Africa-Press – Namibia. National Council Member for the Rundu Rural Constituency, Paulus Mbangu, has called for a fairer approach to road infrastructure development during the ongoing discussions on the Roads Bill.
The bill, which aims to improve the management and distribution of Namibia’s road network, is being debated in the National Council to address issues of accessibility, economic connectivity, and infrastructure equity across the country.
In his speech, Mbangu responded to statements made by Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, who suggested that road equity should be assessed based solely on the length of roads in each region.
While acknowledging the complexity of the issue, Mbangu disagreed with the minister’s approach, saying it ignored regional disparities in road infrastructure.
“I feel compelled to clarify and disabuse the assertions made by Hon. Nekundi regarding the allocation of resources for road development,” Mbangu said. “It is crucial that we engage in an honest and transparent discussion about this matter.”
Nekundi had stated that the Karas region has the longest road network, followed by Kavango East, Hardap, and Otjozondjupa.
However, Mbangu argued that this approach oversimplified the issue, pointing out that Kavango East has some of the lowest amounts of road infrastructure, with only 344.4 kilometres of bitumen roads.
He stressed that this limitation hinders connectivity and economic development.
“Kavango East has one of the lowest amounts of road infrastructure, with just 344.4 kilometres of bitumen roads, which hinders both connectivity and economic development,” Mbangu said. “It is critical to account for other factors such as accessibility, population density, and economic activity when making decisions about road resource allocation.”
The bill is designed to organise road management and ensure that resources are distributed equally across all regions.
Mbangu emphasised that road equity should not be based solely on the length of roads but should consider the specific needs of the people in each region.
“We must consider the population’s needs and the economic potential of areas when determining how to allocate road development resources,” he added.
In the 2024/25 financial year, the government allocated a total of N$3.2 billion to the Ministry of Works and Transport.
This funding covers various programmes, including road infrastructure development, maritime and airport infrastructure, railway network development, and public works and property management.
The Roads Fund Administration (RFA) has requested approximately N$7 billion for the same period, with N$5.8 billion earmarked for the national road network.
These funds will be used to maintain and rehabilitate key road projects, such as the Rundu-Divundu road, the Keetmanshoop-Mariental section, and the Karibib-Omaruru road.
For More News And Analysis About Namibia Follow Africa-Press
