An envisaged upgrade of a 140-kilometre gravel road between Aussenkehr and Luderitz in the ||Kharas Region to a standard bitumen road will enable grape producing farmers to export their produce directly to the European market through the port of Luderitz.

This is according to Alfeus Kaushiweni, the Chairperson of the National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Roads.

The Oversight Committee is in the region to examine road infrastructure while equally engaging with stakeholders to discuss challenges they face when it comes to the construction and maintenance of roads.

Apart from six other large-scale grape producers in the south of the country, the Namibia Grape Company contributes more than N$40 million to state coffers annually.

Most of the produce is currently transported via South Africa through the Noordoewer border post, which experts say is time-consuming while companies fork out thousands of dollars on fuel and other non-essential items.

Kaushiweni says that once constructed, the road will boost economic activity in the region.

"It is a very important road because it cuts the distance also, so from here those two harbours are the gate of our most products to the European and international markets. If you look at Aussenkehr, there are gapes and so on, but currently our gapes are exported through South Africa because it is impossible for the trucks to transport such products to our nearest harbour, which is Luderitz, because of such a gravel road, which is not good for the trucks."

Residents of Rosh Pinah and Aussenkehr have welcomed the oversight committee's visit to the area and urged them to expedite the construction of the envisaged road.

Community Activist  Jimmy Boois said, "Construction of these roads will also create job opportunities for the local community, and that is something that will boost the living standards of the people. We hope that with this employment creation, people will have funds and there will be money in circulation here in the town."

Simon Shigwedha, a community activist at Rosh Pinah, says that during the rainy season, the roads are not accessible, making travel for grape workers a struggle.

"Our colleagues that are working in Aussenkehr used to be stuck because once the bridges broke because the water used to blow out, they could stay for one or two months and never come to get treatment, so we want that road to be built to a good standard so that the people can travel every time and 24 hours."

No date has yet been set for the upgrading of the road between Rosh Pinah and Aussenkehr, as the oversight committee still needs to compile its findings and present them to parliament.