Otjiwarongo
A lack of funds to finance national road projects is one of the major hindrances to the speedy implementation of transport infrastructure in the country, the Roads Authority’s chief executive officer, Conrad Lutombi, said when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor of Otjozondjupa Region Otto Iipinge recently to update him on the progress of roads currently under construction in the region, as well as envisaged projects.
Lutombi said the Roads Authority requested an amount of N$4 billion for the current financial year from government, but received less than the requested amount.
He, however, vowed they would pursue the projects as planned with the funds at their disposal, while prioritising major projects, such as dual-carriageway roads and the upgrading to bitumen of the Grootfontein-Tsumkwe road.
“For the projects which cannot be undertaken now we are busy with the detailed designs, so that at least in the next financial year, when we are allocated funds, we should be ready with detailed designs for construction to commence,” Lutombi said.
“The total cost can only be determined once the detailed designs are completed, as that is when we know the value of all projects,” he said.
Lutombi further said they will soon start working on the detailed designs of Okahandja-Hochfeld-Okondjatu and Tsumukwe road.
“We’re happy to say we’ve made progress on the Otjinene-Okamatapati-Grootfontein [road], of which Phase One from Otjinene to Okamatapati will be completed in September this year, while Grootfontein to Okamatapati will be completed next year in July. We’ve really made progress,” Lutombi said during his meeting with the governor.
He, however, informed the governor that sourcing of groundwater during the construction has been their biggest challenge, adding that another important project underway involved the resealing of the Okahandja-Otjiwarongo road.
Iipinge agreed with Lutombi that the Grootfontein-Tsumkwe roads should be prioritised and construction should start as soon as funds have been acquired.
“Development cannot be attained without proper road infrastructure, so we need to maintain them. I can, however, say that generally most of the roads are well maintained,” Iipinge said.
He further proposed that the RA should assist them with expatriates when local companies are revamping roads in the region, while making reference to some roads in the Otjiwarongo that are damaged as a result of sub-standard work.
“We need to build a harmonious relationship, whereby your engineers can inspect our roads and then report to us on the way forward. As you know our country is faced with a shortage of engineers,” Iipinge noted.