The Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorua, officially handed over a site for the construction of phase two of the road that will link the Okorukambe and Epukiro constituencies in the Omaheke Region.

The nine-kilometre phase two of the low-volume seal standard is expected to commence midway through next month.

The project is set to cost N$29 million, and it will provide jobs to fifty locals.

Speaking at the site handover of the road at Du Plessis Plaas, Mutorua said the government and partners are committed to addressing road infrastructure across the country.

"In Namibia, we don't believe in the idea that this area does not need a road; Namibia must be connected, and development will follow the road. The road must be first, and development will follow, and we know Omaheke is a cattle country, which is all I need to emphasise."

Mutorua also pleaded with local communities to ensure that there were no interruptions to the construction of the road.

The contractors' director, Nico Badenhorst, assured the minister that they would try their level best to ensure that quality work would be produced within a given period and that community involvement was of paramount importance.

Omaheke Governor Pijoo Nganate stressed that road infrastructure upgrades will boost the region's economy.

"Our thanks and appreciation to our government. It has proven that it is a government that delivers. A government that has signed a contract with the total population of this country and is steadily delivering is sometimes not the way we think, but the problems are enormous. We had COVID-19, economic depression, and a drought. As the community, we also understand that everything will not be overnight, but we see progress, and it is better that you see slow progress as opposed to no progress."

The phase two low-volume seal road is expected to be completed by the end of 2024.