By: Rodney Pienaar
The ministry of finance has pumped N$1.2 billion into the maintenance of the national roads during the 2018/2019 financial year.
This was revealed by Calle Schlettwein at the 17th Africa Road Maintenance Funds Association annual general assembly which is currently underway in Swakopmund.
This roughly translates to a maintenance expenditure of N$76 000 per kilometer of bitumen road and N$11 000 per kilometer of gravel road, he said.
“We have invested heavily in improving the various transports corridors including Trans Zambezi, Trans Kunene and Trans Kalahari road corridors as well as the expansion and deepening of the Port of Walvis Bay,” he said.
Amongst some of the flagship road projects that Namibia is currently undertaking are the constructions of dual carriage between Windhoek and Okahandja.
As well as the Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airports, Swakopmund to Walvis Bay and Swakopmund to Henties Bay eventually linking to Kamandjab furthers to the north.
He added that the projects will greatly improve traffic mobility, improve road safety and free mobility.
Namibia’ road infrastructure development and maintenance have historically benefited from a combination of traditional forms of financing reflecting consistent funding from both the national and sub-national budgets as well as the Road User Charges.
