Ongwediva
The Omuntele Constituency community has decried the deplorable conditions of the 17km Engoyi-Onanke road on grounds it is unusable and a threat to their vehicles.
The constituency councillor Sacky Nangula echoed the community’s cry, stressing the road’s condition makes basic accessibility by motorists and travellers almost impossible.
Although the Engoyi-Onanke road is amongst the prioritized roads to be tarred within the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP), the plan still hangs in the balance following the decision to freeze some government tenders. Chief regional officer in Oshikoto, Frans Enkali, said the regional council is still waiting for the Ministry of Works and Transport to pronounce itself on the future of the road.
Enkali noted his office has to date not received a detailed report of whether the Engoyi-Omuntele road is also affected.
On Tuesday councillor Nangula said although there are other road developments ongoing in the constituency, the Engoyi-Omuntele road has become a concern for motorists.
“The road is no longer maintained and the stones on the road are worn. And even if it is to be maintained it will just make it worse because it has become too sandy,” he said.
In addition to that it is also a challenge for ambulances to transport patients on the road.
Other roads under construction in the constituency include Omuntele-Uukwiyu-Uushona.
Nangula says work on the road from Amilema to Omuntele is complete with only a few final touches needed.
“However, those who are working from Uukwiyu-Uushona still have about 6km before the road could intersect at Omuntele,” Nangula said.
In addition, an access road to Ambende has also been created from the Omuntele-Onanke road to ease access to the sandy area particularly the school.
The councillor said the road network has been extended to schools and clinics in the area.