Tarred road for Eenhana, Okongo possible in 2006

OSHAKATI – Financial constraints on the part of the Government will not allow the immediate tarring of the Eenhana-Okongo gravel road in the Ohangwena Region despite persistent demands from the community.

This was revealed to Nampa by Ohangwena Regional Councillor for the Okongo constituency, Paulus Mwahanyekange, in a recent interview. Residents of Okongo last year handed the Ohangwena Regional Council a petition demanding the immediate tarring of the road.They wanted an answer from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication before the end of November.The Okongo community, which is most affected by the road, said in their petition that many lives were lost in car accidents because the road was in a poor condition.They also indicated to the authorities that some patients at the Okongo District Hospital that were referred to bigger hospitals like the Onandjokwe and Oshakati State Hospitals died on the way because of the poor condition of the road.Mwahanyekange told Nampa that Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Dr Moses Amweelo, had visited the constituency in December to explain Government’s position to the community.He said in terms of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2, the tarring of the Eenhana-Okongo road was planned for 2006 after the tarring of the Nkurenkuru-Rundu gravel road in the Kavango Region.He added that Amweelo had told the Okongo community that the Japanese government had decided to fund the tarring of the Nkurenkuru-Rundu road.Amweelo, according to Mwahanyekange, had also told the community that plans were in the pipeline to have the Eenhana-Okongo road tarred once funds became available.The Eenhana-Okongo road is part of what is envisaged as the region’s main road in the future: starting from the Ondangwa-Oshikango road at Onhuno, via Eenhana and Okongo, and up to Nkurenkuru in the Kavango Region.Namibia can be linked to neighbouring Angola through the Katwitwi Border Post the same road.- NampaResidents of Okongo last year handed the Ohangwena Regional Council a petition demanding the immediate tarring of the road. They wanted an answer from the Ministry of Works, Transport and Communication before the end of November. The Okongo community, which is most affected by the road, said in their petition that many lives were lost in car accidents because the road was in a poor condition. They also indicated to the authorities that some patients at the Okongo District Hospital that were referred to bigger hospitals like the Onandjokwe and Oshakati State Hospitals died on the way because of the poor condition of the road. Mwahanyekange told Nampa that Minister of Works, Transport and Communication, Dr Moses Amweelo, had visited the constituency in December to explain Government’s position to the community. He said in terms of the National Development Plan (NDP) 2, the tarring of the Eenhana-Okongo road was planned for 2006 after the tarring of the Nkurenkuru-Rundu gravel road in the Kavango Region. He added that Amweelo had told the Okongo community that the Japanese government had decided to fund the tarring of the Nkurenkuru-Rundu road. Amweelo, according to Mwahanyekange, had also told the community that plans were in the pipeline to have the Eenhana-Okongo road tarred once funds became available. The Eenhana-Okongo road is part of what is envisaged as the region’s main road in the future: starting from the Ondangwa-Oshikango road at Onhuno, via Eenhana and Okongo, and up to Nkurenkuru in the Kavango Region. Namibia can be linked to neighbouring Angola through the Katwitwi Border Post the same road. – Nampa