RA needs more than N$230m for northern roads repair

Roads Authority (RA) chief executive Conrad Lutombi says more than N$230 million is needed for the overall repair work for the damaged roads in the northern regions.

He says many communities in the rural areas have been cut off from accessing basic essentials as many of the gravel roads are washed away, leaving the affected community members in a vulnerable state.

Lutombi says RA will deploy road contractors in the field to fix the roads damaged by the recent floods by next week as a matter of urgency before the Easter holidays.

He said this during his visit to assess the flood-damaged roads in the northern regions on Thursday.

“We are not only here to look at the damaged roads but we are here to find solutions to the problem. We have encountered that most of the gravel roads in the rural areas have been washed away and some are submerged in water.

“This is a serious concern because it is affecting schools and healthcare centres. We, therefore, plan to restore accessibility of the damaged roads first before the Easter holidays and will thereafter proceed to fully rehabilitate the roads after the Easter holidays,” he said.

Lutombi said floods are a major threat to road network infrastructure.

He said roads in the Kunene region are the most affected by the floods as many of them are in a dilapidated state.

“In the Omusati region, many roads are washed away and some are submerged in water. In the Oshana region, the most affected road is the Okapya-Okaku road which has been washed away and needs urgent repairs. In the Oshikoto region we have the Olukonda road that is washed away,” said Lutombi.

He further urged the community to remain patient and avoid crossing or driving through the submerged roads to avoid any fatalities.