RFA revenue at N$3,5b

Revenue for the Road Fund Administration (RFA) has grown from N$300 million to N$3,5 billion.

Speaking during the Road Sector Policy Conference in Windhoek yesterday, RFA chief executive Ali Ipinge said this growth in revenue is commendable when compared to other road funds.

“When RFA started, we were looking at revenue of N$300 million, but now we are looking at revenue of N$3,5 billion,” he said.

Road Authority chief executive Conrad Lutombi said there is an increasing need for expansions and rehabilitation of road infrastructure, however, there is limited investment.

“Our nation, like many, faces a growing need for infrastructure development to accommodate the increasing need for transport infrastructure,” he said.

He added that the funding availability has not kept pace to meet demand.

Minister of works and transport John Mutorwa, in a speech read by Veiko Nekundi, said the implemention of the 2018 Namibia Transport Policy is underway for the period 2018 to 2035.

The policy speaks to addressing issues the transport sector is faced with.

“Having about ten years remaining on the implementation plan, there has been improvement in the roads, road safety, aviation and maritime sub sectors,” said Mutorwa

Mutorwa said Namibia intends to become southern Africa’s logistics hub, with the aim of increasing the country’s share of transit traffic from 12% to 20%.

“This requires all modes of transport and cross border facilities. It is important to ensure that there is an integrated modal transport,” he said.

Speaking during the conference, minister of finance Iipumbu Shiimi said an efficient transport system is needed for trade and industrialisation.

He said one of the constraints Africa faces with trade is the lack of transportation infrastructure.

“Even though we have a youthful population, we will not be able to streamline those opportunities because of the lack of proper transport infrastructure,” said Shiimi.

He said there has been significant investments into the road sector but there is a backlog in railway infrastructure.

“There is a symbiotic relationship between road and rail transport and, therefore, there has to be a focus on the railway,” the minister said.

He said there has to be institutional frameworks, like those of road transport, in order for there to be an improvement.

“Going forward, more resources have to go into the railway. There are complaints that heavy trucks are driving on the roads, therefore, damaging it,” said Shiimi.

He added that there has to be a revolution of the country’s funding model, as currently, road infrastructure is funded through road levies.

“With all the changes such as electric cars becoming popular, we have to look at how we fund road infrastructure,” said Shiimi.