Efundja access roads progressing well

Efundja access roads progressing well The Roads Authority's N$112-million flood mitigation project, which aims to build 25 new gravel access roads to 33 flood-prone schools and clinics in the Omusati and Ohangwena regions, is in full swing.

The building of the roads and culverts has been subcontracted to Kettu Investment, Sash Trading, Moza Investment, Eponga and Tangeni and Odjove jv N'olune under the supervision of the RA and WML Consulting Engineers.

The RA says it is satisfied with the quality of work done so far, eight months into the 15-month project.

“The main objective of this project is to provide access to schools and clinics during flood periods. The project is expected to be completed by March 2019 and so far it is progressing well, and 43% of the work has been completed,” says RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon.

“The project has been split into six construction lots with different lengths of access roads to be constructed. Five lots are currently under construction.”

Former works minister Alpheus !Naruseb commissioned the project last year as part of a climate-change mitigation programme co-funded by the government and the German development bank KfW.

!Naruseb said they were expected to apply labour-based construction methods.

Fillemon says the RA has adopted a capacity building approach that differs from previous labour-based contracts in Namibia.

“The objective is to provide opportunities for emerging contractors who gained experience on previous labour-based projects as SME contractors and have successfully participated in the emerging contractor courses offered by the RA.”

During the past rainy season, 64 schools were closed in Omusati, and 19 309 pupils were sent home because of the seasonal efundja flooding.

At the launch at Okalongo in Omusati, !Naruseb said the road project was an effort to alleviate the plight of rural communities in Ohangwena and Omusati during the rainy season when access to services is cut off.

The Oshana, Omusati and Ohangwena regions are prone to seasonal flooding that makes roads impassable during the rainy season. The three regions form part of the Cuvelai Delta that starts in Angola and ends at the Etosha Pan.

ILENI NANDJATO