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My Home Town:Eenhana

Eenhana
Eenhana Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 17°27′57″S 16°20′13″E
Country	Namibia
Region	Ohangwena Region
Government
• Mayor	Julia Shikongo
• Town Council CEO	Walde Ndevashiya
Time zone	UTC+1

Eenhana is the capital town of the Ohangwena Region, In the northern part of Namibia. The town is sharing borders with Angola in the North, Okavango region in the East,Oshikoto region in the south and Oshana region in the west. It has about 24,193 inhabitants with 20 villages in total, namely: Ondaanda (5.2 km away),Oheti (6.1 km away),omedi (6.7 km away),Onambutu (7.6 km away),Oshandi (7.7 km away),Omakondo (9.7 km away),Omuulu (9.6 km away),Omungholyo (10.9 km away)and Amucotocapa (13.0 km away) ,Omutwewondjaba (4.4 km away),Ohaikedi (4.4 km away) and Melunga (12.4 km away) ,Ohaihana (3.0 km away),Epinga (5.6 km away)Ohainengena (6.7 km away Onakalunga (6.8 km away),Oshambada (8.6 km away), Ondingwanyama (5.1 km away) and Onambutu (10.4 km away).

The latitude and longitude of Eenhana is 17° 28' 0" S / 16° 20' 0" E and is situated in tropical rain forest with 300 days of sunshine on average per year. Only during the summer months from November to February does rain occur and dry riverbeds become saturated with torrents of muddy water for some months. It is during this time that the sun-scorched land comes to life and develops a colorful horizon to horizon floral carpet within few days. The interior enjoys two rainy seasons: the short season is between October and December, marked by frequent thunderstorms and the longer season is from mid-January to April.

Before Namibian independence, Eenhana area was known to be a key military infiltration point with the highest number of atrocities, deaths, skirmishes and gun battles during the war between PLAN and SADF fighters. SADF had established its 54 Battalion in Eenhana in early 1970s with the aim to prevent residents from leaving the country into exile and to intercept guerrilla forces crossing into Namibia from Angola.

It was a military without public infrastructure. It was only proclaimed as a settlement in 1992 and a town in 1999. The name Eenhana itself comes from the word ‘Enana “in Oshikwanyama which means “calves”. And is a reference to the calves that used to water at the small water pan where Eenhana is located today,There is also a story that For it be Eenhana there was a battle between Kwanyama Chiefs namely Elia and Haimbili Haufiku,which resulted in a scattered number of calves in the area after the Elia's Defeat.To day more peoople call it Eenhana daElia meaning,"Eenhana for Elia".But in this case they refered to those calves and not the area itself.The area is connected to the road network and has a well-developed infrastructure. Due to the proximity of Angola, many businesses are now situated here. The towns host an Expo annually.

Trade & Industries

The town attempts to attract businesses to the town through business exhibitions, small and medium enterprises and tourism activities. Eenhana Town Council hosts an annual trade fairs and business expo since 2008.It is investing into marketing activities directed at investors and is assisting business development by developing open markets and providing business skills. Like in 2008 A community agricultural project funded by the Spanish government through the ‘United Nations Joint Programme’ and supported by investors from China, has been established at Eenhana town in the Ohangwena region recently and the project today is locally known as Tulipamwe Community Garden and Chinam Agricultural Project, which thus far has been funded to the tune of N$2.5 million, and production has already started. It is designed to make maximum use of the available land to produce a variety of vegetables, while also rearing chickens and ducks. The town council has also allocated land for the establishment of the Veterinary Research Laboratory and to the University of Namibia (UNAM) for its Centre for External Studies.

There are many strong business man and woman in the town, like the owner of Onawa Supper Market Mr. Nawa, BH complex - Mr. Ben Hauwanga and Special Supper Market-Mr. Hedimbi and the likes of Mr. Mwandingi H.Since the tarred road construction from Uushake village - Okongo -Rundu is about to be completed many business activities a increasing and more business woman and man are moving that side and this means communication is improved and development of infrastructures development is enhanced.This means the town has a lot to offer in more few years to come. For those investors who are dreaming to find a business place there must do so as” Early bird catches the worm”.

Education & Health

There are 4 schools currently in Eenhana, two primary and two secondary schools namely Eenhana Primary School, Paulus Haumentenya Primary School, Eenhana Junior Secondary School and Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School-Which is considered as the best performing school in Ohangwena region after Mr. DJ.Shejavali took over the leadership in 2005.In addition ,there is also a multi-purpose centre and a Vocational training Centre. The place has also a State Hospital just opposite to Eenhana Airport southern side, East of the informal Settlement. The modern Hospital ‘s Directorate Management Team Office extension, Dental Clinic, General Stores and Mortuary is under construction .

Tourism Attraction In the Area

In 2005, human remains were discovered during the construction of the oxidation ponds at the town of Eenhana. This site was formerly the military base of the South African Defense Force (SADF)’s 54 Battalion during the apartheid regime. And t he remains discovered are suspected to be those of members of the Peoples’ Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN), a military wing of the South West Africa Peoples Organization (SWAPO) and civilians are suspected to be members of the Eenhana population. Among the remains found were the skeletons of young people and children.

The Eenhana Memorial Shrine was opened in 26 August 2007 during a ceremony with President Hifikepunye Pohamba. It was built by China State Construction Engineering Corp at a cost of N$ 5 million and the aim was to commemorates the "women and men who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country; who died while liberating Namibia from colonialism" in that area.

The Memorial Shrine’s Structure.

The shrine depicts the history of the liberation struggle and acknowledges the courage of the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) combatants and civilians who supported them at the town of Eenhana in the Ohangwena Region. The memorial shrine is few metres from the site where humans remains were found in 2005.

The monument is a 2-metre high bronze statue, weighing about 550 kg and depicts a female soldier holding a Namibian national flag aloft symbolizing the victory, independence and all of Namibia's national achievements. It is mounted on a granite pedestal of 1,3 metres. On the monument ,there is also a 1,8-metreSWAPO PLAN combatant mural depicting three combatants looking at an enemy target. The mural symbolizes heroism and patriotism during the dark years of the liberation war. There is also a 1,8-metre bronze sculpture depicting three civilians taking ammunition and food to the PLAN combatants. This symbolizes courage and provision of the essential services by communities during the liberation struggle. The shrine further features a 70-centimetre bronze relief sculpture of a grave-digger. This depicts various traditional utensils and weapons used in the mission area and symbolizes the collective cultural heritage left by the war victims for future generations. The shrine consists of 3 large graves. The remains discovered at Eenhana will be buried in the centre grave While the remaining two graves will cater for future remains if discovered in the region again.

In January 2011,Eenhana was called a "white elephant" by the state-runNew Era newspaper due to a lack of interest by tourists. But after Eenhana got a historical shrine for war victims the area has started to experience more investors and more tourist attractions.And now is one of the Proclaimed 13 NEW NATIONAL HERITAGE places in NAMIBIA recommended.

Since the discovery of the human remains at Eenhana, consultations have been taking place between the Ministry of Youth, National Service, Sport and Culture, through the National Heritage Council (NHC), Eenhana Town Council and the Office of the Governor of the Ohangwena region to come up with concrete plans as to how the town will be improved and ensure that those remains were buried in a safe area be protected.

Cultural and Norms

'Unity in diversity’, Is the slogan for the Namibian cultural policy which has been drawn up in 2001.like Every bodyy countrywide,The preservation of the cultural legacy in this area is another priority issue to them.The area is dominated by vambos Of which I also belong. The town is also believed to have a well developed sport stadium just opposite to the current sportfield and new NaTIS vehicle & driver Testing centre. Other new developments expected are an abattoir, industrial park, grocery shops, offices of various Government Ministries and non-governmental organizations and a branch of Bank Windhoek.

External links

• Mass Graves
• Pictures of Airforce Base in 1988 and rather nasty forms of Prison cells.
• [1]
• [2]

Gallery

Category:Ohangwena Region