First phase of Gochas-Tses road expansion completed

//Kharas governor Aletha Frederick says the government is determined to upgrade and develop the country’s road infrastructure. Frederick says a lack of road infrastructure or poor road network systems are barriers to agriculture, and industry and trade and may hinder the process of urbanisation and socio-economic development.

She said this when she handed over a certificate of appreciation to China Henan International Cooporation (Chico) Group yesterday for completing phase 1 of the N$532 million Gochas-to-Tses road expansion and rehabilitation project two months before its expected completion date.

“The government of this country is committed to road infrastructure development and against that background, the government is investing in upgrading the country’s road infrastructure,” said Frederick.

Road infrastructure construction and development is essential in banishing hunger, alleviating poverty, and improving the quality of human life, she said. The road rehabilitation and expansion project commenced in January 2021 from the Gochas junction in the Hardap region to Tses in the //Kharas region.

The rehabilitation of the road is, however, expected to stretch into Grunau settlement.

The project employed 845 workers from villages along the stretch of the 87,8km, selected from databases created at constituency offices in the Hardap and //Kharas regions under the auspices of the Hardap governor Solomon April and Frederick. “We, as residents of the region, are overwhelmed by the quality of work done by Chico.

This project has furthermore changed the livelihoods of locals in that it provided them with jobs that brought financial betterment. “I want to thank Chico, all subcontractors and the various stakeholders involved in the construction of the road,” the governor said.

Project manager Hongbo Zhang said the completion of phase 1 was only possible with the support of the government, employees and relevant stakeholders.

“Without you, the two governors, support from the roads authority and other role-players, this would not be possible,” he said. Road user Ezekiel !Aochamub said the expanded road gives drivers peace of mind as there is no congestion.

He praised the team for improving road signage and adding lights to the road surface for improved visibility.

“I love driving on this road now. I feel proud as a Namibian . . . They must also keep their promise of going up to Grünau, because our people also still need jobs,” !Aochamub said.

The official handover of the road to the government is expected to take place in February.