Otjiwarongo is home for everyone
Otjiwarongo is home for everyone

Otjiwarongo is home for everyone

Otjiwarongo municipal spokesperson Adelheid Shilongo believes the town has what it takes to win this year's Town of the Year competition.
Jana-Mari Smith
Otjiwarongo' s unique and peaceful multi-cultural diversity, its welcoming character and strategic location as a central gateway to top Namibian destinations makes it the top pick to win this year's Namibia Media Holdings Town of the Year competition.

This is according to Adelheid Shilongo, Otjiwarongo' s municipal spokesperson, who said the town is working hard to score the top spot this year, after it was again voted as a finalist for this year's Namibia Media Holdings (NMH) Town of the Year 2017 competition.

She said a win for Otjiwarongo would be a win for the entire country.

“If we win, it would boost local morale and business, because everyone wants to be linked to a winning town. A win would ensure that our name would be known beyond our borders, and as such, expose Namibia to other countries.”

She said a win would also ensure that the town “will represent all of the Otjozondjupa Region and the entire country. We will carry our Namibian flag high.”



Unique in many ways

Shilongo said one of the town's most unique aspect is the fact that residents hail from all walks of life and backgrounds.

“Otjiwarongo is a home for everyone. It is multi-cultural, multi-lingual. It is very vibrant.”

She said that a walk through the town's well-kept and clean environment means “you will encounter people from all walks of life. And despite all these economic, social and cultural differences we live in perfect harmony.”

She said that as the capital city of the Otjozondjupa Region, Otjiwarongo boasts of an abundance of rich history and other noteworthy aspects.

“This charming town has extraordinary natural beauty and it is known for its peaceful character, friendliness and beautiful scenery.”

Otjiwarongo's first shop opened its doors on 1 September1906 and the strategic train station was officially opened on 2 April of the same year.

Another unique aspect and a top attraction for locals and tourists is the local crocodile farm.

“We are the only town in Namibia that is home to crocodiles with no river near-by,” she said.



In all directions

Otjiwarongo offers the ideal pit-stop where to refuel, stock up on supplies and to rest while travelling through Namibia.

The town is a recognised multi-directional gateway, not only to Namibia's densely populated north, it's riverine north-east and it's sparse, black-rhino populated north-west, but also to the country's famed Etosha National Park.

“The town itself is surrounded by a number of famous tourist attractions and numerous lodges,” Shilongo said.

Otjiwarongo is situated close to the a famous cheetah rehabilitation farm, the Cheetah Conservation Fund, as well as the Waterberg massif, a natural flat-topped mountain boasting a fertile home for a number of wildlife and various large trees and plants.

Socially, Shilongo praised the local law enforcement officials for being “very active and very dedicated to keep the town safe. We have a very active neighbourhood watch too.”

The town council and municipality are driven to ensure a thriving economy and the provision of serviced land to the inhabitants of the town is a key focus, which will ensure continued economic growth and the health and well-being of the community.

A notable achievement is the overall cleanliness of the town, a feature Otjiwarongo's CEO Ismael /Horoseb said could be attributed not only to the community itself, but to the dedication and hard work of municipal officers, including Shilongo herself.

“She emphasises the importance of a clean town at every meeting,” he said. He said the importance of a clean town, as underscored by municipal officers such as Shilongo, is that it reduces health risks and improves overall pride in the community.

JANA-MARI SMITH

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Namibian Sun 2024-11-14

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