OMPUNDJA – The Ministry of Works and Transport has announced a major shift in rural road construction towards more sustainable and cost-effective stabilised road solutions.
The move was announced by the Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi.
He said the change aims to reduce long-term costs by building roads that last three times longer than the current gravel standard.
Nekundi stated that traditional gravel roads require re-gravelling every two to three years at an annual maintenance cost of between N$54 000 and N$90 000 per kilometre.
“This is simply not sustainable, given the size of our road network and our budget limitations,” he said.
He noted that the new approach would use advanced chemical and enzyme-based stabilisation technologies, which bind soil particles to create a water-resistant, erosion-proof surface.
Nekundi added that these roads are expected to cost 40-50% less to build.
They require up to 70% less maintenance, and last 10-15 years compared to the 3-5 years of gravel roads.
“Local materials, including marble waste powder from mining operations, will be used to reduce environmental impact and boost job creation in surrounding communities,” said Nekundi.
Former president Hifikepunye Pohamba reminded leaders that true development is impossible without proper road infrastructure.
Speaking during a recent engagement, he stressed that access to reliable roads is key to improving livelihoods and boosting economic growth.
“You can’t talk about development without roads. Founding President Sam Nujoma directed me to deliver proper roads, which I did. I want you to continue with that. Roads should go right to the villages to make it easier to bring development,” stressed Pohamba.
He recalled several road projects initiated under Nujoma’s leadership, urging the current administration to prioritise rural connections so that no community is left isolated.
The government’s rollout will be done in three stages.
Phase 1 (2025-2026) will include pilot projects such as the Ompundja road, feeder roads and selected rural arterials.
Phase 2 (2026-2027) will expand to all regions, prioritising agricultural feeder roads and school access routes.
Phase 3 (2027-2030) will see a national rollout targeting 5 000 kilometres of rural and feeder roads.
The ministry said this transformation is not about abandoning rural areas but ensuring that scarce resources are spent on roads that truly last.
Therefore, communities never have to wait decades for a safe, reliable route again.
Green light
Among the first beneficiaries of this change is the long-awaited Ompundja road, a project residents have been pleading for since independence.
Oshana governor Hofnie Iipinge confirmed that the Ompundja road will be commissioned soon.
He said the road will start from the Santorini junction and stretch to the Naluvanda gate, linking communities long cut off by poor road conditions.
“Construction will begin in the 2025/26 financial year as part of Phase 1 of the national rollout. The road will serve as a flagship demonstration of the new stabilised technology,” Iipinge added.
For decades, residents of Oshakati East, Ompundja and nearby villages – including many teachers who commute daily – have complained that the poor condition of the existing road has damaged their vehicles and made travel unsafe.
“Since independence, we have been driving on a road that breaks our cars and backs. We have been waiting too long,” said a teacher from Omusimboti Combined School.
Frustrations are shared far beyond Ompundja. Motorists from Onkani said their gravel road is so badly worn that it turns into deep mud during the rainy season, cutting off access to clinics and schools.
Timoteus Timoteus from Onaushe village in Oshana region said the uneven, potholed road has caused frequent tyre bursts and mechanical breakdowns.
“We spend more on fixing our cars than on fuel. It is exhausting and expensive,” he added.
– vkaapanda@nepc.com.na