Nekundi tells RA to deal with high cost of tenders, consulting

Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi has instructed the Roads Authority (RA) to address the rising costs of road construction and the increasing reliance on external consultants.

Nekundi raised these concerns at a meeting held on 9 April at the Ministry of Works and Transport’s
headquarters.

While sources described the meeting as heated, Nekundi denied this, but confirmed giving the instructions.

“To this effect, I am not aware of any heated meeting with the Roads Authority or any other state-owned enterprise. I
gave instructions to the Roads Authority, which were accepted with ease,” he told The Namibian last week.

Nekundi further instructed the RA to look into the conditions and accessibility of feeder roads, and the effectiveness
of ongoing road maintenance efforts.

The minister said there is a need for transparency in the allocation of regional budgets within the RA, and raised
concerns about the appointment of directors and the engagement of consultants.

Nekundi further directed attention to progress on the establishment of a new Namibia Traffic Information Systems
(Natis) office at Katutura, as well as the light rehabilitation of the TR8/4, commonly known as the Rundu-Divundu road,
a strategic route in the Kavango East region that supports both local mobility and regional trade.

The RA is the latest to face Nekundi’s wrath, after he warned Namport earlier this month to prioritise national
interests and stop sidelining Namibians in public contracts.

Nekundi said the practice of issuing hundreds of millions (in contracts) and money flowing outside the country
cannot continue and also asked the RA to minimise the use of consultants. Nekundi then directed the RA to uphold
fairness and transparency in its recruitment.

This follows a report submitted to Nekundi accusing the RA of favouring candidates from a certain region.

RA chief executive Conrad Lutombi last week denied the allegations.

Lutombi also denied that he had a heated meeting with the minister. He said he applauded the minister for how he
handled the information regarding the recruitment report.

“The minister was given information about recruitment by some people who may have hidden agendas. I applauded
the way he handled it. We gave him the report to show that the information given to him was not a true
representation,” he said.

Lutombi said he doesn’t believe in tribalism, adding he doesn’t even sit in on the appointment process.

“I am here to build the country. If people are engaged in where you are from, it makes me sick. People can go to the
Roads Authority and get the full list of those employed. We can never run a country like that. People must be
appointed on merit,” he said.

Lutombi said the meeting between the ministry and the RA was productive.

“We asked him to give us time and to see which roads can be designed internally. He spoke of Natis at Katutura. We
are looking at it. We also discussed what work can be done internally instead of giving it to consultants.”

RA spokesperson Hileni Fillemon last week said the authority provided answers on all the matters from the minister
that needed clarity in the meeting.

“No transparency reports were requested to be submitted after the meeting,” she said.
Fillemon said the RA is committed to upholding transparency, fairness, and integrity in all its operations, including
recruitment and selection processes.

“We strive to attract and retain competent professionals through a clear, merit-based, and accountable hiring
process. All vacancies are publicly advertised through our official platforms and media to ensure equal opportunity and
accessibility,” she said.