The Chief Executive Officer of the Roads Authority (RA), Conrad Lutombi, says the institution needs about N$15 billion to carry out its five-year integrated strategic business plan.

Lutombi says most of this funding would come from the line ministry, as well as road user charges through the Road Fund Administration and loans and grants from development partners.

"This strategy is going to cost us about 15 billion, and when we look at the availability of funds, we are very optimistic that we will be able. Already, this financial year, we have more than $5 billion, so we will be able to cover it."

During his presentation, the CEO said the five-year strategic plan would ensure Namibia's road network is safer, more economical, and socially responsive to the needs of the country.

"We want to construct 700 km of bitumen road, 215 km of gravel road, and rehabilitate 410 km, which is a lot, almost from here to Keetmanshoop. That is a high target for the next 5 years. To reseal about 715km of bitumen road and to re-gravel about 5 367 km of gravel."

The five-year plan includes efforts to enhance service delivery at NaTIS to 85% customer satisfaction.

The Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, says that even though all regional capitals are linked through tar roads, the situation is different when it comes to constituencies.

"The situation now is to accelerate; if only money was like sand. It's to accelerate the linking of our constituencies, villages, and, more importantly, feeder roads. The access roads to government institutions, our production centers, where we produce our food, and where we keep our animals. Because this concept of roads is easily understood when we sit in a beautiful place like this. But I can tell you that in large parts of the villages and constituencies that you represent, people are cut off if you go there. If you ask them what a road is, the only answer will probably be, "It's the pathway we walk to get to school."