Julia Kamarenga
The long-awaited upgrade of the 45-kilometre road between farm Du Plessis in the Okorukambe constituency and Epukiro Pos 3, in the Epukiro constituency, will soon be realised.
This was revealed recently during the groundbreaking ceremony at farm Du Plessis.
Okorukambe councillor Rocco Nguvauva says it all started with a vision to build an all-inclusive architectural phenomenal tarred road, which defines the constituency.
Nguvauva further said upon completion, the road would make it possible for easy access to services that will better the lives of the inhabitants.
At the event, the acting Roads Authority CEO Immanuel !Hanabeb indicated that the importance of road infrastructure for the development of the country cannot be overstressed.
!Hanabeb said RA is committed to take development to the most remote areas of the country to ensure that inhabitants in those areas are also beneficiaries of activities of change.
He described the occasion as a testimony to the RA’s contribution to the national development goals and to ensure that development takes place even in the rural areas.
According to !Hanabeb, Namibia has a road network of approximately 47 000 kilometres, therefore, it is very costly to develop and maintain these roads compared to most developed countries.
Of these 47 000 kilometres, 97% is gravel roads. Gravel roads are located in rural and under privileged areas of our country and due to budgetary constraints it has become a serious challenge to adequately maintain the gravel network, said !Hanabeb.
He further said it is common knowledge that roads that are not in good condition hamper the connections and linkages to essential services such as social, education, health and provision of goods and business attraction.
To mitigate this, both the RA and Road Fund Administration (RFA) sought alternative strategies to optimise available funds by doing more with the less financial resources available.
!Hanabeb also revealed that the RA has other projects in the region such as the 145km road to Tallismanus, and the 60km stretch from Gobabis to Steinhausen to be improved to low volume seal standard while the road from Drimiopsis to Epukiro and that from Gobabis to Leonardville will be gravelled.
Talking on behalf of the minister of Works and Transport, Omaheke governor Pijoo Nganate said the road would bridge the gap between the level of service of gravel roads and high standard service roads.
The upgrading of low roads to appropriate service standards has wide ranging benefits which include an increase in road users satisfaction and reduction of vehicle maintenance cost, said Nganate.
He further urged that women be given equal opportunity to acquire skills and relevant experience in road constructions.
The first phase of the project is expected to start by end of February 2022 and it will cover about 8km at a cost of N$21.9 million.
The governor also urged the community to avoid anything that may delay the progress of the project and do away with vandalism but render support to the contractors.
In the end, the governor appealed to all road users to adhere to traffic rules and advised against night travelling to save Namibian lives, let’s pledge and pray to make this festive season an accident free one.