Moving forward, no gravel roads will be constructed, as maintenance on such roads is very costly.

These were the instructions of Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi at a community meeting with local and traditional authorities in Okondjatu, Otjozondjupa Region.

The region is second to the ||Kharas Region in terms of road coverage, with 1,038 km of bitumen road structure. 

Under the current budget, contractors have already been appointed to put up low-volume seals on two roads that will not be used by heavy trucks. 

On average, every road constructed costs around N$15 million per kilometre. 

The minister said he had thus made a decision that gravel roads should no longer be constructed, as it is not sustainable.

This year alone, N$1.3 billion was spent on regraveling and regrading the gravel roads, which the minister says is a waste of money.

The Okondjatu-Okahandja road, which is currently gravel, is prioritised to be upgraded to bitumen standard with N$3 million allocated towards its design.