Outapi

{{Short description|Town in northern Namibia}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox settlement   |name =Outapi |other_name =Ombalantu |native_name = |nickname = |settlement_type = |motto =  |image_skyline = File:Outapi main street.JPG |imagesize = |image_caption = Main street in Outapi |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = Wappen Outapi - Namibia.jpg |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = Town |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |pushpin_map = Namibia  |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_mapsize =300 |pushpin_map_caption =Location in Namibia  |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = {{flag|Namibia}} |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = Omusati Region |subdivision_type2 = |subdivision_name2 = |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 =  |government_footnotes = |government_type = Municipal council |leader_title = Mayor |leader_name = Selma Asino<ref name=reelected/> |leader_title1 =  |leader_name1 = |established_title =  |established_date =  |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial  |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = 27.7 |area_land_km2 =  |area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi =  | population_footnotes = <ref name=nsa2023/> | population_total = 13,664 | population_as_of = 2023 | population_density_km2 = auto |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title =Ethnicities |population_blank1 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  | timezone = SAST | utc_offset = +2 |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = {{coord|17|30|16|S|14|59|05|E|region:NA|display=inline,title}} |elevation_footnotes =  |elevation_m = |elevation_ft =  |postal_code_type =  |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = Climate |blank_info = BSh |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes = }}

'''Outapi wa Nakafingo na Temba''', well known as '''Outapi''' or '''Uutapi''' and '''Ombalantu''', is a town in northern Namibia near the border with Angola, situated {{convert|90|km|0|abbr=on}} northwest of Oshakati. It is the capital of the Omusati region and the district capital of the Outapi electoral constituency. It had a population of 13,664 people in 2023. The language spoken there is Oshiwambo.

==Geography==

The town normally receives an annual average rainfall of {{convert|440|mm}}, although in the 2010/2011 rainy season {{convert|723|mm}} were measured.<ref name="Nam2011">{{cite news |url=http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/may/article/rainy-season-was-one-for-the-record-books/ |title=Rainy season was one for the record books |last=Menges |first=Werner |date=26 May 2011 |newspaper=The Namibian|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111215044804/http://www.namibian.com.na/news/full-story/archive/2011/may/article/rainy-season-was-one-for-the-record-books/|archive-date=15 December 2011}}</ref> {{Historical populations|2001|2,640|2011|6,437|2023|13,664|percentages=pagr|align=none|footnote=Sources:<ref name=nsa2011>{{cite web | title=4.2.2 Urban population by Census years (2001 and 2011) | url=http://cms.my.na/assets/documents/p19dmn58guram30ttun89rdrp1.pdf | work=Namibia 2011 - Population and Housing Census Main Report | publisher=Namibia Statistics Agency | access-date=1 November 2024 | page=39}}</ref><ref name=nsa2023>{{cite web | title=4.5 Population by town and census years (2011 and 2023) | url=https://nsa.org.na/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/2023-Population-and-Housing-Census-Main-Report-28-Oct-2024.pdf | work=Namibia 2023 - Population and Housing Census. Main Report | publisher=Namibia Statistics Agency | access-date=1 November 2024 | pages=33–34}}</ref>}}

==Economy and infrastructure== In 2001, Outapi was the smallest town in Namibia, with a population of just over 2,600.<ref name="2001Census">{{cite book |title=Republic of Namibia 2001 Population and Housing Census |edition=Basic Analysis with Highlights |date=July 2003 |publisher=Central Bureau of Statistics, National Planning Commission |location=Windhoek |isbn=0-86976-614-7 |page=21}}</ref> It is, however, developing rapidly. There is a large number of newly constructed government buildings and shops in the south of the town. The town features several schools, a community hall, a hospital and a police station.<ref>{{cite news | publisher = Electoral Commission of Namibia | title = Presidential and National Assembly Elections 2009 | work = Supplement to several Namibian newspapers | date = November 2009}}</ref> There are two open markets, one at the Ombalantu baobab tree and one at Onhimbu. There is also a tourist lodge.

==Culture and tourism== Within the former South African Army base is the famous ''Omukwa'' Ombalantu baobab tree, a baobab whose huge hollow trunk has been used in the past as a post office, a chapel, and a coffee shop, and {{As of|2011|alt=now}} houses a craft shop.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.natron.net/nacobta/ombalantu/main.html |title = North (Omusati): Ombalantu Baobab Tree Heritage Centre and Campsite |publisher = Namibia Travel Online |access-date = 16 March 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110511041156/http://www.natron.net/nacobta/ombalantu/main.html |archive-date = 11 May 2011 }}</ref>

The town hosts the annual Olufuko Festival, which was initiated in 2012. The festival is a combination of a business expo and cultural celebrations, of which the initiation ceremony that prepares teenage girls for womanhood is the heart of the festival. Namibia's first president and founding father, Sam Nujoma, is the patron of the Olufuko Festival.

==Politics==

Outapi is governed by a town council that has seven seats.<ref>{{Cite news | title=Know Your Local Authority | publisher=Institute for Public Policy Research | newspaper=Election Watch | year = 2015 | issue=3 | page=4}}</ref> Omusati Region, to which Outapi belongs, is a stronghold of Namibia's ruling SWAPO party. For the 2015 local authority election no opposition party nominated a candidate, and SWAPO won all seven seats uncontested.<ref>{{cite web | title=Local elections results | publisher=Electoral Commission of Namibia | page=6 | url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | date=28 November 2015 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210194328/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/218731/LA+results+%28press+release%29+2015.pdf/870a030b-8547-487f-ad18-b22713b16d4c?version=1.0 | archive-date=10 December 2015 }}</ref>

SWAPO also won the 2020 local authority election. It obtained 721 votes and gained five seats. The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), an opposition party formed in August 2020, obtained 357 votes and gained the remaining two seats.<ref>{{Cite web | title=2020 Local Authority Elections Results and Allocation of Seats | page=13 | date=29 November 2020 | publisher=Electoral Commission of Namibia | url=https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | access-date=25 January 2021 | archive-date=24 January 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124162938/https://www.ecn.na/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Media-Release-on-LA-Results_2020.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> Selma Asino {{As of|2023|alt=is}} mayor of Outapi.<ref name=reelected>{{Cite news | title=Northern re-elected mayors promise quality service delivery | last=Vatleni | first=Eino | newspaper=The Namibian | date=27 November 2023 | url=https://www.namibian.com.na/northern-re-elected-mayors-promise-quality-service-delivery}}</ref>

==References== {{commons category}} {{Reflist|30em}}

Category:Towns in Namibia Category:Populated places in the Omusati Region

Outapi

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