The Governor of Oshana Region Hofni Iipinge is urging the Road Construction Company (RCC), community members, and stakeholders to work together to fast-track the DR3607 Oshakati - Ompundja - Naruvanda Gate gravel road upgrade to a low seal volume standard.

The RCC is contracted to upgrade the 95-kilometre stretch and to ensure successful completion of what he termed the region's biggest capital project.

Iipinge was speaking during a consultative engagement with stakeholders inclusive of traditional leaders from the three constituencies of Oshakati East, Ompundja and Uuvudhiya, through which the road passes.

The road is expected to be completed in three phases. 

Construction works for the first phase, which is about 15 kilometres from Oshakati to Ompundja, are already underway with an allocated cost of N$30 million, while the rest of the phases are still under procurement.

'Contractors, I am asking you, my humble request, please don't fail the people of this region,' because I will be on your neck, I will be on you, and I am not going to negotiate. I am not going to negotiate, and I just want this to be clear that I am not going to negotiate because we are not going to negotiate. We are here to give service to our people, which is very long overdue," stressed Iipinge.

Harley Simasiku is Roads Authority's (RA) project manager.

"By the low-volume seal standard, we are not saying it is the road of low quality; it actually refers to the road having a low traffic volume, but the quality is still of good quality, and it's only the traffic volume that we have on the road, so we refer to it as a low-volume seal."

Meanwhile, Inspector of Education for Ompundja Circuit, Hofni Kapolo, welcomes the development, and this is what he had to say:

"When this project is completed, it will be so good, easier for us as school managers to take our learners for the tours at Etosha National Park, which is the shortest way from Oshakati to Naruvanda Gate."