Rundu

Rundu
Town

Eugene Kakururu Street

Seal
Nickname(s): Ru-town
Motto: Unitiy & Development
Rundu

Location in Namibia

Coordinates: 17°55′S 19°46′E / 17.917°S 19.767°E / -17.917; 19.767Coordinates: 17°55′S 19°46′E / 17.917°S 19.767°E / -17.917; 19.767
Country  Namibia
Region Kavango-East Region
Constituency Rundu Urban constituency
Government
 • Mayor Verna Mpingana Sinimbo (SWAPO)
Elevation 1,095 m (3,593 ft)
Population (2011)[1]
 • Total 63,431
Time zone South African Standard Time (UTC+1)
Area code(s) 066
Climate BSh
Website http://www.runducity.iway.na/

Rundu is the capital of the Kavango-East Region, northern Namibia, on the border with Angola on the banks of the Kavango 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 is growing rapidly. The 2001 census counted 36,964 inhabitants;[3] and for the 2011 census it has climbed to 63,430.

History

In 1936 it became seat of the local governor as it replaced Nkurenkuru as capital of the Kavango district. The town has since grown into a multilingual city of the Kavango region and only recently its official status was changed to that of a town.[4]

Since 1993, its St. Mary's Cathedral is the episcopal see of the Roman Catholic Apostolic Vicariate of Rundu.

Politics

Rundu is governed by a Town Council that currently has seven seats.[5]

Geography

Localities

The oldest houses in Rundu are located in the Katutura area. These houses are mainly 2 bedroom homes with large backyards even though they are situated next to the central business district. 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. There 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.

Outside the formal suburbs shanty towns symbolise the rapid urbanisation of the town and high unemployment rates. Kehemu, Kaisosi also known by the locals as Cali, Sauyemwa (SA) 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.

Climate

Rundu
Climate chart (explanation)
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
151
 
 
31
19
 
 
134
 
 
30
19
 
 
91
 
 
30
18
 
 
32
 
 
29
15
 
 
4
 
 
29
10
 
 
0
 
 
26
6
 
 
0
 
 
26
6
 
 
0
 
 
30
9
 
 
2
 
 
33
14
 
 
19
 
 
35
18
 
 
59
 
 
33
19
 
 
79
 
 
32
19
Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
Precipitation totals in mm
Source: World Climate Guide

Rundu has a hot semi-arid climate (Köppen: BSh), with hot summers and relatively mild winters (with warm days and chilly to cool nights). The average annual precipitation is 571 mm (22 in).

Economy and infrastructure

Rundu Open Market

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]

Transport

River Okavango near Rundu

Rundu Airport, mostly used for tourism and cargo, is 5 km southwest of the town.[9]

The Rundu State Hospital is situated in the center of the town, off Markus Siwarongo street. It's the largest hospital in Kavango.

Military

There is a military base of the of the Namibian Defence Force in Rundu. Built in 1972 and expanded in 1976, while South-West Africa was under South African occupation, it houses 1,600 soldiers.[10] The base was named Voito Jason Kondjeleni Military Base, after People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) fighter Voito Jason Kondjeleni who died in 1983..[11]

Education and Culture

Rundu is home to many woodcarvers [12] and features a woodcarver's market near the open market. Several local restaurants serve traditional food, including mahangu, ground nuts, stewed meats, and fish from the Okavango River. One such restaurant is Kalimba Home Restaurant [13]

Schools

There are five tertiary Institutions in Rundu, namely the Rundu College of Education, the Institute of Open Learning (IOL), the Rundu Vocational Training Centre, the 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 six secondary schools in the town: Rundu Secondary School, Dr. Alpo Mbamba Secondary School, Dr. Romanus Kampungu Secondary School, Elias Neromba Senior Secondary School, Noordgrens, and Kamunoko Secondary School.

Twin towns – Sister cities

Rundu is twinned: Russia Cheboksary, Chuvash Republic, Russia

Netherlands Nieuwegein, Netherlands

References

  1. ↑ "Table 4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011)" (PDF). Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report. Namibia Statistics Agency. p. 39. Retrieved 24 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Menges, Werner (26 May 2011). "Rainy season was one for the record books". The Namibian.
  3. ↑ Republic of Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census (Basic Analysis with Highlights ed.). Windhoek: Central Bureau of Statistics, National Planning Commission. July 2003. p. 21. ISBN 0-86976-614-7.
  4. ↑ Heussen, Sven (7 July 2010). "Revisionsurteil verweigert. Generalbuchprüfer rügt Dorfrat von Rundu – Chaos in der Verwaltung" [Internal audit refused. Auditor-General admonishes Rundu Village Council – Administration in chaos]. Allgemeine Zeitung (in German).
  5. ↑ "Know Your Local Authority". Election Watch (3). Institute for Public Policy Research. 2015. p. 4.
  6. ↑ RunduOpenMarkets.org/
  7. ↑ Namibia (Other Places Travel Guide) by Jeremiah Allen
  8. ↑ Kavango Women Keep Pots Boiling New Era, 16 February 2005
  9. ↑ Namibia Airports Company Rundu
  10. ↑ Deckers, Florian (29 November 2016). "MPs recommend demolition of Rundu base". The Namibian. p. 5.
  11. ↑ "Army base renamed after PLAN fighter". New Era. 5 September 2014.
  12. ↑ Namibia: Woodcarvers of the Kavango by Fifi Rhodes. AllAfrica. 12 April 2012.
  13. ↑ Boabab Guides by Javier Leandro Sobradillo. 21 May 2010.
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