The Roads Authority (RA) will spend some N$230 million to fix gravel roads in northern Namibia which have been washed away by rain.
The work will rehabilitate about 25 roads in the four northern regions of Oshikoto, Ohangwena, Oshana, Omusati and northern Kunene region.
This was said yesterday by RA’s chief executive officer Dr. Conrad Lutombi when he made a visit to assess the affected areas.
“We came here not to look at the damage, but to provide a solution,” Lutombi said when he made a curtesy visit at the office of Oshana Governor Elia Irimari.
Lutombi was accompanied by a strong delegation of experts in roads construction and maintenance from his northern offices.
“As we are all aware that we received heavy rains, leading to floods, we encountered some roads, gravel roads, damaged. Some are submerged. It is affecting schools, clinics, and access to villages.
“Therefore we have developed a strategy to deal with this damage. First is to restore access to villages by Easter.
“Then the medium to long term work is to restore all roads, so that if it rain again heavily next season the roads can’t be submerged.”
Lutombi said that in Opuwo a section of the road was completely washed away.
“In Omusati we have roads damaged. In Oshana, the Okaku-Okapya road is very critical. In Ohangwena the road to Endola-Engela, in Oshikoto the road to Olukonda, all these roads are in a critical state which needs urgent attention.”
Lutombi made trips to look at some of the damaged roads. As he went along the Onamutuku-Omapopo-Onkani DR3643 gravel road he was accompanied by Elim Constituency Councillor Mr Gerhard Shiimi and Mr Sheehama David of Kambwa Construction which will fix the roads in Omusati and parts of Oshana.
Lutombi also visited the Okatana-Amutanga-Omulathitu-Onanime road, the Okapya-Okaku-Ohalushu road.
His itinerary also included the Oluno-Uukwiyuuushona road, Olukonda road, Engoyi-Omuntele road, and Onyati-Onyuulaye-Okankolo roads.
In the photo: RA’s CEO Dr. Conrad Lutombi explaining to Elim Councillor Gerhard Shiimi about the urgent work to be done on this road between Onamutuku and Omapopo settlements to ensure that small cars can also travel along the road. Currently only big vehicles can go through the water flowing over the road.
