About Us
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The town of Omuthiya is situated in the Oshikoto Region and located about 595kms from the nation’s capital and a mere 10kms from the Etosha National Park via Nehale Lyampingana Gate. It is strategically located on one of the historical gate of the biggest National Park in Namibia. Historically, Omuthiya was founded in the early 1900’s initially as a stopover for trains moving mining cargo between the mines inland and the coast, and eventually as a workshop station for locomotive repairs, a purpose the town carried well into the 1960’s. Omuthiya has a population of about 50002 people and covers a total area of 12 497 Hectares, with dominant economic activities spanning the sectors of agriculture, tourism, mining (especially small-scale mining), retail and commercial services. Unemployment in the town derived primarily from the 2011 Population census indicators was also estimated at about 47.7%.
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Omuthiya Gwiipundi’ (Camel thorn tree with resting benches) came into existence after a contractor, Mr. Moses Eriki, constructed a table and chairs under the tree to serve as a resting place for road users. It was soon used as trading post by surrounding villages to trade their goods. Cattle herders started using the tree for resting and trading. The original Omuthiya tree was next to the main road and eventually fell down in 1976. After the mysterious falling of the tree, trading and development continued and Omuthiya was proclaimed a town in 2008. The town has grown into an urban hub due to a high rate of development in housing and infrastructure like roads, water, sanitation and electricity. The town is therefore ready to provide quality and affordable physical infrastructure and urban services to promote economic development and social well-being of its inhabitants and visitors alike.
The Omuthiya Town Council Mandate
The Omuthiya Town Council is governed by its Municipal Council in terms of the Local Authority Act, Act 23 of 1992. Council members are elected by the residents of Omuthiya for a period of five years on the basis of a proposed political party list.
