Keetmanshoop Namibia
Capital town and commercial centre of the vast southern Region Karas
KEETMANSHOOP NAMIBIA . Capital town and commercial centre of the vast southern Region Karas Namibia
The Nama tribe !kharo-Oan led by Kaptein Hendrik Tsieb settled at the place they called Swartmodder in 1866. Shortly following this the Rhenish Missionary Dr. Carl Hugo Hahn sought the finances to establish a church and mission station at the settlement. A German businessman from the town of Barmen, Johann Keetman donated the funds and the settlement was named Keetman's Hope in recognition of his generosity and also hopes that the project would succeed. Following the 1884 German occupation of Namibia , Keetmanshoop was proclaimed a town on 14 April 1866 and granted Municipality status on 1 November 1909.
The old German (Kaiserliches Postamt) Post and Telegraphic Office was built in 1909. It also had an accommodation wing for the staff. The building was proclaimed a National Monument on 2.02.1987. It stands at the corner of Hampie Plichta Ave. and 6th Street and now serves as the Keetmanshoop tourist information office.
Following the wash-away of the original church in the great flood of 28 October 1890 the Rhenish Mission Church was rebuilt on higher ground and was consecrated on 8 May 1895. It is the oldest standing building in Keetmanshoop and now serves as a museum. The church was proclaimed a National Monument on 17.06.1978. It stands on Sam Nujoma Ave
The above left street was named after the late and much respected Hampie Plichta, who devoted much of his life to public service, promoting tourism to the south of Namibia, and served as the mayor of Keetmanshoop for many years.
Of Interest: The Nama name for Keetmanshoop was #Nu#Goaes (meaning Fountain of Black Mud). The Apollo 11 cave site about 100 km south of Bethanien is the oldest known rock art site in Africa, being an estimated 35,000 old.
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