While Namibia boasts some of the best roads in the world, there is a glaring reality; that of deteriorated rural road networks, which makes it nearly impossible for residents to access basic services.
The dire straits, in which most rural roads find themselves, are etched in the National Council’s Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Housing report, which was tabled this week for scrutiny and further handling.
The committee performed a thorough evaluation of the state of roads, network connectivity, and accessibility to crucial government institutions in rural areas across 11 regions.
Their findings reveal a deficient situation.
According to the committee, this situation hinders economic investment, since investors are discouraged from relocating their equipment, machinery, materials, and human capital due to inadequate road network connectivity to reach the targeted rural majority.
The results emphasise the urgent requirement for enhanced infrastructure in Namibia’s rural roads to improve the quality of life for citizens.
Upgrading these roads will effectively tackle numerous challenges, including the reduction of travel distances, the committee said.
Kunene roads
Although the report pointed out some recent developments in the road infrastructure network in the region, there remains a huge need for more improvements to have proper roads in Kunene.
“There are numerous challenges related to the road infrastructure network; majority of the roads frequently washed away while bridges are being destroyed; mountainous terrain; makes roads accessibility very difficult during rainy seasons,” the committee reports.
While most challenges are ascribed to the sluggish development in the region, the report states that cultural beliefs have also been demonstrated as an additional obstacle to the development of road infrastructure.
Some communities are allegedly living in areas where the roads are envisaged to pass through, and ultimately not supporting the projects, which has a negative impact on the development of the roads in the region.
On the other hand, other communities pushed the blame on the regional council for “using poor quality materials or poor workmanship”.
“The community members also highlighted the fact that buying a new car for use in the region is a waste as it does not even last for more than two years,” the document further reads.
The community also expressed the issue of local motorists who receive more fines for cars that are not roadworthy, than other towns in Namibia because of bad road conditions that damage their cars.
Oshana’s cry
The challenges encountered in the Kunene region are not unique to it, as the Oshana similarly bears the same brunt.
Engagements between regional governor Elia Irimari and the committee highlight that inadequate road infrastructure has resulted in communities being limited from accessing essential services like education and health centres.
Irimari also told the committee to meet with Roads Contractor Company, Roads Authority and Road Fund Administration “to be informed better where they have developed the roads up to bitumen standard and if not why”.
“The most worrisome road in the region is the Ompundja road as this road links many communities in the region and when it rains in Angola, communities are cut off from basic services for several months,” Irimari told the committee.
Last year, Oshana and Ohangwena were among the regions heavily impacted by intense rains and floods, significantly impeding the mobility of residents due to the destruction of roads.
In the rainy season, emergency services had to resort to helicopter rescues, an exercise which can be quite costly.
Kavango West’s plight
Meanwhile, in Kavango West region, what the region currently lacks in terms of road infrastructure development, is specifically feeder or access roads to connect national roads to the inland.
The report states that majority of the access roads are earth tracks which are sandy and can only be accessed with 4x4 vehicles.
“Therefore, there is the need to upgrade the earth tracks to gravel standard and also upgrade those gravel to bitumen,” reads the document.
It was reported that there was no single new road infrastructure development project implemented in the region in that last decade.
“The last gravel road constructed was the Kamutupu Road (Kambumbu – Mburuuru) in 2008 with 38 kilometres. The last bitumen road to be constructed in the region is the Mpungu – Tsintsabis – Tsumeb road in 2013,” says the report.
To curb this challenge, a regional priority list for roads was presented to the line ministry and roads authority in 2018 for consideration.
The delegation was informed that the construction of a 40 kilometre stretch (Phase 1) of the Charlie Cutline Road (132 km) commenced in June 2022.
Hardap’s hope
While most regions experience dire challenges, Hardap region proves that not all that is doom is gloom.
The regional leadership acknowledged that generally, the roads are in good condition, however, there is a need for rehabilitating and upgrading some of the other roads in the region as some roads are not liked by motorists because of poor conditions.
The priorities in the region as far as road matters are concerned, lie in the inter-connectivity, with Walvis Bay which will accommodate and attract Botswana’s direct link to the harbour.
Equally, investors find it difficult to penetrate rural Namibia to establish their businesses due to inaccessible roads and poor network connectivity.
Recommendations
To address Namibia’s poor rural roads situation, the committee urged the Ministry of Works and Transport to prioritise road infrastructure connectivity to government schools, clinics, and other amenities in rural areas in the upcoming financial year to address current challenges such as impassable rural roads which prevents pupils from accessing schools during the rainy season.
“The ministry through the Roads Authority, should ensure quality work in constructing gravel roads, addressing issues such as quality, volume, and size distribution of gravel materials,” the committee recommended.