N$530m road unlocks new opportunities
Otjozondjupa governor Otto Iipinge has welcomed the completion of the Okamatapati-Grootfontein road that was inaugurated by President Hage Geingob at Grootfontein on Friday, saying that it will enhance mobility for farmers and tourists in the area.
The 110km tarred road cost N$530.6 million and was built by a Chinese company, China Henan International Cooperation Group.
It is part of a project to tar the 231 kilometres from Gobabis via Otjinene and Okamatapati to Grootfontein over four years.
The road project is fully funded by the Namibian government.
“Our government is making strategic investments in the expansion of Namibia's roads because they are vital to economic growth and development of our nation. A sound transport network enables efficient movement of people, goods and services,” Iipinge said.
“I believe that this road will improve the free movement of our rural communities, especially our farmers and traders in indigenous products, linking them to main towns and providing access to government services and auctions in these nearby towns.
“It will also boost tourism in the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions by providing easier access to tourism facilities in the two regions,” he said.
President Geingob said every addition to the road network empowered more people by providing them with access to other parts of the country.
“For the country to achieve its full economic potential, we have to prioritise the upgrading of our transport infrastructure systems.
“We have set ourselves specific targets to achieve these ambitions. For instance, one of our Harambee period goals for infrastructure is the extension of our bitumen roads by a distance of 526 kilometres,” Geingob said.
He added that during the fourth National Development Plan (NDP 4) period, the government decided to position Namibia as a gateway into and logistics hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region by the year 2025.
He said the new road formed part of Route 301 of the SADC Regional Trunk Road Network and was therefore of national, regional and international significance. The network would link Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Angola, via Namibia.
ILENI NANDJATO
The 110km tarred road cost N$530.6 million and was built by a Chinese company, China Henan International Cooperation Group.
It is part of a project to tar the 231 kilometres from Gobabis via Otjinene and Okamatapati to Grootfontein over four years.
The road project is fully funded by the Namibian government.
“Our government is making strategic investments in the expansion of Namibia's roads because they are vital to economic growth and development of our nation. A sound transport network enables efficient movement of people, goods and services,” Iipinge said.
“I believe that this road will improve the free movement of our rural communities, especially our farmers and traders in indigenous products, linking them to main towns and providing access to government services and auctions in these nearby towns.
“It will also boost tourism in the Omaheke and Otjozondjupa regions by providing easier access to tourism facilities in the two regions,” he said.
President Geingob said every addition to the road network empowered more people by providing them with access to other parts of the country.
“For the country to achieve its full economic potential, we have to prioritise the upgrading of our transport infrastructure systems.
“We have set ourselves specific targets to achieve these ambitions. For instance, one of our Harambee period goals for infrastructure is the extension of our bitumen roads by a distance of 526 kilometres,” Geingob said.
He added that during the fourth National Development Plan (NDP 4) period, the government decided to position Namibia as a gateway into and logistics hub for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region by the year 2025.
He said the new road formed part of Route 301 of the SADC Regional Trunk Road Network and was therefore of national, regional and international significance. The network would link Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana and Angola, via Namibia.
ILENI NANDJATO
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