ENGOYI: Vice President Nangolo Mbumba has urged Namibians to work together to turn their aspirations into reality.
Mbumba said this at the official ground-breaking ceremony for the upgrading to low volume seal standards of various roads in the Oshikoto and Oshana regions on Thursday at Engoyi village in Oshikoto.
He said “together we shall navigate the road ahead by fostering progress, prosperity, and a brighter future for all Namibians” and implored the regional leadership and the communities to give their full cooperation to the contractors during the construction periods.
The various roads that will be upgraded in Oshikoto and Oshana are District Road 3645 from Engoyi to Onanke village in the Oshikoto Region; District Road 3605 from Ondangwa to Uukwiyuushona in Oshana; District Road 3683 from Uukwiyuushona to Omuntele in the Oshana and Oshikoto regions and DR 3673 (Omuthiya to Onanke in the Oshikoto Region).
“These all-weather roads will pave the way for access to healthcare, education, market and fostering inclusive growth for our rural communities,” Mbumba said.
He further stated that the upgrading of high-trafficked gravel roads to appropriate all-weather surfaced standards is a viable solution to the burden of unsealed road maintenance and preserve scarce road-building materials.
Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa emphasised how the government is busy providing rural and economic development by maintaining roads by connecting roads to other Southern African Development Community countries.
“We are now connecting our constituencies, our villages, our farms, and our cattle posts so we pay proper attention to rural economic development,” said Mutorwa.
Oshikoto Region Governor Penda Ya Ndakolo on his part said a large part of the Oshikoto Region has underdeveloped roads and urged the contractors to finish the upgrades on time.
Roads Authority Chief Executive Officer Conrad Lutombi stated that the construction of the roads will take about 10 months.
He further said they will construct more roads in the Oshikoto Region in three years’ time.
“We are at an advanced stage of commencing on the construction of the Omuthiya to Elambo road, as well as roads from Oshiti shaHaihonya to Okongo village in the Ohangwena Region, as well as Onyati to Onkumbula village,” he said.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency