Oshakati
Roads Authority (RA) has pleaded with Namibians to desist from putting up structures within proclaimed road reserves, saying the removal of new and emerging structures shall not be compensated for.
CEO of RA Conrad Lutombi said RA would only compensate individuals whose structures were in the road reserves before the roads were proclaimed.
He said there they are concerned about individuals who are deliberately moving into road reserves in order to be compensated.
“While we are busy with the designs people are also busy moving into road reserves anticipating to be compensated. Once the road is proclaimed and you come there to build [a dwelling], it means you are there illegally,” Lutombi noted.
He said those found within road reserves of proclaimed roads would be evicted. “We will use legal means to evict you,” he warned.
Lutombi says the problem has been on the increase between Omuthiya and Onethindi road and he appealed to the regional council and traditional authority to sensitise the local people to avoid disappointment when the construction of the Omuthiya-Oshakati bypass resumes.
Lutombi says the proclamation of that road has been done and the detailed design from Omuthiya to Onethindi has also been completed.
The bypass from Omuthiya to Oshakati is expected to ease traffic congestion currently experienced between Ondangwa and Ongwediva, but said the bypass from Ongwediva to Ondangwa would be too costly.
“It is better to work on the bypass to allow [a free] flow of traffic, because expanding the current Ongwediva-Ondangwa road will be too costly, as there are already too many existing structures,” Lutombi reasoned.
Governor of Oshana Region Clemens Kashuupulwa, whose region also stands to benefit from the road, promised to sensitise the traditional authorities and the general public through the offices of constituency councillors.
Kashuupulwa said the biggest challenge at present lies within traditional authorities, which are allocating land to residents along the road.
“To approach such people to move is a challenge, because they have already paid the traditional authority for their portion of land. But we will engage them so that we can work together,” Kashuupulwa said.