Katima to appoint ‘competent’ road contractors

CHALLENGE … Katima Mulilo is faced with ongoing road issues due to a lack of funds. Photo: Lugeretzia Kooper

Zambezi regional governor Lawrence Sampofu has urged the Katima Mulilo Town Council to ensure they award road tenders to competent companies to avoid paying twice for the same job.

He made this call on Friday during the signing of a five-year agreement by the Katima Mulilo Town Council’s chief executive officer (CEO), Raphael Liswaniso, Roads Authority (RA) CEO Conrad Lutombi and Road Fund Administration (RFA) CEO Ali Ipinge at Katima Mulilo.

Through this agreement between the three entities, the RA and RFA will assist the town council with financial and technical support to improve Katima Mulilo’s dilapidated road infrastructure.

Sampofu said he does not want to see shoddy work regarding the town’s roads.

“Do not appoint people who come with rakes and wheelbarrows to construct the roads. We have the MR125 LLiselo-Linyanti-Kongola-Singalamwe and the Brenden Simbwaye, which are low-volume seal roads, but they’re still standing.

“Let’s ensure we have such roads at our town as well by appointing competent people,” he said.

Sampofu said proper road infrastructure would attract more investors to the town.

Liswaniso said the agreement presents a remarkable opportunity to transform the town’s road infrastructure.

He said over the past three decades, a staggering 90% of Katima Mulilo’s roads have been nothing more than dust patches, which is a reflection of the challenges they face due to a lack of funds.

“As a town council, we bear the responsibility of constructing and maintaining these roads, yet we derive no income from these endeavours. This agreement will assist us greatly, as the RA will provide us with available capacity building and income support, which will enable us to implement projects of the highest quality.

“We also have high hopes that the funding provided by the RFA will pave the way for substantial improvements in our road networks,” he said.

Liswaniso said 60 roads have been earmarked to be upgraded and resurfaced, including Hage Geingob Avenue, Dr Sam Nujoma Drive, and Natis-Makavan West Road.

Ipinge said the RFA has realised it lacks capacity building skills in carrying out road maintenance and rehabilitation.

“We want to make sure when a project starts and is completed on time, the design standards meet the requisite standards that will enable the road to have a longer lifespan.

“Basically, through this agreement as the RFA we want to see value for money,” he said.

Speaking at the same event Lutombi said the RA hopes the challenges faced by the town council as far as road infrastructure is concerned would be resolved through its technical capacity.

He said the RA is committed to ensuring it starts working on one of the earmarked roads by September.

Stay informed with The Namibian – your source for credible journalism. Get in-depth reporting and opinions for only N$85 a month. Invest in journalism, invest in democracy –
Subscribe Now!

Latest News