Eenhana
Encyclopedia
Eenhana is the capital town of the Ohangwena Region
, northern Namibia
, on the border with Angola
. Before Namibian independence it was a military centre of the South African Defence Force
without public infrastructure. It was proclaimed a settlement in 1992, and a town in 1999. The name of the Eenhana comes from the word calves in Oshikwanyama and is a reference to the calves that used to water at the small water pan where Eenhana is now located.
Eenhana is situated in tropical forest. It is connected to the road network and has a well-developed infrastructure. Due to the proximity of Angola, many businesses are situated here. The town hosts a trade fair every year.
Eenhana is the location of at least five mass graves believed to date back to the South Africa
n occupation. Theories as to the origin of these graves are controversial with some blaming the Koevoet
regiment and some blaming Swapo violations of the cease-fire agreement. In 2008 the government built the Eenhana Memorial Shrine shrine for those people which is situated on the northern part of the town.
. It was built by China State Construction Engineering Corp
at a cost of N$ 5 million and commemorates the "women and men who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country; who died while liberating Namibia from colonialism". In January 2011, it was called a "white elephant" by the state-run New Era
newspaper due to a lack of interest by tourists. The site curator at the site noted that the National Heritage Council of Namibia
has done less to advertise the site well.
Ohangwena Region
Ohangwena is one of the thirteen regions of Namibia. The northern and western parts of the region are the most densely populated of this essentially subsistence agricultural region in which small scale mahangu cultivation and the keeping of cattle form the predominant activities...
, northern Namibia
Namibia
Namibia, officially the Republic of Namibia , is a country in southern Africa whose western border is the Atlantic Ocean. It shares land borders with Angola and Zambia to the north, Botswana to the east and South Africa to the south and east. It gained independence from South Africa on 21 March...
, on the border with Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. Before Namibian independence it was a military centre of the South African Defence Force
South African Defence Force
The South African Defence Force was the South African armed forces from 1957 until 1994. The former Union Defence Force was renamed to the South African Defence Force in the Defence Act of 1957...
without public infrastructure. It was proclaimed a settlement in 1992, and a town in 1999. The name of the Eenhana comes from the word calves in Oshikwanyama and is a reference to the calves that used to water at the small water pan where Eenhana is now located.
Eenhana is situated in tropical forest. It is connected to the road network and has a well-developed infrastructure. Due to the proximity of Angola, many businesses are situated here. The town hosts a trade fair every year.
Eenhana is the location of at least five mass graves believed to date back to the South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n occupation. Theories as to the origin of these graves are controversial with some blaming the Koevoet
Koevoet
Koevoet , also known as "Operation K" and officially known as the "South West Africa Police Counter-Insurgency Unit" , was a police counter insurgency unit in South-West Africa during the 1970s and 1980s...
regiment and some blaming Swapo violations of the cease-fire agreement. In 2008 the government built the Eenhana Memorial Shrine shrine for those people which is situated on the northern part of the town.
Trade
The town attempts to attract businesses to the town through business exhibitions, small and medium enterprises and tourism activities. Eenhana Town Council hosts an annual trade fair since 2008. It is investing into marketing activities directed at investors and is assisting business development by developing open markets and providing business skills.Education
Eenhana is the home to four schools, two primary and two secondary: Eenhana Primary School, Paulus Haumentenya Primary School, Haimbili Haufiku Senior Secondary School and Eenhana Junior Secondary School.Tourism
The Eenhana Memorial Shrine was opened in 2007 during a ceremony with President Hifikepunye PohambaHifikepunye Pohamba
Hifikepunye Lucas Pohamba is the second and current President of Namibia. He won the 2004 and 2009 presidential elections overwhelmingly as the candidate of the South West Africa People's Organisation ruling party, taking office in March 2005. He has also been the President of SWAPO since...
. It was built by China State Construction Engineering Corp
China State Construction Engineering Corp
The China State Construction Engineering Corporation is the largest construction company and the largest international general contractor in the People's Republic of China.-History:The CSCEC in 1982 as a state company...
at a cost of N$ 5 million and commemorates the "women and men who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country; who died while liberating Namibia from colonialism". In January 2011, it was called a "white elephant" by the state-run New Era
New Era (Namibia)
The New Era is a daily national newspaper owned by the government of Namibia. The newspaper is one of four daily national newspapers in the country. It publishes in English and five indigenous languages. New Era was established in 1991 as a weekly newspaper and later was published only bi-weekly....
newspaper due to a lack of interest by tourists. The site curator at the site noted that the National Heritage Council of Namibia
National Heritage Council of Namibia
The National Heritage Council of Namibia is a government organization in Namibia responsible for historic preservation. It was created by the National Heritage Act of 2004, which was an act "to provide for the protection and conservation of places and objects of heritage significance and the...
has done less to advertise the site well.