The Roads Authority has announced that it will spend N$230 million to fix damaged road sections in the northern regions of Oshana, Ohangwena, Oshikoto, Omusati, and Kunene.

The planned work will not only focus on repairing the roads themselves but will also cover the upgrading of drainage systems where necessary. The move comes as many of these roads have become difficult to use, especially during the rainy season.

Apart from the displacement of people caused by the submerged homes and crop fields in affected areas, the road infrastructure is also hard hit.

Gravel roads have become a hazard to use and have seen hundreds of community members now trapped in their localities.

In the urban centres, potholes have become commonplace on the roads, causing damage to vehicles that frequent them.

Roads Authority Chief Executive Officer Conrad Lutombi, who together with his team assessed the roads in Oshana Region, says some roads were severely damaged and have to be urgently restored .

He says the restoration process will start on Monday so that people who are planning to travel to their homes during the Easter holiday will be able to make use of those roads without hindrance.

Severely affected roads in the regions are around 25, and community members have been seen using donkey carts, while where possible, some use boats, including makeshift ones.

The roads will be rehabilitated by Kambwa Trading, Otesa, Nexus, Unique, Eponga, Emirates, and RCC companies in the five regions, who will be deployed by Monday to work on affected roads.

The roads authority says the budget limitations for emergency repairs, lack of sufficient stormwater channels, especially in older areas, and continued rainfall and influx of water from neighbouring Angola remain a challenge to prompt responses.

The Easter holiday customarily records a high influx of people returning to their places of birth to observe the Christian holiday, but with many key access roads damaged, many might be forced to observe it away from their families.