The Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Freeway: A milestone for Namibia’s growth

President Nangolo Mbumba at the official opening of the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Freeway, Walvis Bay, 7 March 2025

I am proud and honoured to have been invited to this momentous occasion on which we mark the official opening of MR 44, the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Freeway.

It has been said that there are many roads to prosperity, but one must be taken. 

In Namibia we can take pride in the fact that we have taken our road towards prosperity, which is symbolised by today’s road opening and the many other road openings we have witnessed since our independence. These events are indicative of a country on the move on the road towards prosperity, thanks to the sound foundation put in place by our trio of exceptional leaders, namely the late Sam ‘Shafiishuna’ Nujoma, Hifikepunye Pohamba, and Hage Geingob – our first, second and third presidents.

Over the past several weeks and throughout the preceding months, we have heard many statements celebrating and bestowing honour on our two departed iconic leaders, founding president Nujoma and former president Geingob. Today, I want to take this opportunity to talk about the other icon, former president Pohamba, whom we are grateful to have still among us.

President Pohamba’s heroic exploits in pursuit of the liberation of Namibia and its people are forever etched in the fabric of our democracy. Indeed, the road he took towards freedom remains a great source of inspiration to many of us.

Furthermore, we commend and thank him for the invaluable role he has played in an independent Namibia. As president, his astuteness and steady-handed leadership consolidated democracy, peace and stability in our nation. Under his able leadership, our nation continued to undergo consistent economic development and transformation. It is therefore fitting that we are naming this modern and very strategic road after such a distinguished son of the soil.

The MR 44, the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Freeway, previously referred to as “the road behind Dune 7”, stretches 42km, linking the coastal towns of Walvis Bay and Swakopmund. This is a welcome and much-needed addition to our national road network.

Namibia’s road network is a crucial economic enabler, linking us to our neighbours through key transport corridors, such as the Trans-Kalahari Corridor, the Walvis Bay-Ndola-Lubumbashi Development Corridor, the Trans-Cunene Corridor, and the Trans-Oranje Corridor. These corridors serve as vital arteries for trade, fostering economic cooperation in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region.

This road network is in line with our initiative to transform Namibia into a logistics hub for the region. Beyond its strategic benefits, this project has also made meaningful contributions to job creation and economic growth. I am glad to note that a total of 40 local suppliers and subcontractors and 11 small and medium enterprise (SME) subcontractors participated in this project. 

N$200 million was spent on local suppliers (N$150 million) and SME subcontractors (N$50 million), and approximately 650 jobs were created for local people during the construction phase.

I am informed that Phase 2 of this project, which extends the dual carriageway from Main Road 44 to the Walvis Bay traffic circle, is already underway, with completion expected by mid-2025. Additionally, plans are in place to rehabilitate Main Road 54 (coastal road) into a dual carriageway (30km), with construction set to commence in April 2026.

We commend the Roads Authority for its diligence in overseeing the project, as well as UNIK/Thohi Joint Venture, the main contractor, and SMEC Namibia, the consulting firm, for its expertise and dedication.

In conclusion, the completion of the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Freeway marks a significant achievement in our pursuit of economic growth and regional integration. As we celebrate this milestone, let us also remember our revered and recently departed founding president Sam Nujoma, who laid the foundation for Namibia’s development. 

Today we can proudly say that his Vision 2030 remains alive in every kilometre of new roads we build, in every new job we create, and in every business opportunity we unlock for future generations.

Let us continue working together to build a Namibia that is peaceful, connected and prosperous.

With that, it is my distinct honour to officially declare the Dr Hifikepunye Pohamba Freeway opened.

I thank you.