My trip to the North – an eyeopening experience

The Analyst writes;

I am happy to write that one of my New Year resolutions has been met and this was to visit the central North. The trip started in the early hours of Wednesday when I went with a friend to catch an IVECO bus near Shoprite in Okuryangava. After my friend drop me, it surprised me that around 4am the bus was already full and we were going to the former Owamboland. I sat next to an older man who was going to Oshikango but slept most of the way until just as we passed Tsumeb when he woke up. I was impressed at his fluent Afrikaans. He served as my tour guide along the way. He was telling me the history during the war and the lives of Owambo people, just when we passed Oshivelo police check point. I saw a service station, a clinic and some Cuca shops at Oshivelo. There was also an agricultural project to the right. The road from Oshivelo was also full of learners going to their schools. I asked Tate Andreas how long do the kids normally walk. He said some can walk as far as 15km to the school. I also saw that most people had small farming along the road. I learn that is how they plant their own food mahangu and other goods. The vegetation was green all round. To the left of the road was Etosha national park.

Business activities

Along the road I also notice a lot of buzzing business activities - all mostly owned and operated by individuals. Next I saw a high rising building which look a skyscraper, this according to Tate Andreas was Omuthiya we were approaching. It is a new town that is on the move, but there was no traffic lights or stop signs on the road passing through it to Ondangwa. There were only speed bumps. The bus stopped at the open markets were some passengers got off. I took some moments to stroll in the markets and saw many people selling everything imaginable. However what one could observe is that these were people to make a living through their business, small as it is. I tasted the frog meat, and bought some maize. As they say "wat nie dood maak nie maak vet".

The road to Ondangwa from Omuthiya glued my eyes to the activies I observe along the road. Here and there I saw a lot of cuca shops, there is a visible sign of wealth by what Tate Andreas said individuals who are building their own mansions mostly along the road. They look good houses too.

Poverty

The sign of poverty was also everywhere. I asked Tate Andreas how do people survive in majority. He said majority of people here do not depend on government to survive, they are on their own and make ends meet. I saw a lot of business activities such as brick making. Unfortunately when we arrived in Ondangwa Tate Andreas left to Oshikango. Ondangwa looked like a booming town but the poverty was visible too. I was dropped in Oshakati at the Open market there. A friend picked me up and we went to their house at Okatana. The next day I was taken around Oshakati and Ongwediva, and returned to Windhoek on Friday.

In this short visit I learnt that the Owambo people have a very admirable cultural upbringing of self reliance and hard work. My friends and I who are mainly Windhoek-based usually we said all development goes to the north, I did not see much of that. In short, I feel that every penny spent during my trip was well spent. I have not seen this sort of resilience anywhere in the country. My next stop will be Kunene, Kavango and Caprivi.

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