Rundu | |
|---|---|
Town | |
.jpg) Aerial view of Rundu, 2019 | |
 Seal | |
| Nickname: Ru-town | |
| Motto: Unity & Development | |
  Rundu Location in Namibia | |
| Coordinates:17°55′S19°46′E / 17.917°S 19.767°E /-17.917; 19.767 | |
| Country |  Namibia |
| Region | Kavango-East Region |
| Constituency | Rundu Urban constituency |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor-council government |
| • Mayor | Verna Mpingana Sinimbo (SWAPO) |
| Area | |
• Total | 156 km2 (60 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 1,095 m (3,593 ft) |
| Population | |
• Total | 118,625 |
| • Density | 760/km2 (2,000/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (SAST) |
| Area code | 066 |
| Climate | BSh |
| Website | runducity |
Rundu is the capital and the largest city of theKavango-East Region in northernNamibia. It lies on the border withAngola on the banks of theKavango River, about 1,000 metres (3,300 feet)above sea level. Rundu's population is growing rapidly. The 2001census counted 36,964 inhabitants;[3] and for the 2011 census it climbed to 63,430.
In 1936, it became the seat of the local governor replacingNkurenkuru as the capital of the Kavango district.[citation needed] Since then it has grown into a multilingual city of the Kavango region. Its official status was changed to that of a town.[4]
Since 1993, itsSt. Mary's Cathedral is the episcopal seat of the Roman CatholicApostolic Vicariate of Rundu.
Rundu is governed by a town council with seven seats.[5] The2015 local authority election was won bySWAPO which gained five seats (6,973 votes). One seat each went to the localRundu Concerned Citizens Association (1,043 votes) and theAll People's Party (APP, 973 votes).[6] SWAPO also won the2020 local authority election, obtaining 3,548 votes and gaining four seats. One seat each went to the Rundu Concerned Citizens Association (863 votes), theRundu Urban Community Commission (386 votes), and theIndependent Patriots for Change (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, that gained 321 votes.[7]
Many of Rundu's residents live inshacks. In 2020 the town had 18,219 of the informal housing structures, accommodating more than 76,000 inhabitants,[8] more than the most recent (2011) census reported as total population figure.
The oldest houses in Rundu are in the Katutura area. The houses are mainly two bedroom homes with large backyards even though they are situated next to the central business district.[citation needed]
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 built in the 1970s.[citation needed] The 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 called Millennium Park. After that, two others were constructed by the NHE, Queens and Kings Parks respectively. Recently a new formal location was added named Rainbow.[citation needed]
Outside the formal suburbs, shanty towns symbolise the rapid urbanisation of the town and high unemployment rates. Kehemu (Ghetto), 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 Build Together Campaign was begun in 1992.[citation needed]
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Rundu has ahot semi-arid climate (Köppen:BSh), with hot summers and relatively mild winters (with warm days and chilly to cool nights). Even though it has a hot semi-arid climate, the area experiences highdiurnal temperature variation during the winter with average high temperatures at roughly 26 °C (79 °F) and average low temperatures at 6 °C (43 °F). The large swing in daily temperature is more commonplace among areas with cold semi-arid climates. During the summer, the diurnal temperature variation is less pronounced. The average annual precipitation is 568 mm (22 in),[9] although in the 2010/2011 rainy season 757 millimetres (29.8 in) were measured.[10]
Rundu Open Market is the most well-known and the biggestopen market in the town. It was founded in 1996 through cooperation between the government of Namibia and the government ofLuxembourg.[11][12][13]
Rundu Airport, mostly used for tourism and cargo, is 5 kilometres (3.1 miles) southwest of the town.[14]
TheRundu State Hospital is in the center of the town, off Markus Siwarongo street. It's the largest hospital in theKavango East region of the country
ANamibian Defence Force is in Rundu. Built in 1972 it was expanded in 1976, whileSouth West Africa was underSouth African occupation. It houses 1,600 soldiers.[15] The base was namedVoito Jason Kondjeleni Military Base, afterPeople's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) fighter Voito Jason Kondjeleni who died in 1983.[16]
Rundu is home to many woodcarvers[17] and features a woodcarver's market near the open market. Several local restaurants serve traditional food includingmahangu, ground nuts, stewed meats, and fish from the Okavango River.
There are five tertiary Institutions in Rundu, namely theUniversity of Namibia, the Institute of Open Learning (IOL), the Rundu Vocational Training Centre, the Namibia College of Open Learning (NAMCOL), and Triumphant College.The Namibia University of Sciences and Technology has a centre which provides 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.
Rundu istwinned:
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