Kavango West

{{short description|Region of Namibia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2025}} {{Infobox settlement  | name = Kavango West | native_name = | native_name_lang =  | settlement_type = Region | image_skyline = | image_alt = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = 125px | flag_alt = | image_seal = | seal_alt = | image_shield = | shield_alt = | nickname = | motto = | image_map = Kavango West in Namibia.svg | mapsize = 200 | map_alt = | map_caption = The Kavango West Region (dark grey) in Namibia | pushpin_map = | pushpin_label_position = | pushpin_map_alt = | pushpin_map_caption = | coordinates = | coor_pinpoint = | coordinates_footnotes = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = [[Namibia]] | subdivision_type1 = | subdivision_name1 = | subdivision_type2 = | subdivision_name2 = | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | established_title = | established_date = | founder = | seat_type = | seat = [[Nkurenkuru]] | government_footnotes = | leader_party = [[SWAPO]] | leader_title = Governor | leader_name = [[Sirkka Ausiku]]<ref name=Governor>{{Cite news | title=President announces governors | newspaper=[[The Namibian]] | date=10 April 2015 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/president-announces-governors/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20150414075438/http://www.namibian.com.na/indexx.php?id=25471 | archive-date=14 April 2015 | url-status=live}}</ref> | unit_pref = Metric   | area_footnotes= | area_urban_footnotes=  | area_rural_footnotes =  | area_metro_footnotes =  | area_magnitude =  | area_note = | area_water_percent = | area_rank = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank2_title =  | area_total_km2 = 24,591 | area_land_km2 = | area_water_km2 = | area_urban_km2 = | area_rural_km2 = | area_metro_km2 = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank2_km2 = | length_km = | width_km = | dimensions_footnotes = | elevation_footnotes = | elevation_m = | population_footnotes = <ref>{{cite web|url=https://nsa.nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Preliminary-Report-doc-fn.pdf|title=2023 Population & Housing Census Preliminary Report|website=Statistics Namibia|df=dmy|access-date=2024-03-16|archive-date=2024-03-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240324152514/https://nsa.nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Preliminary-Report-doc-fn.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref> | population_total = 123,266 | population_as_of = 2023 census | population_density_km2 = auto | population_demonym = | population_note = | timezone1 = [[Central Africa Time|CAT]] | utc_offset1 = +2 | timezone1_DST = | utc_offset1_DST = | postal_code_type = | postal_code = | area_code_type = | area_code = | blank_name_sec1 = | blank_info_sec1 = | blank1_name_sec1 = | blank1_info_sec1 = | blank2_name_sec1 = | blank2_info_sec1 = | blank3_name_sec1 = | blank3_info_sec1 = | iso_code = | website = {{URL|https://kavangowestrc.gov.na}} | footnotes = }}

'''Kavango West''' is one of the fourteen [[regions of Namibia]]. Its capital and only self-governed settlement is [[Nkurenkuru]], its governor is [[Sirkka Ausiku]]. The Region was created in 2013 when the [[Kavango Region]] was split into [[Kavango East]] and Kavango West. In the north, Kavango West borders the [[Cuando Cubango]] Province of [[Angola]]. Domestically, it borders the regions of [[Kavango East]] to the east, [[Otjozondjupa]] to the south, [[Oshikoto Region|Oshikoto]] to the west and [[Ohangwena Region|Ohangwena]] to the northwest.

Because of its rather high rainfall compared to most other parts of Namibia and its location on the [[Kavango River]] after which it was named, this region has agricultural potential for the cultivation of a variety of crops, as well as for organised forestry and agro-forestry, which stimulates furniture making and related industries. Kavango West and its sister region Kavango East are nevertheless the poorest regions in Namibia.<ref>{{cite news | title=Kavango East not a poor region - governor | last=Kandjimi | first=Shoki | date=5 November 2020 | newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] | page=1 | url=https://neweralive.na/posts/kavango-east-not-a-poor-region-governor}}</ref>

==Politics== [[File:Wahlkreise in Kavango-West (2014).svg|thumb|360px|right|Kavango West constituencies (2014)]] The Fourth Delimitation Commission of Namibia, responsible for recommending on the country's [[Administrative divisions of Namibia|administrative divisions]] suggested in August 2013 to split the [[Kavango Region]] into two. The president [[Hifikepunye Pohamba]] enacted the recommendations. As a result, the new Regions of [[Kavango East]] and Kavango West have been created.<ref name=split/> As of 2020, Kavango West had 23,804 registered voters.<ref name=election2020>{{Cite web | title=Regional Council 2020 Election Results | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | date=18 January 2021 | series=Interactive map | url=https://elections.na/ | accessdate=11 May 2021 | archive-date=12 June 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612210020/https://elections.na/ | url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Administrative division===

The region is subdivided into eight [[Constituencies of Namibia|electoral constituencies]]:<ref name=wait>{{cite news |url=http://www.newera.com.na/namibian-national-news/kavango-awaits-governor/ |title=Kavango awaits second governor |last=Haufiku |first=Mathias |date=22 August 2013 |work=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] |access-date=27 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130831013840/http://www.newera.com.na/namibian-national-news/kavango-awaits-governor/ |archive-date=31 August 2013 |url-status=usurped }}</ref><ref name=split>{{cite news | title=President divides Kavango into two | last=Nakale | first=Albertina | date=9 August 2013 | newspaper=[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]] | publisher=allafrica.com | url=http://www.newera.com.na/articles/53580/President-divides-Kavango-into-two | url-status=usurped | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022020857/http://www.newera.com.na/articles/53580/President-divides-Kavango-into-two | archivedate=22 October 2014 | access-date=16 August 2013 }}</ref> {{div col|colwidth=20em}} * [[Kapako Constituency|Kapako]] * [[Mankumpi Constituency|Mankumpi]] * [[Mpungu Constituency|Mpungu]] * [[Musese Constituency|Musese]] * [[Ncamangoro Constituency|Ncamangoro]] * [[Ncuncuni Constituency|Ncuncuni]] * [[Nkurenkuru Constituency|Nkurenkuru]] * [[Tondoro Constituency|Tondoro]] {{div col end}}

In the [[Namibian local and regional elections, 2015|2015 regional elections]] [[SWAPO]] won in all eight constituencies.<ref>{{Cite web | title=Regional Council Election Results 2015 | publisher=[[Electoral Commission of Namibia]] | date=3 December 2015 | pages=7–8 | url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/223442/Regional+Counils+Election+Results_Duly+elected+candidates+2015.pdf/32493774-80b3-4be3-9ca1-1f6ce187673a?version=1.0 | archive-url=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 | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 December 2015 }}</ref> SWAPO also won all constituencies in the [[2020 Namibian local and regional elections|2020 regional election]], all of them by a landslide, and with overall more than 90% of the votes.<ref name=GG7654>{{Cite news | title=Publication of results and particulars in respect of general elections for Regional Councils: Electoral Act, 2014 | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=7654 | page=8 | publisher=[[Government of Namibia]] | date=8 October 2021 | url=https://www.lac.org.na/laws/2021/7654.pdf | format=pdf}}</ref>

===Governors===

The first governor of Kavango West was [[Samuel Mbambo]], former governor of the Kavango Region and sitting governor of Kavango East.<ref name=wait/> On 27 April 2014 [[Sirkka Ausiku]], formerly permanent secretary of the [[Ministry of Urban and Rural Development (Namibia)|Ministry of Regional and Local Government, Housing and Rural Development]], was appointed.<ref>{{cite news |title=New broom in new region |publisher=[[NAMPA]] |date=28 April 2014 |newspaper=[[The Namibian]] |volume=28 |issue=76 |page=2}}</ref> He kept his position in 2015 in president [[Hage Geingob]]{{'s}} new government.<ref name=Governor/>

==Population==

The region is characterised by an extremely uneven population distribution. The interior is very sparsely inhabited, while the northernmost strip, especially along the [[Kavango River]], has a high population concentration.

==Economy and infrastructure== The region contains a multi-country conservation park and six locally managed wildlife reserves.<ref>[https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/reconafrica-start-drilling-first-well-kavango-basin-namibia/ ReconAfrica starts drilling on first well in Kavango Basin, Namibia]</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210219215106/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/oil-drilling-fracking-planned-okavango-wilderness Oil drilling, possible fracking planned for Okavango region—elephants’ last stronghold]</ref>

===Oil exploration=== [[ReconAfrica]], a petroleum exploration company headquartered in [[Canada]], has obtained exploration licenses for more than 13,600 square miles of land in the Kavango West region of Namibia and in [[Botswana]]. In January 2021 ReconAfrica announced the start of drilling operations on the first exploration well. Environmental activists have expressed concern that ReconAfrica's plans for its test wells have not been properly vetted through Namibia's environmental review process, however ReconAfrica and both the governments of Namibia and Botswana have stated that the company's activities have followed due process and that no fracking will occur. The drilling license does not include any of the protected areas.<ref>{{cite web |title=ReconAfrica Environmental, Social, and Governance |url=https://reconafrica.com/our-sustainable-approach/environmental-social-governance/ |access-date=20 May 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release |title=Press release - Clarity on explorative activities by Reconnaissance Energy Botswana |url=https://twitter.com/bwgovernment/status/1359497088128733191 |website=twitter.com |access-date=30 April 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Factual Response to article titled: "Oil Drillers Threaten Okavango Ecosystem" |url=http://www.mme.gov.na/news/73/No-Fracking-Activities-will-be-conducted-In-the-Okavango-Delta |website=mme.gov.na |access-date=30 April 2021 |archive-date=18 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518042410/http://www.mme.gov.na/news/73/No-Fracking-Activities-will-be-conducted-In-the-Okavango-Delta |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Demographics==

As of 2023, Kavango West has a population of 123,266 inhabitants, with an annual growth rate of 2.9%. Women outnumber men, with a population of 93 men for every 100 women. The fertility rate is 5.2 and the average household size is 5.5. 16.7% of the population is under 5, 28.8% 5 - 14, 30.9% 15 - 34, 16.4% 35 - 59, and 7.2% over 60. The region is majority rural, with only 8.5% of inhabitants living in urban areas compared to 91.5% in rural areas. The average population density is 5.0 people per km<sup>2</sup>. Only 30.5% own cellphones, and only 10.1% has access to internet. The literacy rate is 77.9%. 17.6% of the population has never attended school. 80.4% of the population has access to clean drinking water, 21.8% toilet facilities, and 20.4% electricity. To receive income, 18.7% earn wages, 17.3% receive an old-age pension, 36.5% farm, and 5.7% work in non-farming business.<ref name="Census">{{Cite web|title=2023 Population and Housing Census Main Report|access-date={{today}}|url=https://census.nsanamibia.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf|website=Namibia Statistics Agency|archive-date=2024-11-10|archive-url=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|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==External links== * [https://kavangowestrc.gov.na Kavango West Regional Council] Official website {{Commons|Kavango}} {{Wikivoyage|Kavango}}

== References == {{Reflist}}

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[[Category:Kavango West| ]] [[Category:Regions of Namibia]] [[Category:Constituencies established in 2013]] [[Category:2013 establishments in Namibia]]