Outapi — THE minister of works and transport, Errki Nghimtina, announced last week that more gravel roads would be constructed in the Omusati Region.

He said this when he officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony of the 12,6-kilometre district road between Outapi and the Okapalelona border post in the Omusati Region on Thursday.

Nghimtina said the construction of gravel District Road 3653 between Oshikuku and Ekangolinene would start in November this year, while District Road 3668 from Okalongo to Omuvelo waKasamane would be tarred, starting in January next year.

Nghimtina said he would ensure that transport services go to the most marginalised communities to ensure that they too are beneficiaries of development.

He also revealed that his ministry, through the Roads Authority, is revising regional road master plans to prioritise road construction and tarring in order to enhance economic development.

He said the Outapi-Okalelona district road, which will be jointly funded by the Namibian government and KFW of Germany at a cost of N$18,13 million, will go via Uukekete school and will also serve the Okapopo and Oshiputu schools.

The road building will create 250 jobs, mainly for those living in the area.

He said once the road was completed, Namibians would be able to transport their products easily to various local markets and across the border into Angola.

The communities, he said, should take ownership of the investment and "protect it jealously from misuse", adding that they should guard against vandalism, vehicle overloading and other activities that would reduce the lifespan of these roads.

He reminded the public that road construction is very expensive, with an average cost of N$1,5 million per kilometre for gravel and N$3,8 million per kilometre for tarred roads.