President Nangolo Mbumba has stressed the need for sufficient investments to modernise Namibia's road network, which currently carries nearly 72% of all cargo transport.
He was speaking at the official naming ceremony of the Windhoek-Hosea Kutako International Airport road to Dr. Hage Geingob Freeway over the weekend.
President Mbumba says since independence, the government has placed a high premium on the expansion and improvement of transport infrastructure as enablers of economic growth, job creation, and regional integration.
"As our country continues to grow, this will add pressure on existing infrastructure; there is therefore a need to make sufficient investment in improving and modernising our roads. I am aware that economic fortunes have not been favourable over the past years, but this should not hinder us from working hard to continue developing our country. Our desire to work together and build a better Namibia should always be greater than the weight of any challenge we may face."
He also commended the Ministry of Works and Transport, the Roads Authority, and other stakeholders for improving the country's road infrastructure.
"While I commend the ministry of works and transport the RA and all stakeholders for a starling job that has lifted up to the high performance standards of Dr. Geingob, I encourage you to continue achieving this significant milestone by endeavouring to complete all current road projects of all the 14 regions of our country."
The Minister of Works and Transport, John Mutorwa, stated that Namibia has and will continue to make progress in the transport sector.
"We are currently busy with the eastern corridors linking the road from Grootfontein straight via Otjinene via Gobabis from there to Aminus. We are now busy with the last stretch from Aminus up to Stampriet, which will link up with the existing road down south. We are busy also now with the western corridor that is a road from Hentis via Uis, Khorixas, and then link up with Kamanjab; those are the major activities."
Namibia's road network covers about 49,209 kilometres, of which more than 8000 kilometres are tar roads and more than 26,000 kilometres are gravel.
The Dr. Hage Geingob Freeway forms part of the Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project, and it is being upgraded to a dual carriageway.