By Emma Kakololo
RUNDU
The Government yesterday held a ground-breaking ceremony to kick-start work on the rehabilitation of the Rundu-Elundu Road.
The Rundu-Elundu Road represents an important milestone in the development of transport infrastructure in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and in particular between Namibia and Angola.
Most importantly, it will open up the north-central, north-western, north-eastern and central areas of the country to take part in regional trade, by implementing other development corridors and create new synergies with the Port of Walvis Bay.
The ceremony was held at Kapako – about 40 km west of Rundu – in the presence of President Hifikepunye Pohamba and about 300 dignitaries.
The project, which is the largest the Government has ever embarked upon, is scheduled to be completed in 2010 and will cost more than N$800 million.
Pohamba in his address apologised to the communities of Kapako, Kahenge and Mpungu for the four-year delay of the project.
The Government has been concerned about the delay of the implementation of the road construction project, he said.
“I must say, however, that the delay was caused by genuine resource constraints. Today, I am happy to inform you that the Government finally managed to mobilise the required financial resources.”
The Government secured a N$607.8 million loan from the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) on August 9 last year, while it would contribute N$202.7 million.
“Our gathering here today,” said Pohamba, “is a testimony to the Swapo Government’s continuous efforts to position our economy favourably in order to become more competitive at regional and international levels.
“Already, our country can look with satisfaction at the track record of success because our road network is one of the best in Sub-Saharan Africa. Our high level of success is made possible because the Swapo Government, after independence, implemented an integrated approach to the development of road and transport infrastructure.”
Japan’s Yasuhiko Tanaka, First Secretary of Economic Affairs, delivering a speech on behalf of his Ambassador Akihiko Furuya, said his country was keen to assist Namibia as the country enjoys a stable democracy and has achieved successful economic growth within a few years of attaining its independence.
“Namibia is a key country for the stability and prosperity of the people of Southern Africa and that road will benefit the people in Okavango, Ohangwena Region and all the neighbouring landlocked countries such as Zambia, Zimbabwe and Botswana.”
“Namibia is a window for those countries,” he added.
The project will be divided into two phases. The first phase will run from Rundu to Nkurenkuru, while the second phase will continue from Nkurenkuru to Eludu in the Ohangwena Region.
China Henan International won the tender to tar the gravel road stretching over 370 km.