The Otjiwarongo Mayor has pleaded for patience with residents, as the municipality is busy addressing damaged roads in the town. 

Gottlieb Shivute made this plea at the town's community meeting, where some residents demanded that the council fast-track the repairs, as potholes are an eyesore and a challenge to motorists.

Shivute says the rehabilitation and maintenance of all residential road projects will commence in the first week of April. 

He explained that the council entered into a N$71 million agreement with the Roads Authority and the Roads Fund Administration to finance the project for a period of three years, effective next month. 

"As part of the agreement, the Roads Authority shall take control of all procurement related to this project. The works shall entail the resealing and light rehabilitation of roads across Otjiwarongo. The primary focus is on residential roads in Otjiwarongo, as with those linking to the National Road network. The work shall first be designed by the consultant prior to the appointment of a contractor. The consultant is set to start in the second week of April, and the Roads Authority has already incorporated the urgency of these works into their Terms of Reference." 

Council, according to Shivute, is also engaging tripartite partners in finalising the procurement of the Bitumen Maintenance Unit. 

"This procurement has been submitted to the Roads Authority on February 29, 2024, and we should be receiving feedback on its progress with the expectation for the BMU to commence as early as April. However, the Council's in-house maintenance team is performing to the best of its ability to perform road maintenance functions." 

In February this year, the council kicked off the upgrading of Henk Willemse Road into an interlocked, paved route. The works on the route leading to and from the Orwetoveni residential area to the town centre will be completed in May 2024.