By Emma Kakololo
RUNDU
President Hifikepunye Pohamba yesterday called on the Roads Authority to continue upgrading all gravel roads to bring the rest of the country to bitumen standards.
Pohamba also expressed Government’s willingness to upgrade the road between Nkurenkuru and Tsumeb.
He was speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony held to kick-start work to rebuild the Rundu-Elundu road.
“There is will from the part of the Swapo Government to construct the gravel road between Nkurenkuru and Tsumeb in the future. This is under consideration and Government is keen to do that,” he emphasised.
He urged Namibians to support government in the maintenance of their roads.
“I wish to call on all our people to participate and support construction and maintenance efforts of our roads by guarding against vandalism, overloading and other unbecoming behaviour that can reduce the lifespan of our roads.”
Pohamba said his Government would work hard to ensure that all rural communities were incorporated into the mainstream of the economy.
“The majority of our people live in rural areas which are characterised by high levels of poverty, limited economic activities, lack of employment opportunities and under-developed infrastructure.
“Our transformation process must reach the most marginalised communities to ensure that they too are beneficiaries of the process of economic emancipation,” he said.
The President noted that the country was strategically well positioned, both as an entry and exit point for imports and exports to and from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.
“This is particularly true for our neighbouring landlocked countries such as Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.”
For this reason, the President said, Government would ensure that the country’s road network is built to the highest standard and is regularly maintained in order to facilitate road transport and commercial trade throughout the country and beyond, and in particular improve mobility and safety of all road users countrywide.