A lack of funding and lengthy procurement processes continue to hinder the development of road infrastructure in Namibia.

This is according to Timo Hatuikulipi, an engineer with the Roads Authority, speaking as a technical expert at a consultative meeting of the Road Master Plan in Omuthiya on Tuesday.

Hatuikulipi said the authority had identified 43 roads to be upgraded in 2014, but only six roads have been upgraded thus far. He clarified that the main issue hindering road infrastructure development in the region and the entire country is the lack of funding and the bureaucracy related to procurement processes.

‘The finances are hindering because they are not accommodating all the regions at the same time,’ said Hatuikulipi, adding that they currently have three projects that are too expensive and are receiving attention.

‘The freeways are located in Walvis Bay and Swakopmund (the road behind the dunes), Windhoek to Okahandja, and Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airport,’ Hatuikulipi said.

Hatuik
ulipi further stated that they want to identify the important roads in the Oshikoto Region that drive social and economic well-being.

‘We want the people to identify the roads that provide access to employment opportunities, basic facilities such as schools, health facilities, and pension payout points,’ he said.

He mentioned that they will seek funds from the central government, the Road Fund Administration, and donors such as development partners and the German Development Bank.

Hatuikulipi is currently revising the regional Road Master Plan that was identified in 2014 to determine if there are newly identified roads or new priorities.

Acting Chairperson of the Oshikoto Regional Council, Mateus Kamati, said road infrastructure is the backbone of the Oshikoto Region’s socio-economic development.

‘Roads facilitate access to education and health care, support businesses, and attract investment, thereby laying the foundation for sustainable growth,’ said Kamati.

He urged residents of Oshikoto to collabora
te closely with all stakeholders, from government agencies to private sector partners and community representatives, to identify priorities, address challenges, and seize opportunities.

Source: The Namibia Press Agency