Rudolf Gaiseb

Works and Transport minister Veikko Nekundi has clarified that the ministry is not working to revive the defunct Air Namibia, but rather to re-establish a national airline for the country.

This decision, he said, is not born out of pride, but because a national airline makes an unmeasurable economic contribution to the country’s economic standing.

All the necessary steps will be taken to ensure that the national airline, with a different name, is revived prudently. The nation will be informed of every step to be taken and as being completed.

“The revival of a national airline shall not and will not cost government billions of dollars, as it is being flown all over by persons whose agendas we cannot verify. I must assure you and the nation at large that this ministry, this government, is prudent in all its affairs,” he noted.

On roads infrastructure, Nekundi said the recent rains Namibia has experienced since the start of this year, caused flash floods which have claimed lives and destroyed both human and animal habitats.

He shared that for now, it is important to have measures in place to mitigate the collapse of bridges and ruined roads.

 “This includes creating bypasses, diverting roads, among others,” he said.

“The excessive reliance on external consultants while we have employed persons with similar qualifications should be curtailed to the bones. While consultancy services are valuable, they must complement, not replace, our internal capacity. 

“Moving forward, we will prioritise the development of in-house expertise to handle critical functions such as engineering and project management,” he said.  –rrgaiseb@gmail.com