If there is one thing the Walvis Bay municipality needs to improve, it is their road infrastructure. If you have only been to the CBD without passing through the location, then you will probably not see the relevance of this article. The roads within the CBD are good and well maintained. My focus will be on the roads linking the main industrial area to the town and location.
I am linking this argument to the fact that the town is dominated by a booming industry that is seen as a GDP contributor. The fishing industry is ranked the second largest economic contributor behind mining. Additionally, the influx of tourists visiting the town is on the rise on a daily basis, which indicates that the tourism industry at the town is also somewhat stable.
However, the question still stands as to why such a town is still behind in the development of its road infrastructures. Let me first start with the roads I use every day to and from work at the main industrial area, which all project from the Independence Road.
The first one is the one that passes by the Navy Base entry. This is a mere gravel road that is often dusty, and a lot of traffic uses this road, especially the busses taking fish factory employees to and from work.
The second route is the Johannes Namupala Avenue that links the location (Seapoint) to the main industrial road (Ben Amathila Avenue). This road is a mess from its starting point to the end. The only possible speed one could drive on this road would be 20km/hr and below. Potholes are not even the perfect definition for what is present on that road. This is one of the mostly used roads to the industrial area; yet, it is the worst one could ever drive on.
Another road is the one from town (18th Road) just before the CBD to the same industry. Most people use this road, especially during lunchtime, since it is the closest to the town centre.
I am guessing most tourists visiting the industrial area have to use the same road or alternatively the 14th Road, which is also not in a pleasing state. Trust me, if we have to conduct a mini-survey on whether or not the road users are happy with the way these roads are, none will have to go for a ‘yes’ answer.
On the other hand, there are other roads within the informal location of the town, mainly in Kuisebmund, that need to be maintained.
My point is, why do we have to neglect the industry that is carrying the town and the country at large? The Ben Amathila Road is the one with 99% of all the fish processors in the entire town; yet, the roads to this industrial area look like one is heading to some ghost town or something.
What image is being portrayed to the visitors, mainly tourists and possible investors? If such roads are not maintained soon, they will, in a long run, discourage such vital people from driving through these roads, further leading to a loss of possible investment opportunities and a reduction in the tourist influx to the town.
*Medusalem Jairus is a BSc (Honours) degree holder in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, and a general worker at Hangana Seafood. The opinion expressed herein is entirely his own. – jairusmedusalem@gmail.com