Epupa Constituency

{{short description|Electoral constituency in the Kunene region of north-western Namibia}}

Image:Wahlkreis Epupa (2014).svg

Epupa Constituency (until 1998: Ruacana Constituency) is a constituency in the Kunene Region of Namibia. The constituency contains the Epupa Falls after which it is named (from {{langx|hz|Epupa}} = falling waters), located on the Angolan-Namibian border. Its population in 2004 was 12,816.[http://www.statoids.com/yna.html Constituencies of Namibia, 2004] In 2020 it had 12,182 registered voters.{{Cite web | title=Regional Council 2020 Election Results | publisher=Electoral Commission of Namibia | date=18 January 2021 | series=Interactive map | url=http://elections.na/ | accessdate=27 June 2021 | archive-date=12 June 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210612210020/https://elections.na/ | url-status=dead }}

Establishment and location

The constituency was created in 1992 under the name Ruacana Constituency. Its western border is the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean, its northern border is the middle of the Kunene River, at the same time Namibia's border with Angola. The constituency extended eastwards to what is today Onesi Constituency in Omusati Region, and southwards to the 18° S circle of latitude.{{Cite news | title=Establishment of the boundaries of constituencies in Namibia | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=473 | page=2 | publisher=Government of Namibia | date=1 September 1992 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/1992/473.pdf | format=pdf}} Both the town of Ruacana and the Ruacana Falls belonged to the constituency at that time.

In 1998 the constituency's eastern part, including Ruacana, was moved to Omusati Region where the {{As of|2024|alt=current}} Ruacana Constituency was created. The remainder of the constituency was named Epupa Constituency.{{Cite news | title=Re-division of certain regions into constituencies: Regional Councils Act, 1992 | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=1940 | pages=7, 8, 12 | publisher=Government of Namibia | date=31 August 1998 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/1998/1940.pdf | format=pdf}}

The settlements Epupa, Otjomuru, Ohamaremba and Okangwati belong to the Epupa constituency.{{Cite news | title=More pupils expected at Otjomuru | newspaper=The Namibian | date=22 August 2016 | url=http://www.namibian.com.na/More-pupils-expected-at-Otjomuru/44548/read}}

Politics

The 2004 regional election were won by Jonna Kasita Mburura of the Democratic Turnhalle Alliance (DTA) with 1,964 of the 3,712 votes cast.{{Cite news | title=Electoral Act, 1992: Notification of Result of General Election for Regional Councils | newspaper=Government Gazette of the Republic of Namibia | issue=3366 | page=5 | publisher=Government of Namibia | date=3 January 2005 | url=http://www.lac.org.na/laws/2005/3366.pdf | format=pdf}} The 2015 regional election were won by Nguzu Muharukua of the DTA with 3,672 votes, closely followed by Jona Kakondo of the SWAPO Party with 3,260 votes. Erwin Muharukua of the Rally for Democracy and Progress (RDP) also ran and gained 52 votes.{{Cite web | title=Regional Council Election Results 2015 | publisher=Electoral Commission of Namibia | date=3 December 2015 | page=11 | url=http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/223442/Regional+Counils+Election+Results_Duly+elected+candidates+2015.pdf/32493774-80b3-4be3-9ca1-1f6ce187673a?version=1.0 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208163948/http://www.ecn.na/documents/27857/223442/Regional+Counils+Election+Results_Duly+elected+candidates+2015.pdf/32493774-80b3-4be3-9ca1-1f6ce187673a?version=1.0 | url-status=dead | archive-date=8 December 2015 }} Epupa was one of only two constituencies won by the DTA in this election.{{Cite news | title=Mixed results for opposition in regional polls | last=Menges | first=Werner | newspaper=The Namibian | date=29 November 2015 | url=http://www.namibian.com.na/index.php?page=read&id=34606}}

The 2020 regional election was won by Tjimutambo Kuuoko of the Popular Democratic Movement (PDM, the new name of the DTA). He obtained 4,373 votes, followed by Masatu Thom (SWAPO) with 2,899 votes.

References

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Category:Constituencies of Kunene Region

Category:States and territories established in 1992

Category:1992 establishments in Namibia