough country, where the local Ovaherero community has learnt to tame this beautiful, albeit harsh environment. Development is thriving in the town and Okakarara CEO Ehrnst Katjiku is clear about the fact that Okakarara will be part of the bigger picture in terms of development, with a strong leaning towards tourism. “Make no mistake, the Germans and Ovaherero have come a long way and ultimately a solution

needs to be - and will be - found for the conflict dating back to 1904. In the meantime, we will develop this area and we accept the helping hand of the surrounding community, which can assist us as much as we can assist them in driving the local tourism sector,” Katjiku explained. Okakarara is not the old, sleepy town it used to be and the local business community has big plans in terms of housing. A first shopping centre forms part of these plans, apart from the existing big shops. As you enter Okakarara, coming from the west, you will pass a huge number of guest farms (Weaver’s Waterberg, Hamakari and the Otjikaru guest farms, name just a few) and you will have the opportunity to turn off to visit the Waterberg Plateau Park, which is one of Namibia Wildlife Resorts’ camps (also offering game drives), while you might even consider a visit to Wabi Lodge. These Namibian establishments are known for their high standard in the hospitality trade and Okakarara is following that trend, in that they welcome visitors to the town, whether that is a simple visit for replenishing stocks and filling up their vehicle at the service station or to visit the local Otjiherero Cultural Village, where you can learn more about the local folk and their rich history. Okakarara is a gateway to Omaheke and if you are really adventurous you might drive deep into the region and follow the old roads parallel to Namibia’s eastern border up to Bushmanland’s Nyae-Nyae pans, an experience not easily forgotten.

20 NAMIBIA TOWN OF THE YEAR 2019

’

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OMARURU

The Municipality of Omaruru through its fiveyear strategic plan has committed to ensuring a sound solid waste management strategy and action plan. The council aims to explore the potential for the waste recycling plant (which is already operational). Dumpsite management, which entails conversion into a sanitary landfill, is additionally one of the town council’s top plans. Development and enforcement of bylaws on the use of plastic bags in businesses as well as raising community awareness on ‘Keeping your town and Country clean are also some of the initiatives taken to ensure the town’s cleanliness. When it comes to ensuring that this historically rich town is clean, the municipality focuses on three components and those are to reduce, reuse and recycle. A recycling facility has been allocated and in addition to that, they are devoted to ensuring that their clean-up campaign yields sufficient results. This cleaning campaign is held twice every year by the municipality and aims to ensure community participation. The municipality is also keen to partner with the private sector in projects such as waste segregation facilities. In addition, youth involvement is of vital importance for the town and thus they ensure that they engage them through waste education programmes at schools. Another system exists to motivate community members to be active in cleaning up the town through giving incentives for waste collection. This works in a manner where the waste collected by members of the community is compensated for depending on its weight measurement. Stakeholder engagement is also held in high regard by ensuring that everybody plays their role in developing the cleanliness of the town. “Council provides more waste collection facilities and storage facilities to cater for the increasing urban population and provide effective solid waste management to all the residents. The 3 Rs (Re-use, Recycle and Reject) are implemented as part of the solid waste management strategy in Omaruru town. A stepwise incentive system (SIS) will be introduced

to involve the community to take ownership of their environment.” The fact that Omaruru is conveniently situated in the middle of Namibia, in relative proximity to Windhoek, the Etosha National Park and the coast, makes it a worthwhile stopover and tourist destination. The town has a rich history. Wronsky House at the north end of Wilhelm Zeraua Road (formerly Main Street) and the small Roman Catholic Church were constructed in 1907. The historical Omaruru municipal museum was re-stored and developed with support from the Swedish municipalities of Vändersborg and Tröllhattan. Captain Victor Franke and his men freed a besieged Omaruru from Ovaherero forces during the Herero/German war. The Franke Tower was subsequently built and inaugurated in 1908 to commemorate this event.

22 ONGWEDIVA

Ongwediva Town Council is mandated as per

the Local Authority Act No. 23 of 1992 and as amended to provide services to its residents. In order to effectively manage waste generated within its jurisdiction, the council has developed a waste management policy and regulations. Waste is classified into categories namely; domestic, industrial, garden refuse, building rubbles and medical. The services of waste management are outsourced to private contractors whereby domestic waste is collected from homes of residents, twice a week. Garden refuse is collected once a week. Building rubbles are removed from sites by contractors responsible for construction and disposed of at the municipal landfill. Medical waste is handled effectively by health facilities, such as hospitals and clinics and an incinerator is used to dispose of the waste. The final destination of waste is the solid waste disposal site where it is burned or buried. The Ongwediva Town Council has also entered into an agreement with eight unemployed women engaged on recycling of the reusable material at the site. The recycled material is sold to consumers who then send it to South Africa for recycling purposes. As part of its engagement with members of the community, council has also obtained permission from the education ministry to sensitise learners on the importance of cleanliness. To further strengthen the notion of a clean and healthy environment, council has established health committees in the informal settlements to curb the practice of illegal dumping and littering.

ONIIPA

Keeping clean to make Namibia great again, Oniipa has invested in a sewage treatment plant. Its aim is to produce environmentallysafe sewage water, called effluent, and a solid waste, called sludge or biodegradable solids, suitable for disposal or reuse. According to Daniel Nikodemus, an environmental practitioner in Oniipa, the sewage system was a very wise investment because people don’t get exposed to raw sewage, which could cause serious health problems. Nikodemus recommends that each town invest in a sewerage plant, in order for the waste to be disposed in a lawful manner. The Oniipa town council also provides rubbish bins to schools and local businesses to decrease littering, in general. Contracted workers go around picking up rubbish and litter scattered around town from Mondays to Fridays and disposes of it properly. The salaries that these workers receive just about covers their basic needs, so it can be considered a good deed for the community. They aim to instil a sense of pride in their community, so that people can appreciate the environment and learn to take care of it. The town council wants to discourage the use of plastic bags, as it is the biggest negative contributing factor to uncleanliness. It also wants taxi drivers to have containers in which passengers can throw their waste, instead of throwing it out of the window. In short, Oniipa seems to be fired up and ready to keep making positive environmental changes. Oniipa is a historical hotspot that is warming to investment. A key pillar of the town’s strategic plan is to create more opportunities. About 140 year ago, in 1870, Oniipa played a central role in the development of the northern parts of Namibia. This history has opened it up to becoming a hub of firsts in this part of Namibia. From the first church building to the first hospital and nurses training college, to the first petrol station and printing press, Oniipa was truly the north’s window to the wider world. Interestingly, not only did the press do much to increase literacy rates since its inception around the turn of

the 20th century, but it remains in operation today and prints educational and religious, reading material, novels and Braille books, despite being blown up twice by the South African military during the liberation struggle. Finnish missionary Martti Rautanen built a mission station, church and school, which all stand to this day. The Nakambale Museum at the historic site of Olukonda was named after Rautanen, who was affectionately known as Nakambale, as his hat resembled an overturned straw basket. Whether it’s an awe-inspiring look at the historical artefacts at the Nakambale Museum or an eye-opening peek at the realities of ‘modern medicine’ from over a 100 years ago at the Onandjokwe Medical Museum, Oniipa offers a unique mix of history and hospitality. You can enjoy a lovely afternoon in an authentic Finnish sauna and cold pool at a nearly 100-yearold B&B, enjoy a feast of local and western hospitality options or simply set about planning your dream wedding in the oldest church in northern Namibia. If that does not attract you, then the abounding opportunities for investment and development should. Only three years since its proclamation as a town, Oniipa is an open opportunity for business and investment.

OSHIKUKU

The town of Oshikuku prides itself on being the

first centre where the missionaries and later

Archbishop Joseph Gotthardt of the Roman Catholic Church established their first mission station in the former Ovamboland in 1924. This is what led to the establishment of one of the biggest private hospitals in the northern Namibia, St Martin, owned by the Roman Catholic Church. The hospital serves a large number of people from Omusati Region. The missionary station was established after the eighteenth king of the Uukwambi Traditional Authority, King Iipumbu Ya Tshilongo, who allocated land to the Roman Catholic Church to establish a mission station at Oshikuku after his resistance for many years. When the famous Uukwambi king died in 1959 he was buried in a Roman Catholic hierarchy graveyard.

During the liberation struggle Oshikuku also had a coloniser’s campsite. This campsite is today where the Mupewa Combined School is situated, in memory of those who died at Oshikuku at the hands of South African forces. A mass grave shrine has since been erected at the school. A visit to Oshikuku will guarantee any visitor an experience of the Ovakwambi cultural heritage, modern lifestyle and scenic locations. The town provides several accommodation, entertainment and food facilities. The Oshikuku town council is currently busy constructing a cultural heritage centre. The centre will comprise of a Aakwambi traditional homestead, campsite, guest bungalows, open air entertainment area, swimming pool, curio shop and kiosk, bar and restaurant and braai facilities, as well as a museum.

OTAVI

Otavi is unwavering when it comes to the maintenance of the cleanliness of the town. It maintains its cleanliness by gathering residents to clean areas within the town. The Otavi town council is busy with a recycling process at the dumpsite. A company, in collaboration with the town council, sees several groups take shifts to keep the town clean. The town was eager for the cleaning campaign, which took place on the 18 May, as they were preparing beforehand. The town strived by all means to actively get all stakeholders involved in the cleaning campaign. One of the more striking features of this area is its bush, which is inhabited by a variety of game, which is probably second to none in Namibia. The town and its surrounds seem like the handcrafted red wine found at Thonningii Wine Cellar east of Otavi - they get better with age. It therefore makes perfect sense that some of the finest lodges and guest farms are to be found in this area, which offer the visitor a

wide variety of tourist attractions and activities in the true sense of the word. This immense offering ranges from walking and hiking in the bush to riding on horseback or taking part in game viewing drives. You may prefer to camp under a perfect night sky or wish to enjoy the amenities of a high-quality lodge; it really remains you choice. Hunters find themselves in an area that offers a wide choice and well-organised hunting community. The visitor may very well decide to take one of the back roads and drive to the north, east, south or west and see where the day ends, before deciding where to stay for the night, without ever being disappointed. In that way you can drive through a rarely visited area directly to Outjo in the west and on to Okaukuejo in the Etosha National Park, or use the gravel road past the distinct Guinas Sea and enter the park on the eastern side at Namutoni. These are sites that many visitors miss, because they stick to tar roads.

OTJIWARONGO

Otjiwarongo strives to involve community

members and schools in the waste management programmes of the town. It aims to focus more on waste reduction and educating the community on proper waste disposal. The town council hopes to empower members of the community with the necessary knowledge on how they can contribute to a cleaner town. The town council holds regular meetings with the community to inform residents on why waste needs to be properly disposed of, why it is important to manage waste and why the council needs the involvement of the community. Leaflets are distributed across the town to spread awareness of the importance of having a cleaner and more environmentally responsible town. Otjiwarongo believes that it is important to especially educate children in schools on why it is important, as a town, to work towards a cleaner environment. By educating and informing younger generations the council believes it will be able to create a culture of waste management from a young age. The council has lessons in place that is implemented in schools, which focus on ways they can start to reduce, re-use and manage waste. Schools in Otjiwarongo have already started environmental clubs, and with assistance from the council with regard to providing expertise, they are now able to follow a more environmentally friendly approach from school level.Local or international visitors to Otjiwarongo will not be disappointed. Otjiwarongo is the perfect base for visitors traveling along the B1 route, and the friendly town is not only about cattle and game farms. The San and Damara lived in the Waterberg Plateau Park. Rising about 200 metres above the surrounding thorn bush savannah the Waterberg Plateau is a well-known tourist attraction near Otjiwarongo. The mountain is an erosional remnant of sedimentary rock, deposited some 200 million years ago. It owes its

name to the spring surfacing at its base. The Waterberg Plateau was declared a national monument in 1956 and as a game park in 1972, for the breeding of rare and endangered game species. The sheer cliffs of the plateau create a natural sanctuary for several game species, including black and white rhino, buffalo, sable and tsessebe. Eland, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, kudu and giraffe are among the other species to be seen, while the diminutive Damara dik-dik also occur here. With a checklist of over 200 species, the Waterberg Plateau Park is also a popular birding destination. The dinosaur footprints at Otjihaenamparero near Kalkfeld can be reached during a day trip from Otjiwarongo. The site is not only one of the most accessible, but also one of the most impressive exposures of fossil tracks in southern Africa. Otjiwarongo is said to mean “pretty place”. Situated on the eastern outskirts of the town, the Otjiwarongo Crocodile Farm has been a popular tourist attraction in Otjiwarongo for many years. Here visitors have an opportunity to get closeup views of the Nile crocodile and gain an insight into the lives of these feared reptiles. Visitors can enjoy a meal in the restaurant where the best crocodile delicacies in Namibia are served - crocodile steaks, ribs and kebabs. The garden is a green oasis and there is also a play park for children.

REHOBOTH

Rehoboth is a historic town with a unique culture and is home to a mix of proud peoples. The town is located 90 km south of Windhoek with approximately 40 000 inhabitants including the immediate surrounding rural community. Rehoboth enjoys a strategic location on the national highway, untapped natural resources, including tourism and ecotourism, low prices for land and business properties and a potential market. There are more than 190 registered businesses and two financial institutions. The original inhabitants of the area are the |Hū|gaoben, a sub clan of the |Gowanîn. They first came upon the hot water springs after the fall of the Damara Kingdom in the sixteenth century and named the site |Gao||nā|aus (Fountain of the falling buffalo). The nomadic Damara people would visit the fountain when water became scares in the Kalahari. The |Hū|gaoben later permanently settled at !Nawases, 11km north east of Rehoboth in the late 1700’s. The year 1845 marked the arrival of the ||Khau|gôan (Swartbooi) under the leadership of Willem Swartbooi

and missionary Heinrich Kleinschmidt who baptised the settlement as Rehoboth. In 1870, the Basters, who had migrated out of the Cape Colony in 1868, moved into the territory and were granted permission to settle at Rehoboth by the participants of the peace conference of Okahandja on 23 September 1870. The population increased rapidly from an initial 333 in 1870 to 1500 by 1885. That year Baster Kaptein Hermanus van Wyk signed a ‘Treaty of Protection and Friendship’ with the German Empire. In 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, Germany’s use of Baster soldiers to guard South African prisoners led to an armed revolt. German forces then attacked refugees encamped at the hills of Sam Khubis, but were unable to destroy the Baster position. Namibia was occupied by South Africa in 1915 and, ten years later, a second rebellion broke out at Rehoboth. This revolt collapsed, however, when colonial forces, armed with machine guns and supported by two warplanes, marched into the town and arrested more than 600 people.

TSUMEB

Tsumeb is the ‘Garden Town’. Tsumeb’s overall

aim is to contain waste management and ensure a tidy environment. The town is committed to effectively manage waste as per its local authority mandate. So far garden refuse has proven to be daunting given the high volume of waste. However, this does not deter the town council from carrying out its mandate effectively and efficiently. Waste is

collected from residential houses on a regular basis. The council has also stepped in at Nomtsoub to ensure that funds are available and prioritise the cleaning of the location every day of the week. In this manner waste management has been tremendously improved. The Tsumeb Town Council is also searching for a third party to manage its landfill and its campaign around recycling.

USAKOS

Usakos is extremely passionate about sustainable environmental goals which need to be emphasized daily. This pro-active nature has allowed the town to make their goals a part of their everyday lives. The town uses the environmental protection act as the foundation for the goals they implement and uses the act as a guideline for their activities and programmes. Usakos believes that it takes a community to make a difference and that they need to actively involve the community to achieve these goals. The town launched the Fill a Bag project on 14 September 2018 where community members register and receive refuse bags. They then in return receive N$7 for each bag they manage to fill with refuse. Various environmental clubs are active in schools which clean up weekly throughout the town. This enables the town to create a culture of proper waste management even at a young age. Usakos is further actively busy with their town beatification project to ensure that visitors, member of the community and tourists are able to witness the beauty that Usakos has to offer. This project aims to rebrand the town to make it more attractive for tourists. This includes the rebranding of waste bins, plants and attractions within the town and ensuring that waste and refuse is properly managed and stored to ensure a cleaner, more environmentally responsible town. Usakos is situated on the beautiful Khan River in the Erongo Region. The town was founded in the 1900s and was primarily used as a workshop and watering station for locomotives.Usakos is close to the port of Walvis Bay, which allows investors the opportunity to set up dry port facilities,

whereby items can be transported either by road or rail to Usakos and stored there. It is located centrally, and this allows transport from Usakos to Windhoek and to the north. Although there are not many tourist activities in the town itself, its surrounding areas attract lots of tourists. Outside Usakos, the Spitzkoppe are a sight to behold. Usakos is situated north of the magnificent Erongo Mountain. This mountain was created by volcanic activity. The mountain, which rises to 2 320 metres, is best known for the cave paintings it contains. The Phillips cave at Ameib Ranch contains, at 50-metre depth, a painting known as ‘The White Elephant’. The town’s climate is favourable. Its sunny conditions attract European visitors who travel to Namibia to enjoy this climate. The town has a low crime rate, which contributes to ensure that visitors feel safe. The historic monuments scattered around Usakos catch the eye of many a visitor. Some of the buildings, like the Roman Catholic Church, the old hotel, as well as the railway station building, are more than a 100 years old.

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