Sesfontein
Sesfontein
Khoekhoe: ǃNaniǀaudi | |
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 The reconstructed Fort Sesfontein in 2014 | |
  Sesfontein Location in Namibia | |
| Coordinates: 19°8′S 13°37′E / 19.133°S 13.617°E | |
| Country |  Namibia |
| Region | Kunene Region |
| Constituency | Sesfontein Constituency |
| Time zone | UTC+02:00 (Central Africa Time) |
| Climate | BWh |
Sesfontein is a settlement in the Kunene Region of Namibia, situated 150 kilometres (93 mi) from the regional capital Opuwo. It is the district capital of Sesfontein Constituency with a population of 7,358. The settlement features a clinic and school.[1][2]
History
[edit]Sesfontein derives its name from the six fountains which have their source in the vicinity.[1] The most well known landmark of Sesfontein is Fort Sesfontein, erected in 1896 as a police outpost by Schutztruppe soldiers of Imperial Germany to control the movement of cattle after a rinderpest epidemic.[1] Due to its remote location, the fort was abandoned by the Germans in 1914 following the start of the First World War and fell into disrepair soon thereafter.[1] When South Africa took over administration of South West Africa, they zoned Sesfontein as a Nama reserve, relying on previous German legislation.[3] The fort was considered a prospective National Monument in 1984[4] it was decided in 1989 not to list it. The fort was reconstructed in the 1990s and is now equipped to accommodate tourists. The palm trees at the fort were planted by the German police officers who manned the fort to combat weapons smuggling and elephant and rhino poaching.[5] Three graves are located there for a soldier that died during construction, a soldier that died of illness and a trader.[5]
Politics
[edit]Hendrik Gaobaeb, president of the United Democratic Front, was born in Sesfontein.[6] It is historically considered a political stronghold for the UDF.[7]
References
[edit]
- ^ a b c d McIntyre, Chris (2007). Namibia. Brandt. p. 347. ISBN 9781841621876.
- ^ Haufiku, Mathias (20 November 2014). "Clinics stand idle for four years in Kunene". New Era.
- ^ Rizzo, Lorena (2012). Gender and Colonialism: A History of Kaoko in North-western Namibia, 1870s-1950s. Basler Afrika Bibliographien. p. 263. ISBN 9783905758276.
- ^ Vogt, Andreas (2006). "12.9: Fort Sesfontein und Friedhof, Sesfontein (Vorläufig)". Nationale Denkmäler in Namibia. Ein Inventar der proklamierten nationalen Denkmäler in der Republik Namibia [National Monuments in Namibia. An inventory of the proclaimed national monuments in the Republic of Namibia] (in German). Gamsberg Macmillan. ISBN 99916-0-752-8.
- ^ a b Vogt, Andreas (2004). National Monuments in Namibia: An Inventory of Proclaimed National Monuments in the Republic of Namibia. Gamsber MacMillan. p. 129. ISBN 9789991605937.
- ^ "Gaobaeb Hendrik". Parliament of Namibia. Retrieved 3 December 2024.
- ^ "SWAPO cruises to victory in Otjiwarongo, Grootfontein and Kamanjab, UDF retains Sesfontein". Informante. 18 June 2025. Retrieved 25 June 2025.
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