never happened. Establishment Ovamboland, set up in 1968, was the first fully functional Bantustan in South West Africa. As the Ovambo people already resided here, resettlement was not necessary. Furthermore, the area already had an existing structure of governance in the form of traditional authorities. The population was, however, split into those who farmed near their homes, and those who worked in mines, factories, on farms and in households outside the Bantustan. Self-government was granted in 1973. Ovamboland was the setting of a protracted insurgency waged by the People's Liberation Army of Namibia (PLAN) during the South African Border War. Since independence of Namibia Owambo, like other homelands in South West Africa, was abolished in May 1989 at the start of the transition to independence. The region is now commonly referred to as The North but the term Ovamboland is still in use. More than half of the entire population lives here on just 6% of the Namibian territory. See also Leaders of Ovamboland Democratic Co-operative Party References External links Experiences of two volunteers teaching in Ovamboland 2002–2004 History of Namibia Bantustans in South West Africa States and territories established in 1968 Ovambo States and territories disestablished in 1989 1968 establishments in South West Africa