Zambezi Region

The Zambezi Region, known as the Caprivi Region until 2013, is one of Namibia's fourteen regions. It is in the north-east part of the country along the Zambezi River. The whole region is in a narrow stretch of land called the Caprivi Strip.

The capital of the Zambezi Region is a town named Katima Mulilo. Near this town, there is an airport called the Katima Mulilo Airport, about 18 kilometres to the south-west. A smaller place named Bukalo is a bit further away, around 43 kilometres south-east of Katima Mulilo.

The region is divided into eight areas for voting, called electoral constituencies. In 2023, about 142,373 people lived there.

Politics

The Zambezi Region has eight areas called electoral constituencies. These include places like Judea Lyaboloma, Kabbe North, Kabbe South, Katima Mulilo Rural, Katima Mulilo Urban, Kongola, Linyanti, and Sibbinda.

In elections, a group called the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) usually wins. They won all the constituencies in 2004 and 2015. In 2020, they still got many votes but lost some areas to other groups.

Geography

The Zambezi Region is a tropical area with warm weather and lots of rain from December to March. It is the wettest part of Namibia. The land here has swamps, floodplains, wetlands, and woodlands.

Besides the Zambezi River, the region also has the Kwando River, which forms the border with Botswana. The region is home to many animals, including elephants. It has several national parks that help protect wildlife. It is also a great place for watching birds, with almost 70 percent of Namibia's bird species found here. The main town is Katima Mulilo, and there are many other smaller settlements in the area.

Economy and infrastructure

The Zambezi Region in Namibia has many schools and some jobs, but many people are looking for work. The region is known for its beautiful natural areas that attract visitors.

The area has several large parks, such as Bwabwata National Park, Nkasa Rupara National Park, and Mudumu National Park. These parks have many animals and birds, and visitors can see elephants, buffaloes, and many types of antelope. During the rainy season, some parts of the parks flood and become hard to reach. There is also a special tourism route called The Namibian Wetland Route that takes visitors through interesting places in the region.

History

See also: Caprivi Strip

The area now called the Zambezi Region was once named Itenge. It was ruled by the Lozi kings. Later, it became part of Bechuanaland, which is now Botswana.

In 1890, Germany and Britain made an agreement. Germany took control of a narrow strip of land and named it after a German leader, Leo von Caprivi. This strip was called the Caprivi Strip. It was meant to connect Germany’s colony in Africa to the Zambezi River.

During World War I, Britain took control of the area again. In 1990, when Namibia became independent, the Caprivi Strip became one of Namibia’s regions. In 2013, the name was changed from Caprivi to Zambezi to honor the nearby river. Some people were not happy with this change.

Demographics

The Zambezi Region is home to many people. Most live in quiet countryside areas, and only a few live in towns.

Many people here were not born in Namibia. Families in this region often have several children.

Most grown-ups are married, though some young people marry before they are 18 years old.

Many people have only finished primary school. Some work for wages, while others farm, get pensions, or run businesses.

Life has gotten better over time. Now, most people have clean water to drink, and many have electricity in their homes. But not everyone has toilets or the internet. Only a few have internet access, and fewer have cellphones.