Omatako Constituency

Summary

Omatako Constituency is an electoral constituency in the Otjozondjupa Region of Namibia. It had 11,998 inhabitants in 2004[1] and 7,372 registered voters in 2020.[2] The constituency is entirely rural with commercial farms accounting for 95% of its 24,879 square kilometres (9,606 sq mi) area. The constituency office is situated at Okandjira, the constituency's only proclaimed settlement.[3] Other populated places are Kalkfeld, Hochfeld and Ovitoto, as well as the Osire refugee camp and the Osona military base.[4] Omatako Constituency is named after the Omatako Mountains, a prominent geological feature of the constituency.

Omatako constituency (red) in the Otjozondjupa Region (yellow)
1947 oil painting of the Omatako Mountains by Helmut Lewin

Politics edit

Omatako is one of only a few Namibian constituencies that changed their political vote in the 2015 regional election and opted for a non-SWAPO councillor.[5] Israel Hukura of the National Unity Democratic Organisation (NUDO) narrowly won with 1,187 votes, beating SWAPO's candidate Susana Mutjitua Hikopua, who gained 1,144 votes. Helga Tjipe of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) also ran and gained 156 votes.[6] Councillor Hukura (NUDO) was narrowly re-elected in the 2020 regional election. He received 909 votes; Moses Hikopua (SWAPO) obtained 875.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ Constituencies of Namibia, 2004
  2. ^ a b "Regional Council 2020 Election Results". Interactive map. Electoral Commission of Namibia. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
  3. ^ "Omatako Constituency". Otjozondjupa Regional Council. Retrieved 18 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Presidential and National Assembly Elections 2009". Supplement to several Namibian newspapers. Electoral Commission of Namibia. November 2009.
  5. ^ Menges, Werner (29 November 2015). "Mixed results for opposition in regional polls". The Namibian.
  6. ^ "Regional Council Election Results 2015". Electoral Commission of Namibia. 3 December 2015. p. 20. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015.

20°38′S 17°44′E / 20.633°S 17.733°E / -20.633; 17.733