Response delivered by minister of urban and rural development James Sankwasa in the National Assembly, Windhoek, 18 September 2025
I rise to respond to the questions that have been asked by bishop Festus Thomas of BCP in the order that I am going to read hereafter.
What is happening there?
The project was terminated due to the contractor’s non-performance and quality issues. Following the termination of the contract, the council started a process of sourcing a new contractor to complete the remaining activities.
A new contractor was appointed in June 2025 and a site handover was held on 2 July 2025. The project is expected to finish by the end of August 2025, within two months.
What was the period given to the contractor to finish the work?
The project was awarded to the contractor on 8 April 2021, with a commencement date of 22 April 2021 until 22 November 2021 (seven months). The project was extended to 31 March 2022 following an extension of time claim from the contractor that was granted.
This extension of time was necessitated by land claims by the local church, which required the council to redesign the road route. Negotiations and compensations in this regard took time. However, even after that extension, the contractor still failed to complete the project timeously. Following these protracted delays, the contract was terminated in May 2024, after all legal requirements were covered.
Why was the pavement left unfinished?
Due to the contract termination, which was a result of non-performance.
Was this road under budgeted?
No, the project was not under budgeted.
Can you investigate that road and explain the steps?
All necessary steps are done, and all unfinished activities, which are mainly the paving of the pedestrian walkways along this road, are already under construction by a new contractor after the termination of the underperforming contractor.
I so submit.
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