The Roads Authority has launched a N$13 million project control system aimed at strengthening oversight of road projects, improving accountability and allowing government to identify delays, cost increases and other implementation risks earlier.
Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi said the system would give the Roads Authority an integrated platform to plan, monitor and manage projects throughout their life cycle, bringing together information on budgets, expenditure, schedules, progress and performance.
"The value of the Project Control System is therefore not simply in reporting what has already happened, but an absolute scientific instrument in project management," Nekundi said.
The system will use dashboards, spatial mapping and mobile reporting to give decision-makers a clearer picture of where road investments are going and whether projects are delivering value for money.
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Nekundi said early identification of problems was critical because project delays can lead to rising costs and other contractual and implementation challenges.
"This project will therefore help propel our government, particularly the Ministry of Works and Transport, National Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance and other ministries, offices, agencies and the Roads Authority towards a more coordinated, proactive and data-driven approach to all road project management," he said.
The Roads Authority manages nearly 50 000 kilometres of roads valued at approximately N$220 billion, making effective project management and maintenance important to protecting one of Namibia's key public assets.
Nekundi also warned that delayed road maintenance ultimately increases costs for road users and the wider economy.
"Road maintenance must never be viewed merely as an expenditure, but as an essential investment in preserving Namibia's infrastructure," he said.
Once its data population is completed, the system is expected to provide authorised external stakeholders, including government ministries, state-owned enterprises, regional and local authorities, contractors and consultants, with access to summarised project information through reports, graphs, dashboards and maps.
Nekundi said the system would improve transparency by making project information more visible and accessible, while supporting better coordination and decision-making.
However, he cautioned that the technology itself would not guarantee better project outcomes.
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"The project control system will only be as effective as the people who use it, and the quality of the data entered into it. It's success will depend on accurate timely and reliable information from project managers, engineers, planners financial officials and contact managers," he added.
The launch forms part of government's broader digitalisation agenda, with Nekundi linking the system to Namibia's National Digital Strategy and NDP6 objectives on digital transformation, efficient public administration and improved service delivery.
