# Kavango East > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kavango_East > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Kavango_East.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavango_East > Source revision: 1350739324 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Region of Namibia Region in Namibia Kavango East Region The Kavango East Region (red) in Namibia Country Namibia Seat Rundu Government • Governor Bonifatius Wakudumo[1] (SWAPO) Area • Total 23,988 km2 (9,262 sq mi) Population (2023 census)[2] • Total 218,421 • Density 9.1054/km2 (23.583/sq mi) Time zone UTC+2 (CAT) Website kavangoeastrc.gov.na **Kavango East** is one of the fourteen [regions of Namibia](/source/Regions_of_Namibia). Its capital is [Rundu](/source/Rundu), its governor is [Bonifatius Wakudumo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonifatius_Wakudumo&action=edit&redlink=1). The region was created in 2013 when the [Kavango Region](/source/Kavango_Region) was split into Kavango East and [Kavango West](/source/Kavango_West). The only self-governing settlements in Kavango East are the capital Rundu and the village of [Divundu](/source/Divundu). The region contains the western half of the [Caprivi Strip](/source/Caprivi_Strip). In the north, Kavango East borders the [Cuando Cubango](/source/Cuando_Cubango) Province of [Angola](/source/Angola), and in the south and southeast the [North-West](/source/North-West_District_(Botswana)) District of Botswana. Domestically, it borders the following regions: - [Zambezi](/source/Zambezi_Region) – east - [Otjozondjupa](/source/Otjozondjupa) – southwest - [Kavango West](/source/Kavango_West) – west Because of its rather high rainfall compared to most other parts of Namibia and its location on the [Kavango River](/source/Kavango_River) after which it is named, this region has agricultural potential for the cultivation of a variety of crops, as well as for organised forestry and agro-forestry, which stimulate furniture making and related industries. Kavango East and its sister region Kavango West are nevertheless the poorest regions in Namibia.[3] ## Politics The Fourth Delimitation Commission of Namibia, responsible for recommending on the country's [administrative divisions](/source/Administrative_divisions_of_Namibia) suggested in August 2013 to split the [Kavango Region](/source/Kavango_Region) into two. Then-president [Hifikepunye Pohamba](/source/Hifikepunye_Pohamba) enacted the recommendations. As a result, two new regions of Kavango East and [Kavango West](/source/Kavango_West) were created.[4] As of 2020, Kavango East had 80,450 registered voters.[5] ### Administrative division Kavango East constituencies (2014) The region is subdivided into six [electoral constituencies](/source/Constituencies_of_Namibia):[6][4] - [Mashare](/source/Mashare_Constituency) - [Mukwe](/source/Mukwe_Constituency) - [Ndiyona](/source/Ndiyona_Constituency) - [Ndonga Linena](/source/Ndonga_Linena_Constituency) - [Rundu Rural](/source/Rundu_Rural_East) - [Rundu Urban](/source/Rundu_Urban) In the [2015 regional elections](/source/Namibian_local_and_regional_elections%2C_2015) [SWAPO](/source/SWAPO) won in all six constituencies[7] and obtained 79% ([2010](/source/2010_Namibian_local_and_regional_elections): 73%) of all votes.[5] In the [2020 regional election](/source/2020_Namibian_local_and_regional_elections) SWAPO was still the strongest party but its support dropped to 62% of the popular vote, and it lost [Rundu Rural](/source/Rundu_Rural) to an [independent candidate](/source/Independent_candidate).[8] ### Governors 1. [Samuel Mbambo](/source/Samuel_Mbambo) (2013–2020)[6][9] 1. [Bonifatius Wakudumo](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bonifatius_Wakudumo&action=edit&redlink=1) (2020–present)[1] ## Transport There is a particular dearth of north-south roads in the Region, apart from the Rundu-[Grootfontein](/source/Grootfontein) main road. Rundu has a small airstrip to accommodate medium-sized tourist or cargo aircraft in daylight only. The poor condition of the roads and the long distances had a negative effect on tourism; this situation was improved by the completion of the [Trans–Caprivi Highway](/source/Trans%E2%80%93Caprivi_Highway). A major highway connecting Rundu to western Kavango and the [Ohangwena Region](/source/Ohangwena_Region) is under construction. ## Demographics As of 2023, Kavango East has a population of 218,421 residents, of which 102,310 (47%) are male and 116,111 (53%) are female, with an annual growth rate of 3.9%. On average, a woman has 4.3 children. 56.9% of the population live in urban areas, and the other 43.1% live rural areas. The average population density is 9.1 people per km2. Only 19.4% of the population has access to the internet, although 38.3% own a cellphone. The literacy rate is 82.0% in those older than 15 years. 14.1% of the population has never attended school, while 46.9% has at least some primary school, 18.8% has at least some secondary school, and 9.7% has at least some tertiary education. 84.7% of the population has access to safe drinking water, and 49.5% have access to a toilet facility. 42.6% have electricity sufficient for lighting in their homes. In terms of income, 32.5% make a living off of wages or a salary, 16.4% receive a pension, 14.8% work on farms, and 10.1% are employed in non-farming business.[10] Within the region, 46% of the population speaks [Rukwangali](/source/Kwangali_language) natively, primarily in the Vakwangali and [Mbunza](/source/Mbunza) tribes. 21% speak [Bantu languages](/source/Bantu_languages) like [Luchazi](/source/Luchazi_language), 18% speak [Rumanyo](/source/Rumanyo_language), 8% speak [Thimbukushu](/source/Thimbukushu_language), 5% speak other Namibian languages such as [Oshiwambo](/source/Oshiwambo_language), and 2% speak European languages.[11] ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Goodbye_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Goodbye_1-1) ["Goodbye"](https://www.namibiansun.com/news/goodbye2020-04-08/). *[Namibian Sun](/source/Namibian_Sun)*. 10 April 2020. p. 1. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Report"](https://web.archive.org/web/20240324152514/https://nsa.nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Preliminary-Report-doc-fn.pdf) (PDF). *Statistics Namibia*. Archived from [the original](https://nsa.nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Preliminary-Report-doc-fn.pdf) (PDF) on 2024-03-24. Retrieved 2024-03-16. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Kandjimi, Shoki (5 November 2020). ["Kavango East not a poor region - governor"](https://neweralive.na/posts/kavango-east-not-a-poor-region-governor). *[New Era](/source/New_Era_(Namibia))*. p. 1. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-split_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-split_4-1) Nakale, Albertina (9 August 2013). ["President divides Kavango into two"](https://web.archive.org/web/20141022020857/http://www.newera.com.na/articles/53580/President-divides-Kavango-into-two). *[New Era](/source/New_Era_(Namibia))*. allafrica.com. Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2013. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-election2020_5-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-election2020_5-1) ["Regional Council 2020 Election Results"](https://web.archive.org/web/20210612210020/https://elections.na/). *Interactive map*. [Electoral Commission of Namibia](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Namibia). 18 January 2021. Archived from [the original](http://elections.na/) on 12 June 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wait_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wait_6-1) Haufiku, Mathias (22 August 2013). ["Kavango awaits second governor"](https://web.archive.org/web/20130831013840/http://www.newera.com.na/namibian-national-news/kavango-awaits-governor/). *[New Era](/source/New_Era_(Namibia))*. Archived from the original on 31 August 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Regional Council Election Results 2015"](https://web.archive.org/web/20151208163948/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/223442/Regional+Counils+Election+Results_Duly+elected+candidates+2015.pdf/32493774-80b3-4be3-9ca1-1f6ce187673a?version=1.0). [Electoral Commission of Namibia](/source/Electoral_Commission_of_Namibia). 3 December 2015. p. 6. Archived from [the original](http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/223442/Regional+Counils+Election+Results_Duly+elected+candidates+2015.pdf/32493774-80b3-4be3-9ca1-1f6ce187673a?version=1.0) on 8 December 2015. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-GG7654_8-0)** ["Publication of results and particulars in respect of general elections for Regional Councils: Electoral Act, 2014"](http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2021/7654.pdf) (pdf). *Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia*. No. 7654. [Government of Namibia](/source/Government_of_Namibia). 8 October 2021. pp. 7–8. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Governor_9-0)** ["President announces governors"](https://www.namibian.com.na/president-announces-governors/). *[The Namibian](/source/The_Namibian)*. 10 April 2015.{{[cite news](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_news)}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_deprecated_archival_service)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Census_10-0)** ["2023 Population and Housing Census Main Report"](https://web.archive.org/web/20241110234059/https://census.nsanamibia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf) (PDF). *Namibia Statistics Agency*. Archived from [the original](https://census.nsanamibia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf) (PDF) on 10 November 2024. Retrieved 9 April 2025. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Council_11-0)** ["Regional Profile"](https://kavangoeastrc.gov.na/regional-profile). *Kavango East Regional Council*. Retrieved 2 July 2026. ## External links - [Kavango East Regional Council official website](https://kavangoeastrc.gov.na) Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Kavango](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Kavango). Wikivoyage has a travel guide for ***[Kavango](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Kavango#Q14824032)***. v t e Regions of Namibia Erongo Hardap ǁKharas Kavango East Kavango West Khomas Kunene Ohangwena Omaheke Omusati Oshana Oshikoto Otjozondjupa Zambezi v t e Constituencies in the Kavango East Region of Namibia Mashare Mukwe Ndiyona Ndonga Linena Rundu Rural (Rundu Rural East) Rundu Urban [18°20′S 20°35′E / 18.333°S 20.583°E / -18.333; 20.583](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Kavango_East¶ms=18_20_S_20_35_E_region:NA_type:adm1st_source:GNS-enwiki) Authority control databases Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Kavango East](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavango_East) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kavango_East?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.