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Erongo Region

The Erongo Region is one of Namibia's 14 administrative regions, located in the western part of the country along the Atlantic coast, encompassing a diverse arid landscape that includes portions of the Namib Desert, the Erongo Mountains, and the Skeleton Coast. Covering an area rich in geological formations and mineral deposits, it serves as a key economic hub driven by mining, particularly uranium extraction, alongside fishing industries centered around the port of Walvis Bay and burgeoning tourism attractions such as coastal dunes and wildlife reserves.^[1] With a population estimated at 240,206 inhabitants as per recent census projections, representing about 7.9% of Namibia's total, the region experiences rapid urbanization, particularly in towns like Swakopmund, its administrative capital, and Walvis Bay, fueled by employment opportunities in extractive industries and logistics.^[2] The Skeleton Coast National Park, partially within Erongo, highlights the area's ecological significance, featuring unique desert-adapted fauna including desert elephants and lions, while shipwrecks dot the fog-shrouded shoreline, underscoring the harsh maritime environment that has historically challenged navigation.^[3] Erongo's economy is predominantly resource-based, with major operations like the Rössing Uranium Mine contributing substantially to national exports, complemented by marine resource harvesting and emerging sectors in renewable energy and eco-tourism that leverage the region's stark natural beauty and biodiversity hotspots such as the Cape Cross seal colony.^[1] Despite its economic vitality, the region grapples with water scarcity and environmental pressures from mining activities, yet maintains infrastructure developments including upgraded roads and ports that position it as a gateway for trade and exploration in Namibia.^[4]

Geography

Location and Borders

The Erongo Region occupies western Namibia, extending from the Atlantic Ocean coastline inland toward the central plateau. It borders the Kunene Region to the north, the Otjozondjupa Region to the northeast, the Khomas Region to the east and southeast, and the Hardap Region to the south, encompassing a diverse transition from coastal dunes to mountainous terrain.^[5]^[1] The region's western boundary follows approximately 300 kilometers of Atlantic shoreline, incorporating the major coastal settlements of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund as principal gateways for maritime activities.^[5] Covering 63,586 km², Erongo constitutes 7.7% of Namibia's land area and lies proximate to the Namib-Naukluft National Park, which spans its southern periphery and links the Skeleton Coast to the inland Namib Desert.^[1] This positioning underscores its role in bridging oceanic access with the arid interior, supporting routes that connect coastal ports to eastern regions via infrastructure like the Trans-Kalahari Highway extensions.^[5]

Physical Features

The Erongo Region's landscape is dominated by the hyper-arid Namib Desert, which extends across much of its 63,507 km² area, featuring vast gravel plains interspersed with linear sand dunes near the Atlantic coast and scattered rocky outcrops inland.^[6] These gravel plains, formed by wind deflation and episodic fluvial activity, cover extensive low-relief surfaces with deflation lag pavements of coarse pebbles and stones, while dunes reach heights of up to 300 m in coastal sectors. Inselbergs, such as the Spitzkoppe and Erongo Mountains, protrude as isolated granitic domes and eroded volcanic plugs from the surrounding plains, remnants of Mesozoic igneous activity.^[7] The region's highest elevation is the Königstein peak of the Brandberg massif at 2,573 m, a Jurassic-Cretaceous granitic intrusion spanning about 650 km² amid the desert plateau, with steep escarpments and radial valleys shaped by differential erosion.^[8] ^[9] The underlying geology reflects the Pan-African Damara Orogeny, particularly its central zone, where metasedimentary sequences and late-tectonic granites host albitite-hosted uranium mineralization, including major deposits like Rössing formed through hydrothermal alteration around 500 million years ago.^[10] This orogenic belt's fold-thrust structures and intrusive bodies contribute to the area's mineral endowment, with uranium concentrated in sheeted leucogranites and pegmatites.^[11] Coastal landforms include the Skeleton Coast's rocky shorelines and strandplains, backed by a fog-influenced zone where upwelling from the Benguela Current generates persistent marine fog, sustaining minimal surficial moisture over skeletal, nutrient-poor soils derived from granitic weathering and aeolian deposition.^[6] Interior aridity is pronounced, with thin, rocky regolith and calcrete horizons limiting soil development, exacerbated by annual precipitation averaging 10-50 mm, primarily from sporadic winter fog and summer thunderstorms.

Climate and Ecology

The Erongo Region exhibits a hyper-arid desert climate dominated by the Namib Desert, with annual precipitation typically below 50 mm along the coast and averaging around 9.45 mm region-wide.^[12]^[13] High evaporation rates, exceeding 3,000 mm annually in some areas, exacerbate water scarcity, while the Benguela Current upwelling maintains cool coastal temperatures averaging 15-20°C year-round, with minimal seasonal variation.^[14] Coastal fog, occurring up to 180 days per year, serves as the primary moisture source, condensing on surfaces and supporting limited ecological processes despite negligible rainfall.^[12]^[15] Ecologically, the region features sparse, highly adapted flora and fauna suited to extreme aridity. The iconic Welwitschia mirabilis, endemic to the Namib Desert including Erongo's gravel plains, persists for over 1,000 years by tapping deep groundwater and absorbing fog moisture through its leathery leaves.^[16] Other vegetation includes drought-resistant shrubs and lichens that harvest fog droplets, with overall plant cover rarely exceeding 10% due to nutrient-poor soils. Fauna comprises desert-adapted ungulates such as oryx (Oryx gazella) and springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), which derive hydration from plant foliage and metabolic water, alongside fog-dependent insects like tenebrionid beetles that position themselves to collect condensed mist.^[17] Seasonal patterns show virtually no winter precipitation, with any sparse rains concentrated in summer months (November-March), though totals remain insignificant in Erongo compared to Namibia's interior.^[18] Variability is influenced by El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events, which typically suppress rainfall during El Niño phases, leading to prolonged droughts that stress even resilient ecosystems.^[19] These conditions foster biodiversity hotspots in fog-trapping microhabitats, such as coastal dunes and inselbergs, where endemism thrives amid the prevailing desolation.

History

Pre-Colonial and Colonial Era

The Erongo region, encompassing the arid coastal plains, Erongo Mountains, and hinterland of present-day Namibia, was primarily inhabited by the Damara people prior to the 19th century, who engaged in hunter-gatherer practices supplemented by early pastoralism and mining of ochre and copper for trade.^[20] Archaeological evidence from the Erongo Mountains indicates the presence of domestic animal remains dating to around 1000-500 BCE, suggesting initial pastoralist land use by Khoekhoe-related groups, though the Damara maintained semi-nomadic lifestyles focused on small-scale herding of sheep and goats amid the region's sparse vegetation.^[21] By the 17th century, Bantu-speaking Herero pastoralists migrated into central Namibia from the east, utilizing Erongo's grazing lands seasonally for their cattle herds, while Nama (Khoekhoe) groups from the south extended trade routes and herding activities northward into the area, often displacing or dominating Damara communities through superior livestock numbers and firearms acquired via Cape Colony contacts.^[22] German colonization began with the proclamation of South West Africa as a protectorate in 1884, following Adolf Lüderitz's acquisition of coastal territories, though effective control in Erongo lagged until infrastructure development.^[23] Swakopmund was established in 1892 by Captain Curt von François as the colony's primary harbor and administrative center, serving as a gateway for settlers and troops due to its natural lagoon and proximity to the interior, with initial fortifications and a jetty completed by 1895 to facilitate imports.^[24] To penetrate the hinterland, German authorities constructed the narrow-gauge (600 mm) State Railway from Swakopmund northward to Otavi (for copper mining) by 1902 and southward to Windhoek via Karibib and Usakos in the Erongo District, enabling troop movements and resource extraction but straining local water supplies and displacing indigenous grazing routes. The Herero uprising of January 1904, centered in central Namibia under Samuel Maharero, and the subsequent Nama rebellion led by Hendrik Witbooi from 1905, had peripheral effects on Erongo, where Damara groups largely avoided direct conflict and some allied with German forces against Herero raiders encroaching on western pastures; German counteroffensives, including scorched-earth tactics, disrupted regional trade but spared Erongo's coastal settlements from major devastation.^[25] Following South African forces' conquest of the territory by 1915 during World War I, administration transitioned to a League of Nations mandate in 1920, with Erongo benefiting from railway gauge conversions to Cape standard (1,067 mm) by the 1920s, extending lines for phosphate exports from Walvis Bay (a pre-existing British enclave administered by South Africa since 1884) and improving connectivity to the interior.^[26] Under South African rule, which emphasized settler farming and mining concessions, indigenous land use in Erongo remained restricted, with reserves allocated to Damara but overshadowed by European coastal developments until Namibian independence in 1990.^[22]

Mining Development and Independence

The Rössing uranium mine in the Erongo Region commenced operations in 1976 under South African administration, marking the onset of large-scale resource extraction in the area during the apartheid era.^[27] Developed by Rio Tinto, the open-pit mine exploited alaskite-hosted uranium deposits discovered in the 1920s but deemed viable only after intensive exploration in the 1960s, with production ramping up amid global nuclear energy demand.^[27] This development spurred initial infrastructure growth, including roads and worker housing near Swakopmund, laying foundational logistics for subsequent mining activities in the arid coastal desert.^[28] Following Namibia's independence in 1990, Rössing continued as a cornerstone operation, with ownership evolving through foreign stakes; by 2019, China National Uranium Corporation acquired majority control at 68.6%, reflecting sustained international interest in Erongo's uranium reserves.^[27] Concurrently, the Langer Heinrich mine began production in 2007 under Australian firm Paladin Energy, targeting secondary uranium mineralization in paleochannels, and contributed to export-oriented growth until low prices prompted care-and-maintenance status in 2018.^[29] Restart efforts advanced in 2022, yielding first uranium concentrate shipments by March 2024, with full ramp-up projected for 2027, thereby reinvigorating local processing capabilities.^[30] The Husab mine, operational from late 2016 under Swakop Uranium, further expanded extraction via Chinese investment from China General Nuclear Power Corporation, processing intrusive-hosted ores adjacent to Rössing.^[31] Post-independence policies facilitated transitions toward greater Namibian participation, with state-owned Epangelo Mining Company securing equity stakes, such as 10% in Husab and options for up to 10% in other Erongo projects, to align foreign capital with national resource sovereignty.^[32] These investments from Australian, Chinese, and other entities catalyzed phased infrastructure enhancements, including power and water supply extensions, directly linking uranium booms to regional logistical maturation while maintaining export dependency.^[27]

Government and Politics

Regional Administration

The Erongo Region is administered by the Erongo Regional Council (ERC), established under Namibia's Decentralisation Policy of 1997, which devolves certain powers from the central government to regional levels for functions including planning, budgeting, infrastructure development, and service delivery in areas such as health, education, and roads.^[33] The ERC operates from its head office in Swakopmund and is structured with a Chief Regional Officer overseeing daily operations, supported by two directorates focused on technical services and community development.^[34] The region is subdivided into seven constituencies—Arandis, Dâures, Karibib, Omaruru, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay Rural, and Walvis Bay Urban—for electoral and administrative purposes, with regional councilors elected from these areas every five years to form the council's management committee.^[1] The council elects a chairperson from among the councilors to lead decision-making on regional matters.^[35] The Regional Governor, appointed by the President of Namibia pursuant to Article 110 of the Constitution, serves as the executive head, delivering annual State of the Region Addresses and facilitating coordination between the ERC and central government on national priorities including security, environmental resource management, and alignment with frameworks like the National Development Plan.^[36] In September 2025, the ERC launched its 2025–2030 Strategic Plan, supported by a N$487.7 million development budget, emphasizing improved service delivery, infrastructure upgrades, and sustainable resource utilization in line with devolved powers while integrating national directives.^[37]^[38]

Electoral Districts and Outcomes

The Erongo Region is subdivided into seven electoral constituencies for the purposes of regional council elections: Arandis, Dâures, Karibib, Omaruru, Swakopmund, Walvis Bay Rural, and Walvis Bay Urban. Each constituency elects a single councillor to the regional council, which consists of these seven members responsible for local governance matters.^[39]^[1] In the regional council elections held on November 25, 2020, the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO) secured a majority of seats, maintaining its dominance in the region despite a notable decline in support compared to previous cycles. Voter turnout was low at 35.2 percent, with 42,154 valid votes cast across the constituencies. Opposition parties, including the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM) and Independent Patriots for Change (IPC), achieved stronger performances in urban coastal areas such as Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, where local authority elections saw non-SWAPO majorities in some councils.^[40]^[41]^[42] The 2024 national assembly and presidential elections, conducted on November 27, 2024 (extended to December 2 in some areas), highlighted shifting dynamics in Erongo's urban constituencies. IPC presidential candidate Panduleni Itula won in Swakopmund and Walvis Bay Urban, outperforming SWAPO's Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah in these areas, which underscores opposition appeal amid economic grievances in port and tourism hubs. Regionally, Erongo recorded high participation in special voting exercises, contributing to a national turnout of 76.5 percent among registered voters. These outcomes indicate that while SWAPO retains rural strongholds like Dâures and Omaruru, coastal urban voters increasingly favor alternatives, influencing broader regional political trends.^[43]^[44]^[45]

Political Controversies

In 2025, the Erongo Regional Council faced significant scrutiny over allegations of corruption and mismanagement, exemplified by the arrest and resignation of chairperson Tegako Donatus on charges of fraud, theft, and money laundering.^[46]^[47] Donatus, also an Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) councillor, was accused of misusing council credit cards for personal expenses including cosmetics and groceries, and fraudulently awarding 10 procurement contracts to companies Rome Investments and Chilongola Limited, resulting in unauthorized payments.^[48]^[49] These irregularities, uncovered through internal audits and police investigations, prompted resident protests demanding accountability and the council's dissolution, highlighting perceived failures in oversight despite Erongo Governor Nathalia Goagoses's public calls for stronger anti-corruption measures.^[50]^[51] Opposition parties have critiqued the South West Africa People's Organization (SWAPO)'s entrenched dominance in Erongo, arguing it fosters complacency and internal factionalism that undermines governance. SWAPO, which lost ground in the region during the 2020 regional elections to the IPC and other challengers, experienced heightened infighting in 2025 that delayed candidate selections for local authority polls, with party secretary-general Sophia Shaningwa attempting to rally support to reclaim influence.^[52]^[53] Critics from the IPC and Landless People's Movement (LPM) contend that SWAPO's long hold, spanning decades since independence, has prioritized patronage over transparent administration, as evidenced by recurring procurement scandals and unaddressed community grievances like land evictions in Walvis Bay, which Governor Goagoses urged residents not to politicize.^[54] SWAPO defenders attribute such issues to individual misconduct rather than systemic flaws, emphasizing the party's role in regional development. Tensions escalated during the November 2024 national elections, with opposition groups raising concerns over voter registration and polling irregularities in Erongo's mining towns like Swakopmund and Usakos, where transient worker populations complicated verification.^[55] Although national in scope, these disputes— including ballot shortages and extended voting—drew local accusations of disenfranchisement favoring SWAPO strongholds, prompting IPC and LPM challenges in court for access to electoral data.^[56] SWAPO maintained that logistical issues were resolved without bias, but opposition analyses highlighted Erongo's shifting dynamics, where urban and mining demographics have eroded the party's traditional margins since 2020.^[45] These events underscore broader debates on electoral integrity amid SWAPO's efforts to consolidate control in resource-dependent areas.

Economy

Primary Industries

The Erongo Region's primary industries are dominated by mining, particularly uranium extraction, which drives a substantial portion of Namibia's mineral exports and economic output. The Rössing Uranium Mine, operational since 1976, and the Husab Mine, which ramped up production in the 2010s, together account for a significant share of global uranium supply, with Namibia's mines contributing about 10% of world output as of 2023.^[27] In 2023, uranium mining in Erongo employed 6,520 people directly, generating multiplier effects such as an average of seven additional jobs per mining position in supporting sectors like procurement and logistics.^[57] Nationally, mining—including Erongo's uranium operations—contributed approximately 12% to GDP in 2023, underscoring the region's causal role in export earnings and foreign exchange, though capital-intensive operations limit broader labor absorption.^[58] Offshore diamond mining along Erongo's Atlantic coast, primarily by Debmarine Namibia, extracts marine diamonds from seabed gravels using specialized vessels, yielding high-value gems that bolster Namibia's position as a top global producer. Operations have recovered tens of millions of carats since 2002, with deposits concentrated in concessions off Walvis Bay and Lüderitz, contributing to the sector's 3.9% share of national GDP from diamonds in recent years.^[59] Salt production at Walvis Bay Salt Works, Africa's largest solar-evaporated sea salt facility, outputs over 1.1 million metric tonnes annually by pumping seawater into evaporation ponds, supporting industrial and export markets while employing local workers in a low-tech extraction process.^[60] The fishing industry, centered on Walvis Bay's harbor, processes hake, horse mackerel, and other pelagic species, contributing around 4.1% to national GDP in 2024 through quotas and exports, though declining stocks have reduced output from prior years.^[61] This sector sustains processing plants and small-scale operations but faces quota constraints, limiting expansion. Agriculture remains marginal due to the region's aridity and poor soils, confining activities to subsistence livestock grazing and limited irrigated plots, with most households relying on non-agricultural income.^[62] Despite mining's job creation, Erongo's unemployment rate stood at 32% in 2023, reflecting structural mismatches between extractive employment and the broader labor force.^[63]

Infrastructure and Trade

The Port of Walvis Bay functions as Namibia's principal commercial harbor and the logistical hub for the Erongo Region, accommodating approximately 899 vessels annually and processing around 8 million tonnes of cargo per year.^[64] This facility supports regional and landlocked southern African trade through dedicated terminals for containers, bulk cargo, and fishing vessels.^[64] For the financial year ending March 2024, the Namibian Ports Authority recorded a total throughput of 8 million tonnes across its operations, with Walvis Bay handling the majority.^[65] Road and rail networks link the port to inland destinations, including Windhoek, via the B2 trunk road and the northern railway corridor, facilitating efficient cargo distribution.^[66] The Walvis Bay Corridor Group oversees these multimodal routes, which extend to neighboring countries like Zambia and Botswana.^[66] Airports at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund provide supplementary air freight and passenger services, with Walvis Bay Airport upgraded to handle larger aircraft.^[66] Seawater desalination addresses chronic water shortages critical for port and industrial operations; the Erongo Desalination Plant, operational since approximately 2010, supplies up to 20 million cubic meters annually for mining and urban use.^[67] A larger facility, set for completion in 2026, will produce 25 million cubic meters per year to bolster regional capacity.^[68] Recent port enhancements include the 2019 container terminal expansion, increasing capacity to 750,000 TEUs, and 2025 investments in mobile harbour cranes to improve handling efficiency.^[69]^[70] These upgrades, partly funded through public-private partnerships, aim to accommodate larger vessels and rising transit volumes.^[71]

Economic Challenges and Growth

The Erongo Region has experienced robust economic expansion driven by uranium mining, particularly following global price surges after 2000, which spurred the development of major operations like Rössing and Husab. This sector's growth contributed to Namibia's overall uranium output rising to account for about 10% of global supply by 2023, with Erongo hosting key facilities that boosted regional economic activity through exports and infrastructure investments.^[27]^[72] Despite national GDP per capita averaging around $4,168 in 2023, Erongo's mining concentration has elevated local output, though precise regional figures remain tied to volatile commodity cycles rather than broad-based prosperity.^[73] Persistent challenges include acute water scarcity, exacerbated by mining demands in this arid coastal area, leading to operational disruptions such as temporary halts at Rössing and Langer Heinrich mines amid regional shortages. In recent years, Erongo's annual water needs for mines and communities have reached 20 million cubic meters, prompting desalination initiatives but highlighting dependency on external supplies vulnerable to droughts and infrastructure delays.^[74]^[75] Job precariousness in mining stems from cyclical employment tied to metal prices and ore grades, compounded by skills shortages in areas like engineering and geology, which threaten sector sustainability despite expansion plans.^[76]^[77] Efforts to diversify into tourism have provided some resilience, employing roughly 8% of Namibia's workforce nationally in 2022 with Erongo benefiting from attractions like the Skeleton Coast, though the sector remains susceptible to global shocks such as pandemics or recessions that curb visitor numbers. High inequality endures, with mining regions like Erongo showing net labor outflows due to limited non-extractive jobs, perpetuating reliance on foreign investment and exposing growth to external risks like fluctuating uranium demand.^[78]^[79] This resource dependency underscores the need for broader skill development and infrastructure to mitigate boom-bust cycles, as evidenced by ongoing skills gaps hindering local participation in high-value roles.^[76]

Demographics

Population Statistics

The Erongo Region recorded a population of 150,809 in the 2011 Namibia Population and Housing Census conducted by the Namibia Statistics Agency.^[80] By the 2023 Population and Housing Census, this figure had risen to 240,206, reflecting a 59.3% increase over the 12-year period, driven primarily by internal migration toward coastal economic hubs rather than high natural growth rates.^[81] ^[80] Spanning 63,639 square kilometers, the region's population density stood at approximately 2.37 persons per square kilometer in 2011 and increased to 3.77 persons per square kilometer in 2023, remaining among Namibia's lowest due to vast arid interior expanses.^[81] Population distribution is heavily skewed toward urban coastal areas, with Swakopmund hosting 75,921 residents and Walvis Bay (combining urban and rural segments) accounting for over 100,000, together comprising more than half of the region's total populace.^[82] ^[81] In contrast, inland constituencies like Daures and Omaruru maintain densities below 2 persons per square kilometer, underscoring rural sparsity beyond mining settlements.^[82] This urban-rural disparity aligns with migration inflows tied to port activities and uranium mining, which boosted constituency-level growth rates exceeding 50% in Walvis Bay Urban and Swakopmund between censuses, per Namibia Statistics Agency breakdowns.^[81] Preliminary intercensal analyses indicate sustained net in-migration, with the region's share of Namibia's total population rising from 6.4% in 2011 to 8.0% in 2023 amid national urbanization trends.^[80]

Ethnic Composition and Urbanization

The Erongo Region exhibits a diverse ethnic composition reflective of Namibia's broader demographic patterns, with significant representation from Bantu-speaking groups such as the Aakwanyama (19.3% of the population) and Aandonga (9.8%), alongside Khoisan-related Damara (12.9%) and pastoralist Ovaherero (9.4%).^[81] Coloured (5.9%) and White (6.1%) communities constitute notable minorities, the latter exceeding the national average due to historical German colonial settlement in coastal areas like Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, where Afrikaans- and German-speaking descendants predominate in service and tourism sectors.^[81] Inland areas feature higher concentrations of indigenous Damara and Nama (2.5%), often engaged in herding, while urban influxes draw Ovambo subgroups from northern Namibia for mining and port labor, driven by economic opportunities in uranium extraction and fishing. A small expatriate Chinese presence, tied to investments in projects like Swakop Uranium, supports mining operations but remains marginal in overall demographics.^[32] Urbanization in Erongo stands at 89.3% as of the 2023 census, up from 87.4% in 2011, positioning it among Namibia's most urbanized regions owing to coastal hubs like Walvis Bay (over 100,000 residents) and Swakopmund (nearly 76,000), which function as logistics and tourism nodes.^[81] This shift stems from causal pulls of resource industries—uranium mines inland and harbor activities—concentrating populations in formal settlements, while sparse rural pockets sustain traditional herder communities among Herero and Damara groups. Smaller towns like Omaruru and Karibib absorb overflow but highlight uneven development, with rural areas comprising just 10.7% of the populace.^[81] Demographic imbalances underscore labor migration dynamics, with an overall sex ratio of 104 males per 100 females, skewing more male-dominated (56.9%) in rural zones due to itinerant mining work, contrasted by near parity (50.3% male) in urban centers where families settle.^[81] Youthful profiles, with median ages around 27 years, amplify pressures on urban infrastructure, as migrant inflows from ethnically homogeneous rural origins blend into multi-ethnic coastal enclaves, fostering service-oriented economies over subsistence pastoralism.^[81]

Culture and Society

Indigenous Traditions and Influences

The Damara people, recognized as among Namibia's earliest inhabitants in the Damaraland area of Erongo, maintain traditions rooted in hunter-gatherer practices transitioned to herding and agriculture, evidenced by their Khoekhoe language and oral histories documenting adaptation to the arid interior.^[83] These histories, transmitted through generations, emphasize communal resource sharing and spiritual connections to landscapes like the Brandberg Mountain, a site of sacred significance.^[20] Rock art in Erongo, primarily attributed to San (Bushmen) forebears intertwined with Damara heritage, features polychrome paintings in shelters such as those at Brandberg, including the circa 2,000–4,000-year-old White Lady depiction of ritual figures and animals, illustrating hunting, trance dances, and environmental knowledge.^[84] Similar engravings and paintings in Erongo Mountains and Twyfelfontein, with over 2,000 preserved motifs from 6,000 years ago, portray giraffes, elephants, and human figures, serving as verifiable records of prehistoric mobility and symbolism rather than mere decoration.^[85] These artifacts, studied through archaeological surveys, underscore causal adaptations to scarce water and game in the region's granite inselbergs.^[86] Herero pastoralists, present in Erongo's fringes through historical migrations, center traditions on cattle as measures of wealth and lineage, with practices like selective breeding and transhumance modified for desert resilience via water-point management and drought-resistant breeds since pre-colonial times.^[87] This cattle-focused economy influences social rituals, including inheritance rites favoring matrilineal kin for herds, though empirical data limits their density compared to central Namibia.^[88] German colonial imprints endure in Swakopmund's built environment, where structures like the 1905 State House and railway station exemplify imperial neoclassical design, constructed 1892–1915 to facilitate harbor operations and settlement.^[89] Cultural echoes include beer-brewing techniques and seasonal events evoking protectorate-era gatherings, preserved amid the town's 19th-century layout. Afrikaans, from post-1915 South African rule, permeates informal exchanges in trade and labor, blending with local vernaculars. Erongo's linguistic fabric reflects mobility, with English as the official medium alongside Damara (Khoekhoegowab) in rural Damaraland, Oshiwambo dialects among northern migrant workers in ports and mines comprising up to 49% national household usage, and German prevalent in Swakopmund's bilingual signage and commerce due to descendant communities.^[90] This multilingualism, documented in 2011 census patterns extrapolated regionally, facilitates economic interactions without supplanting indigenous oral forms.^[91] The Erongo Region features a network of primary, secondary, and vocational schools, with urban centers like Swakopmund and Walvis Bay benefiting from higher enrollment and infrastructure compared to rural areas. Literacy rates for individuals aged 15 and older stood at 92% in 2001, reflecting strong foundational education access, though recent national data indicates sustained high adult literacy around 92% amid persistent rural-urban disparities in school attendance and quality. Vocational training is prominent, particularly through the Namibian Institute of Mining and Technology (NIMT) in Arandis, which delivers hands-on programs in artisan skills tailored to the region's mining sector, including mechanics, welding, and electrical trades to address skill shortages in uranium and other extractive industries.^[92]^[93]^[94] Health services in Erongo are provided via public clinics and hospitals, such as those in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, focusing on occupational hazards from mining activities, including respiratory conditions like silicosis and tuberculosis prevalent among workers exposed to dust and silica. HIV prevalence aligns closely with national estimates of approximately 9.7% among adults aged 15-49 as of 2023, with mining communities showing elevated transmission risks due to labor mobility and associated behaviors, prompting targeted interventions like testing and antiretroviral distribution. Clinics address these through specialized programs, though access remains uneven in remote mining outposts.^[95]^[96] Social services emphasize grants for vulnerable groups, including old-age pensions, disability allowances, and child maintenance under Namibia's social protection framework, but lack comprehensive coverage for the unemployed aged 18-59, leaving gaps in a region with youth unemployment driving demand for initiatives like the National Youth Fund. Pilot basic income grants, such as the N$100 program evaluated in 2025, have been critiqued for potentially fostering dependency by reducing work incentives without sufficient conditions, as noted in National Council assessments proposing expansions alongside employment schemes. Local efforts in towns like Usakos integrate vocational elements into welfare to mitigate these risks.^[97]^[98]^[99]

Environmental Issues

Resource Extraction Impacts

Uranium mining in the Erongo Region, centered on operations like the Rössing mine, has led to elevated uranium concentrations in groundwater samples exceeding World Health Organization guidelines for drinking water, primarily from seepage in tailings facilities.^[100] Seepage from unlined tailings dams introduces radioactive contaminants into shallow aquifers, with modeled migration rates indicating potential spread to deeper groundwater layers and coastal areas at velocities up to 76.4 meters per year.^[101] In the Gawib area near mining sites, hydrochemical and isotopic analyses confirm uranium contamination originating from these unlined tailings structures.^[102] A significant incident occurred on January 17, 2014, when a catastrophic structural failure of a leach tank at Rössing released a major spill of acidic ore slurry, posing risks of soil and water acidification in the surrounding Namib Desert environment.^[103] Dust generated from open-pit extraction and tailings management carries radioactive particles, creating inhalation hazards for nearby populations through airborne dispersion.^[104] Open-pit uranium mining disrupts arid ecosystems in the region, including habitat fragmentation and alteration of surface processes critical to desert flora and fauna adapted to fog-dependent water sources.^[105] In the vicinity of the Namib Naukluft National Park, exploration and extraction activities have interfered with ecological connectivity, exacerbating vulnerability for endemic species reliant on intact dune and gravel plain habitats.^[106] Epidemiological assessments of Rössing mine workers indicate exposure to low-level radiation and uranium dust, with independent estimates projecting lifetime fatal cancer risks ranging from 1 in 25 to as high as 1 in 9 based on cumulative doses.^[104] However, a comprehensive study reviewing lung cancer and other malignancies among the workforce found no persuasive empirical evidence linking mine-specific exposures to elevated incidence rates.^[107] Community concerns persist over non-occupational pathways, such as radon exhalation from waste rock dumps affecting tourists and residents near operational sites.^[108]

Conservation and Sustainability Efforts

The Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) for the central Namib uranium province, developed as an outcome of a Strategic Environmental Assessment, provides a framework for managing cumulative impacts from uranium mining in the Erongo Region. Implemented by the Namibian Uranium Association, the SEMP monitors multiple environmental quality objectives (EQOs) to balance socio-economic benefits with ecological protection, including objectives aimed at preventing long-term degradation of arid ecosystems. Annual reports track progress, with empirical data showing adherence in areas like dust control and rehabilitation, though challenges in groundwater quality persist.^[109]^[110] Protected areas form a cornerstone of conservation in Erongo, encompassing national parks such as the Skeleton Coast National Park, which safeguards unique desert-adapted species and coastal habitats, and the Cape Cross Seal Reserve, protecting one of Africa's largest Cape fur seal colonies. Complementing these are four communal conservancies and private initiatives like the Erongo Mountain Nature Sanctuary, which reintroduce indigenous wildlife and restrict land use to promote biodiversity. These efforts have empirically increased wildlife populations in some reserves, with community-based management generating revenue through sustainable tourism.^[111]^[112] Sustainable water management in mining relies on desalination to mitigate aquifer depletion, with the Erongo Desalination Plant—operational since 2010 and supplying up to 20 million cubic meters annually—providing seawater-derived water to uranium operations like those of Orano Mining. This shift has reduced groundwater extraction by mines, preserving local supplies amid aridity, and recent upgrades incorporate solar power for lower emissions. A second plant, under construction since January 2025, aims to further enhance capacity and resilience.^[113]^[114] Enforcement of regulations reveals mixed outcomes, with authorities issuing fines for violations such as illegal mining in protected areas like Dorob National Park, yet reports indicate recurring infractions, including unauthorized lithium extraction by firms like Xinfeng Investments in 2024. Community conservancies have petitioned for stricter halts on mining in wildlife zones, highlighting gaps in compliance monitoring. Radiation controls, governed by the Atomic Energy Act of 2005, undergo site-specific assessments, with IAEA-reviewed data from Rössing Mine demonstrating doses below occupational limits, though seepage risks necessitate vigilant groundwater surveillance. Empirical evidence from SEMP audits and IAEA engagements underscores progress in risk mitigation but underscores the need for robust deterrence against persistent breaches to achieve long-term sustainability.^[115]^[116]^[117]

References

[1]
[PDF] Erongo Regional Profile 2022 - Projekt Firmengruppe
Aug 23, 2023 · The Erongo Region is rich in resources, infrastructure and people, boasting a diverse range of topography, fauna and flora and.
[2]
[PDF] ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
Jul 26, 2024 · Erongo region is the fifth populous region, whose population in 2011 was 150 809 and grew to 240 206 representing 59.3 % change and 7.9% of ...
[3]
Skeleton Coast Park - Namibia Tourism Board
Feb 21, 2022 · Skeleton Coast Park, 500km long, has windswept beaches, shipwrecks, lichen fields, and is home to elephants, rhino, and lion. It also has the ...
[4]
Portal to economic growth in Namibia - Erongo Regional Council
The Erongo Region is taking rapid and giant strides towards establishing itself as Namibia's new hub for economic growth.
[5]
Erongo Region | Namibia - NamibWeb.com
Erongo is one of the 13 regions of Namibia. It comprises the Swakopmund magisterial district up to the Ugab River and includes Walvis Bay, Omaruru and Karibib ...Missing: geographical | Show results with:geographical
[6]
Geography - Erongo Regional Council
The Brandberg, with its tallest peak Königstein at 2,606 m above sea level, is Namibia's highest mountain It is composed of a single mass of granite that rose ...
[7]
Geology highlights in the Erongo Region, Namibia | Copernicus
Nov 14, 2020 · In the Erongo Region, the bedrocks are the result of the volcanic activity of the Spitzkoppe and Erongo volcanoes about 130 millions years ago: ...
[8]
Königstein, Namibia - Peakbagger.com
Elevation: 2573 meters, 8442 feet ; Name Info, Local or Alternate Name(s): Alternate: Brandberg ; Elevation Info, Summit: 2573.2 meters. Notes: 30 minute dGPS ...Missing: height | Show results with:height
[9]
Königstein (Brandberg) - NAMIBIA - Spectacular Mountains
Feb 3, 2018 · At an official elevation of 2573 m above sea-level, the summit of the Königstein (German for “king's stone”) is Namibia's highest point. It ...Missing: height | Show results with:height
[10]
Geology and Mineralization of the Recently Discovered Rössing ...
Jan 1, 2010 · All the granite-hosted uranium deposits found in the Erongo region are located in the southern part of the central zone of the Damara orogen, ...
[11]
Rare earth elements in uranium ore deposits from Namibia
The uranium mineralization is concentrated in the Central Zone of the Pan-African Damara Orogen (Fig. 1). The Central Zone of the Pan-African Damara Orogen is ...
[12]
Probing the Fog Life Cycles in the Namib Desert in - AMS Journals
Dec 1, 2019 · At the eastern border of the Namib, annual rainfall is typically around 100 mm and decreases toward the coast to values <<50 mm (Lancaster et al ...
[13]
Erongo, NA Climate Zone, Monthly Weather Averages and Historical ...
Erongo typically receives about 9.45 millimeters (0.37 inches) of precipitation and has 18.63 rainy days (5.1% of the time) annually. Country, Namibia.Missing: fog | Show results with:fog<|separator|>
[14]
Climate and Weather of Namibia
The Caprivi Strip (and also the Kavango area) in the northeast has the highest rainfall with up to 600 mm and in the far northeast even up to 800 mm annually.
[15]
Hentiesbaai Weather Today | Temperature & Climate Conditions
Henties Bay's climate is characterized by mild temperatures, minimal rainfall, consistent winds, abundant sunshine, and occasional fog.
[16]
Welwitschia Mirabilis - Centuries old desert plant - Info-Namibia
The Welwitschia Mirabilis is a plant which is endemic to the Namib desert in Namibia and Southern Angola. Named after Friedrich Welwitsch who "discovered" the ...
[17]
Welwitschia mirabilis - Kew Gardens
' Many desert dwelling animals, such as zebras, oryx and black rhinoceros, feed on the leaves of Welwitschia for a vital source of water.
[18]
(PDF) Towards understanding rainfall variability in Namibia
The rainy-season mean monthly rainfall showed predominantly increasing trends, while the dry-season ones exhibited insignificant decreasing trends. The study ...
[19]
[PDF] NAMIBIA - Climate Change Knowledge Portal
Both rainfall and temperature in Namibia are sensitive to the El Niño–Southern. Oscillation (ENSO) effect, and rainfall is below average during El Niño ...
[20]
[PDF] Understanding Damara / ‡Nūkhoen and ||Ubun indigeneity and ...
Damara / ΦNūkhoen (and very small numbers of ||Ubun) are a proportion of the 11.8% of Namibia's population (244 769 of 2 066 389) recorded in 2010 as speaking ' ...
[21]
Namibian Timeline - South African History Online
Feb 4, 2015 · New evidence of two teeth of domestic animals found in the Erongo Mountains in central Namibia in 2012 shifts the evidence of pastoralists ...
[22]
Damara people - AFRICA | 101 Last Tribes
History ... Damara," meaning mountain Damara. Following the German rule over colonial Namibia, the first Damara reserve was created in 1906 around Okombahe area.
[23]
Namibia: A timeline of Germany's brutal colonial history - DW
Sep 22, 2021 · 1884/85: Following the Berlin Conference, the territory of present-day Namibia becomes a protectorate of the German Empire called German South ...Missing: Erongo | Show results with:Erongo
[24]
Swakopmund: Two Views (c. 1905 and c. 1908) - GHDI - Image
Founded in 1892, Swakopmund was the main harbor and second largest town (after Windhoek) in German Southwest Africa, the former German colony known today as ...
[25]
[PDF] Colonial Repercussions: Namibia - ECCHR
A few examples of the atrocities committed during German colonial rule in the areas known as Hereroland and Namaland that, in my opinion, constitute the crime ...
[26]
Looking back: A short history of Namibia's rail network - Republikein
Feb 11, 2025 · The South African authorities converted much of the German narrow-gauge network to the Cape gauge (1,067 mm), standardising it with the broader ...
[27]
Uranium in Namibia - World Nuclear Association
Nov 14, 2023 · Rössing. Rössing Uranium Ltd was formed in 1970 (68.6% China National Uranium Corporation Limited – CNUC, 15% Iranian Foreign Investment Co., ...
[28]
[PDF] A Lived Legacy - Rossing Uranium
Rössing has lived this reality to the full since opening the mine in 1976, and the Rössing Foundation in 1978. The legacies of Rössing lie equally in the world- ...
[29]
Langer Heinrich - Uranium Royalty Corp.
The mine was officially opened in March 2007. On May 25, 2018, Paladin announced that the Langer Heinrich Mine was to be placed on care and maintenance and ...
[30]
[PDF] Langer Heinrich Mine makes first post-restart shipment of uranium ...
Jul 7, 2024 · The production and drumming of the uranium concentrate was completed on. 30 March 2024, marking a crucial step in. Langer Heinrich's operational ...
[31]
Husab produces first uranium oxide - The Namibian
Jan 25, 2017 · SWAKOP Uranium, the owner of the Husab Uranium mine in the Erongo region produced its first drum of uranium oxide in December. The company ...<|separator|>
[32]
https://english.news.cn/africa/20251023/2caba96e46b346a6b9303380fd5fb611/c.html
[33]
Who are we? - Erongo Regional Council
The Erongo Regional Council (ERC) is further guided by a Decentralisation Policy adopted by National Assembly of the Republic of Namibia in 1997.
[34]
Head Office - Erongo Regional Council
The administration of the Erongo Regional Council is headed by the Chief Regional Officer. The Erongo Regional Council has two directorates.Missing: Namibia | Show results with:Namibia
[35]
Donatus retains Erongo Regional Council chairperson position ...
Aug 18, 2025 · By Adolf Kaure. Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) Walvis Bay Rural Constituency Councillor, Hon. Florian Donatus has maintained his position ...
[36]
State of the Region Address - Erongo Region - YouTube
Aug 15, 2024 · The SORAs are done per the Namibian Constitution, Article 110, Sub-Article (5), which states that "the Regional Governor shall address the ...Missing: structure | Show results with:structure
[37]
Erongo launches N$487m strategic plan - Namibian Sun
Sep 9, 2025 · The Erongo Regional Council launched its five-year strategic plan on 3 September, alongside its 2025–2030 budget, which is set at over N$487 ...
[38]
ERC launches N.dollars 487 million developmental plan - NAMPA
Sep 4, 2025 · WALVIS BAY, 04 SEP (NAMPA) – The Erongo Regional Council (ERC) has launched its five-year 2025-2030 Strategic Plan backed by a N.dollars ...
[39]
REGIONAL & LOCAL GOVERNEMENT - Gov.na - Portal Ariel
Erongo. Arandis; Daures; Karibib; Omaruru; Swakopmund; Walvis Bay Rural; Walvis Bay Urban. Hardap. Aranos; Daweb; Gibeon; Mariental Rural; Mariental Urban ...
[40]
https://x.com/namibiansun/status/1981601554734907470
[41]
The Changing Political Landscape - IPPR
Dec 13, 2020 · The recent local and regional elections produced few surprises. Swapo would have been hoping to maintain the 65% of the popular vote they achieved in 2019's ...<|separator|>
[42]
Namibia Regional and Local Elections 2020 – The Decline of the ...
Namibia held its regional council and local authority elections on 25 November, 2020. An overview of the results shows a significant decline in electoral ...
[43]
IPC wins in Swakopmund, Walvis Bay - New Era
Dec 4, 2024 · The Independent Patriots for Change (IPC) on Monday night emerged the leading party in the Swakopmund and Walvis Bay constituencies in the latest results from ...
[44]
Erongo leads voter turnout of in special voting exercise - NAMPA
Nov 15, 2024 · WINDHOEK, 15 NOV (NAMPA) – The Erongo Region recorded the highest voter turnout in Wednesday's special election with 2 542 voters, ...
[45]
Analysis: Namibia's 2024 General Elections - Investigation Unit
Dec 8, 2024 · Voter turnout was strong, with just over one million votes cast. This represents 76.5% of registered voters, or 68.6% of the voting-age population.
[46]
Erongo Regional Council Chairperson Tegako Donatus Resigns
Oct 15, 2025 · Donatus is currently facing fraud and money laundering charges in the Swakopmund Magistrate's Court. Keep up with the latest headlines on ...
[47]
Donatus spent council money on cosmetics and groceries
Oct 6, 2025 · Donatus was arrested last month and released on bail of N$50 000. The allegations are linked to misuse of council funds and poor administration ...
[48]
IPC councillor Tegako arrested over credit card fraud ARRESTED
Sep 22, 2025 · "The current charges relate to 10 contracts fraudulently awarded to the companies; Rome Investments and Chilongola Limited; which were paid ...
[49]
Councillor arrested on fraud and theft charges - NAMPA
... charges of fraud, theft and money laundering. Donatus is also the chairperson of the Erongo Regional Council Management Committee. NamPol's Regional Police ...
[50]
Erongo residents demand action over alleged council corruption - nbc
Aug 18, 2025 · ... against what they describe as widespread corruption and mismanagement at the Erongo Regional Council. The uproar comes in the wake of the ...
[51]
Erongo Governor urges strategic fight against corruption and fraud
Oct 7, 2025 · ... political will to enforce it. "We must empower our institutions like Namibia's ACC with independence, adequate resources, and unwavering ...
[52]
Democracy Beyond Swapo in Namibia
Dec 21, 2020 · The southern regions of Hardap and //Karas were seized by LPM. The country's central-western Erongo region went to the IPC, which also made some ...Missing: controversies | Show results with:controversies
[53]
Swapo infighting in Erongo derails election preparations - Namibia
Sep 11, 2025 · With the November local authority elections approaching, internal conflict in the Swapo party has delayed candidate selection and forced the ...
[54]
Goagoses has called on residents not to politicize the eviction of 50 ...
Aug 1, 2025 · Erongo Governor Nathalia |Goagoses has called on residents not to politicize the eviction of 50 people from private land at Walvis Bay.
[55]
Namibia faces election chaos as voting extended after 'irregularities'
Nov 30, 2024 · Tensions are mounting in Namibia after a controversial extension of presidential and parliamentary elections into the weekend owing to “irregularities” that ...
[56]
Court rules Namibia opposition parties can inspect election data
Dec 13, 2024 · Two Namibian opposition parties that are seeking to challenge the result of elections last month won a court order on Friday allowing them ...Missing: Erongo disputes
[57]
Erongo's uranium mining sector thriving - Namibian Sun
Aug 22, 2024 · In 2023, it provided employment to 6 520 people. Each job in the mining sector creates an average of seven additional jobs in the supply ...Missing: statistics | Show results with:statistics
[58]
Uranium Mining in Namibia - Snow lake Energy
Mar 4, 2024 · In 2023, mining contributed approximately 12% of Namibia's GDP and employs approximately 16,000 people. ... The Husab Uranium Mine and the Rossing ...
[59]
How diamonds are mined from the bottom of Atlantic ocean - CNN
Sep 4, 2018 · Since operations began in 2002, Debmarine Namibia has extracted nearly 16 million carats of marine diamonds from the ocean. De Beers Group.Missing: Erongo | Show results with:Erongo
[60]
https://www.republikein.com.na/mw-main/namibia%25E2%2580%2599s-largest-salt-producer-eyes-12-growth2025-10-21174313
[61]
Namibia's fishing sector GDP contribution drops to 4.1% in 2024
Aug 20, 2025 · Fishing Industry's GDP Contribution Takes a Small Dip The contribution of Namibia's fishing sector to GDP decreased from 4.5% in 2023 to 4.1 ...
[62]
Agriculture - Erongo Regional Council
About 47 percent of the active Namibian population depends on agricultural activities for their livelihood. Most of them are in the subsistence sector.
[63]
Erongo governor urges use of census data to tackle unemployment
Sep 25, 2025 · Ntelamo said the unemployment rate of 32% will serve as a key measure to design targeted interventions across constituencies. /Goagoses said the ...
[64]
Welcome to the Port of Walvis Bay - Namibian Ports Authority
This is Namibia's largest commercial port, receiving 899 vessels and handling about 8 million tonnes of cargo per annum. The Authority complies with the ...
[65]
New record for Namport ‣ WorldCargo News
May 15, 2024 · The Namibian Ports Authority (Namport) handled a record-breaking 8 million tonnes of cargo during the financial year ending 31 March 2024.Missing: volume | Show results with:volume
[66]
Infrastructure - Erongo Regional Council
The Corridor road infrastructure is supported by the northern railway ... Namibia Airports Company to accommodate the biggest airliners and transport planes.
[67]
Erongo Desalination Plant marks 15 years of critical water supply
Jun 1, 2025 · Originally constructed to supply water for Orano Mining Namibia's Trekkopje mine, the plant has since become a vital strategic asset, ensuring a ...
[68]
Africa's largest desalination plant will be built in Namibia
Sep 8, 2024 · The plant, located in the Erongo region, is poised to deliver up to 25 million cubic metres of desalinated water annually upon completion in 2026.Missing: rail airports
[69]
Namibia - Port Equipment - International Trade Administration
Feb 29, 2024 · Currently, Walvis Bay's container facility can handle 750,000 TEUs following the completion of a container port expansion project in 2019. In ...
[70]
New Mobile Harbour Cranes to Boost Regional Trade The Namibian ...
Sep 15, 2025 · The CEO highlighted four key benefits of the investment: Increased cranage capacity at both Walvis Bay and Lüderitz. Improved operational ...
[71]
Walvis Bay volumes keep growing - Freight News
Aug 22, 2025 · Volumes through the port of Walvis Bay are continuing to grow since the opening of the new container terminal. According to Kavin Harry, ...
[72]
Mining - Erongo Regional Council
Mining and quarrying contributes about 8,8 percent to national GDP, 51 percent to foreign exchange earnings, of which diamonds, ores and minerals are the most ...
[73]
Namibia GDP Per Capita | Historical Chart & Data - Macrotrends
Namibia GDP per capita for 2023 was $4,168, a 4.16% decline from 2022. Namibia GDP per capita for 2022 was $4,349, a 1.45% decline from 2021.
[74]
Issues at Operating Uranium Mines and Mills - Namibia
Erongo Region faces serious water shortage; Rössing and Langer Heinrich uranium mines temporarily without water. A severe water shortage is staring the Erongo ...
[75]
Water crisis: The drought's not to blame - KOSMOS
Nov 11, 2024 · “The Erongo Region's water demands for the communities and the mines currently stand at about 20 million cubic meters per annum. Consultants ...
[76]
Skills gaps threaten sustainable growth and progress in Namibia's ...
Jul 9, 2025 · There is currently a critical shortage of skilled workers, which risks undermining the country's potential within the mining sector.
[77]
Skills gaps threaten Namibia's mining sector - Mining Magazine
Oct 9, 2025 · Sustainable growth in Namibia's mining sector could be under threat because of a looming skills gap.
[78]
Tourism sector employs nearly 8% of workforce - Namibian Sun
Feb 9, 2024 · In 2022, Namibia's tourism sector directly generated 57 571 jobs, accounting for 7.9% of the country's total employment.
[79]
[PDF] Namibia: Selected Issues; IMF Country Report No. 25/133
May 28, 2025 · The prominent mining regions of Erongo and Karas offer limited employment opportunities, leading to a net outflow of workers from these areas.Missing: dependency | Show results with:dependency
[80]
[PDF] 2023 Population and Housing Census - Namibia Statistics Agency
NAMIBIA 2023 POPULATION AND HOUSING CENSUS REPORT. Erongo – Census Indicators, 2011 and 2023. 2011. 2023. 2011. 2023. Population Size. Education Attainment ...
[81]
[PDF] Erongo 2023 Census Regional Profile - Namibia Statistics Agency
Table 3.2: Non-Namibia population by citizenship and Census year (2011 and 2023): Erongo ... population size by area, 2011 – 2023: Erongo region, Namibia,. 2023 ...
[82]
Erongo – Namibia Statistics Agency | Census Disemination
Constituency, Population, Area in km², Persons per km². Arandis, 13 542, 13 519.74, 1.0. Daures, 14 601, 17 786.64, 0.8. Karibib, 19 705, 14 535.81, 1.4.
[83]
(PDF) Understanding Damara / ‡Nūkhoen and - ResearchGate
Similarly, histories written or narrated by Damara / ≠Nūkhoen peoples include their self-identification as original inhabitants of large swathes of Namibia's ...
[84]
The White Lady of Brandberg / Daureb Mountain
The Brandberg is a site of great spiritual significance to the Damara San (Bushman) people. Regarding rock art, the most famous site is the so-called White ...
[85]
[PDF] Twyfelfontein - UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Dec 19, 2004 · Twyfelfontein has the largest single concentration of prehistoric rock engravings in southern Africa, with over 2000 well-preserved engravings.
[86]
[PDF] Densities of meaning in west Namibian landscapes - Sian Sullivan
This chapter draws on an oral history and cultural mapping project in west. Namibia that has documented remembered former dwelling places, partic-.
[87]
The Herero People – Namibia's Iconic Cultural Heritage
Mar 22, 2025 · The Herero are a Bantu-speaking group known for their pastoral lifestyle, deeply rooted in cattle herding—a symbol of wealth and status within ...
[88]
Herero Tribe: Tribal People of Namibia. - Gateway Africa
The Herero people actually consists of various tribes suc as the Himba, Herero, Tijimba and Mbanderu.
[89]
Namibias German Heritage Exploring Swakopmund - Desert Tracks
Mar 13, 2025 · Swakopmund, a charming coastal town on the Atlantic Ocean, was founded in 1892 by the Germans as a port city. Nestled between the vast expanse ...
[90]
Languages Of Namibia - World Atlas
Oshiwambo is the most widely spoken language in Namibia while English is the official language of the country.Missing: Erongo | Show results with:Erongo
[91]
What Language Is Spoken in Namibia? - Agama Lodge
The top three languages spoken in Namibia are Oshiwambo, Khoekhoegowab (Damara/Nama), and Afrikaans. ... Although German is not one of the top three languages ...Missing: Erongo | Show results with:Erongo
[92]
Demographics - Erongo Regional Council
The employment rate for the labor force (71 percent of those 15+) was 66 percent employed and 34 percent unemployed. For those 15+ years old and not in the ...
[93]
Namibia Literacy rate - data, chart | TheGlobalEconomy.com
Namibia: Literacy rate: The latest value from 2021 is 92.25 percent, an increase from 88 percent in 2011. In comparison, the world average is 86.53 percent, ...Missing: Erongo Region
[94]
Namibia Institute of Mining and Technology - SAT Sphere
Public school in Arandis, Erongo Region, Namibia. NIMT is a state-owned enterprise that provides hands-on vocational training to produce skilled artisans ...
[95]
Industrial mining and HIV risk: evidence from 39 mine openings ...
The aim of this study was to assess the impact of natural resource extraction projects on HIV transmission risks in local communities in sub-Saharan Africa.
[96]
HIV and TB Overview: Namibia - CDC
Jun 30, 2025 · Estimated HIV Prevalence (Ages 15-49). 9.7% (2023) ; Estimated HIV Deaths (Age ≥15). 3,300 (2023) ; Reported Number Receiving Antiretroviral ...
[97]
[PDF] Overview of Namibia's Social Protection
Namibia's social protection includes policies to cope with risks, social care, insurance, assistance, cash transfers, and in-kind assistance, including health, ...
[98]
National Council evaluates N $100 Basic Income Grant ... - Facebook
May 23, 2025 · National Council evaluates N$100 Basic Income Grant impact, proposes Social Grant for unemployed Staff Reporter THE National Council has said ...
[99]
Usakos tackles youth unemployment with vocational training initiative
May 10, 2024 · The town of Usakos in the Erongo Region has launched an ambitious youth employment intervention programme to curb the scourge of youth unemployment.
[100]
Radiological safety of groundwater around a uranium mine in Namibia
The study investigated the concentration and radiological hazard of uranium in groundwater and seepage water from the tailings of a uranium mine in Namibia.
[101]
Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium ...
Uranium from unlined tailing dams contaminates the shallow aquifer, potentially spreading to deeper aquifers and the ocean, with a seepage velocity of 76.4 m/ ...
[102]
Radioactive Seepage through Groundwater Flow from the Uranium ...
Apr 11, 2025 · The hydrochemistry, stable isotopes and tritium results show that there is uranium contamination from the unlined uranium tailings in the Gawib ...
[103]
Issues at Rössing Uranium Mine, Namibia
"Catastrophic structural failure" of leach tank causes major spill of acidic ore slurry at Rössing uranium mine. On Jan. 17, 2014, Rössing announced that one of ...
[104]
[PDF] Study on low-level radiation of Rio Tinto's Rössing Uranium mine ...
Apr 1, 2014 · Their lifetime risk of fatal cancer is probably at least 1 in 25 and possibly as high as 1 in 9.
[105]
Ecological restoration as a key management response to a mining ...
Aug 6, 2025 · Disruption of ecological processes from mining operations can be devastating to biodiversity in and around the affected areas. (Wassenaar et al.
[106]
[PDF] Ensuring the future of the Namibs biodiversity.pdf
Jul 12, 2012 · The Namib Desert is an ancient desert on the west coast of southern Africa. The Namib has unique endemic biodiversity and scenic landscapes, ...
[107]
An Epidemiological Study of Lung Cancer and Selected Other ...
Oct 1, 2023 · Persuasive consistent evidence for elevated cancer risk was not found for radiation or other exposures studied at the Rössing uranium mine. © ...
[108]
Namibia's Rio Tinto mine causes environmental and health problems
May 12, 2014 · The waste rock dam is creating external irradiation and radon exhalation that is a risk to workers as well as tourists. Regarding water ...
[109]
[PDF] Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) for the Central ...
Aims of this EQO: Uranium mining improves Namibia´s and the Erongo region's sustainable socio- economic development and outlook without undermining the ...
[110]
SEA/SEMP - Namibian Uranium Association
A Strategic Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) was developed from the results of this SEA. It is an overarching framework and roadmap addressing the ...
[111]
Parks - Erongo Regional Council
The Erongo Region is home to two national parks, a seal reserve, four communal conservancies and a number of private game reserves or farms.
[112]
Conservation - Erongo Rocks - Farmhouse & Camping
The Erongo Mountain Nature Sanctuary (EMNS) aims at protecting the indigenous fauna and flora of the region, as well as reintroducing species.Missing: national parks
[113]
Erongo Desalination Plant Unlocks Green Energy Potential
Aug 24, 2025 · Orano Mining Namibia continues its focus on reducing the carbon footprint of the Erongo Desalination Plant (EDP) by making it more energy efficient.
[114]
Erongo desalination plant a national asset - New Era Namibia
Jun 17, 2025 · SWAKOPMUND – The Erongo Desalination Plant, one of Namibia's key strategic water assets, marked its 15 years in existence on Friday.
[115]
Illegal mining continues in Dorob despite fines and objections ...
Jul 31, 2025 · Unlawful mica mining is allegedly continuing inside Dorob National Park in the Namib, despite a reported government probe and subsequent fines ...
[116]
Xinfeng in hot water over illegal mining operations
Dec 18, 2024 · Xinfeng Investments is facing criminal investigations after being caught red-handed mining illegally in the Uis area of the Erongo region, on 16 ...
[117]
[PDF] URANIUM, THE ENVIRONMENT AND SUSTAINABLE ... - INIS-IAEA
Uranium mining in Namibia is carried out in the Erongo region in the central western part of the country. This region is characterized by its aridity, vast ...