Clemencia Jacobs
17 April 2009
Windhoek — The Roads Authority (RA) announced this week that the shortage of funds was the main challenge it is currently facing.
It needs N$1.4 billion for its project but will only be able to raise N$530 million through the Road Administration Fund (RFA) for the 2009/2010 financial year.
Minister of Works and Transport, Helmut Angula, said the desire to build and maintain more roads is always there, but the lack of funds is acute. He said the Tsumeb-Katwitwi road link, which was inaugurated by President Hifikepunye Pohamba two weeks ago, needs N$900 million to complete, while the road between Rundu and Elundu will cost N$1.3 billion to upgrade.
"On average, constructing a kilometre of tarred road cost about N$4 million. The government does not have this much monies given our small population. I wish that a good sum of money will be dedicated to road infrastructure," Angula said.
The RA is also busy working on other projects such as the Okahandja-Karibib road which is expected to cost N$290 million, the Omakange-Okahoa road which is estimated to cost N$320 million and the Okahao-Outapi road which will cost N$57 million.
Angula said roads are the conveyor of economic growth in any given country and that he hopes the roads being constructed will be responsive to the economic development needs of the country.
"I therefore call upon the RA to continue upgrading the remaining gravel roads in an effort to bring the rest of the country to bitumen standards. It is critical that these roads are well designed for now and the future so that when traffic on these routes increases, we do not witness frequent accidents because of the narrowness or poor design of these roads," Angula said.
He called upon Namibians to participate and support construction and maintenance efforts by guarding against vandalism and overloading.
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