Country | Region Mayor Julia Shikongo | |
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.
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Map of Eenhana
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 of Peoples Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) guerrillas killed by South African forces during the Namibian War of Independence. In 2008 the government built the Eenhana Memorial Shrine for those people which is situated on the northern part of the town.
Tourism
The Eenhana Memorial Shrine was opened in 2007 during a ceremony with President Hifikepunye Pohamba. 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.
Eenhana is however connected to one of the prominent tourism route; the extension of the Trans-Caprivi Highway which passes through the town connecting Eenhana to Rundu, Katima Mulilo and Victoria Falls/Livingstone in the east and to Ruacana and Epupa falls on the west via Okalongo Outapi road. Other attractions include the Oukwanyama Kingdom and King Mandume Museum at Omhedi, a Community Conservancy at Omauni in the Okongo District as well as the Ondeshifiilwa Memorial site.