Kavango West | |
---|---|
Region | |
Country | Namibia |
Seat | Nkurenkuru |
Government | |
• Governor | Sirkka Ausiku[1] (SWAPO) |
Area | |
• Total | 24,591 km2 (9,495 sq mi) |
Population (2023 census)[2] | |
• Total | 123,266 |
• Density | 5.0/km2 (13/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
Website | kavangowestrc |
Kavango West is one of the fourteen regions of Namibia. Its capital and only self-governed settlement is Nkurenkuru, its governor is Sirkka Ausiku. The Region was created in 2013 when the Kavango Region was split into Kavango East and Kavango West. In the north, Kavango West borders the Cuando Cubango Province of Angola. Domestically, it borders the regions of Kavango East to the east, Otjozondjupa to the south, Oshikoto to the west and Ohangwena to the northwest.
Because of its rather high rainfall compared to most other parts of Namibia and its location on the Kavango River after which it was named, this region has agricultural potential for the cultivation of a variety of crops, as well as for organised forestry and agro-forestry, which stimulates furniture making and related industries. Kavango West and its sister region Kavango East are nevertheless the poorest regions in Namibia.[3]