Sesfontein

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]

Sesfontein Khoekhoe: ǃNaniǀaudi
Settlement
The reconstructed Fort Sesfontein in 2014
Sesfontein Location in Namibia
Coordinates: 19°8′S 13°37′E
Country	Namibia
Region	Kunene Region
Constituency	Sesfontein Constituency
Time zone	UTC+02:00 (Central Africa Time)
Climate	BWh

History

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

Hendrik Gaobaeb, president of the United Democratic Front, was born in Sesfontein.^[6] It is historically considered a political stronghold for the UDF.^[7]