President opens tarred Aus-Rosh Pinah road

THE newly tarred road from Aus to Rosh Pinah in the south was officially opened on Wednesday.

President Hifikepunye Pohamba inaugurated the N$335 million, 169-km road connecting the two southern mining towns with the rest of the country. “The Aus-Rosh Pinah road should be regarded as one of the pillars of our infrastructure,” Pohamba said.Pohamba said reliable infrastructure should be put in place to ensure a safe and efficient transport sector.Pohamba said road master plans for various regions have already been completed.In terms of the plans, roads will be built in rural areas to promote trade and movement of people.The president expressed concern over the number of accidents that occur on the country’s roads.He urged motorists to drive within the speed limits and guard against vandalism of national assets.Speaking at the same event, Roads Authority (RA) Board Chairman Tuliname Emvula said the RA suffered from “an acute shortage of funds” to meet the country’s road infrastructure demands.”It is not a question of mismanaging what we have.Yet we do not deny that we are tightening screws on all and any areas that could or is suspected of allowing unnecessary loss or illegitimate utilisation of funds,” he said.He said slightly more than 5 000 km of Namibia’s 42 000-km road network was now tarred.The Aus-Rosh Pinah road project was co-financed by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).Construction started in December 2003 and was completed in January this year.Plans to tar the gravel road between Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund are also on the cards.”The Aus-Rosh Pinah road should be regarded as one of the pillars of our infrastructure,” Pohamba said.Pohamba said reliable infrastructure should be put in place to ensure a safe and efficient transport sector.Pohamba said road master plans for various regions have already been completed.In terms of the plans, roads will be built in rural areas to promote trade and movement of people.The president expressed concern over the number of accidents that occur on the country’s roads.He urged motorists to drive within the speed limits and guard against vandalism of national assets.Speaking at the same event, Roads Authority (RA) Board Chairman Tuliname Emvula said the RA suffered from “an acute shortage of funds” to meet the country’s road infrastructure demands.”It is not a question of mismanaging what we have.Yet we do not deny that we are tightening screws on all and any areas that could or is suspected of allowing unnecessary loss or illegitimate utilisation of funds,” he said.He said slightly more than 5 000 km of Namibia’s 42 000-km road network was now tarred.The Aus-Rosh Pinah road project was co-financed by the African Development Bank (ADB) and the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA).Construction started in December 2003 and was completed in January this year.Plans to tar the gravel road between Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund are also on the cards.