The Roads Authority (RA) plays a pivotal role in road safety. It has made strides in ensuring good roads, but more still needs to be done in its core business of constructing and maintaining Namibia's road sector.
The RA manages a road network spanning over 49,000 kilometres, which comprises bitumen roads, low-volume sealed roads, gravel roads, and earth-grade roads.
Dr. Conrad Lutombi is the outgoing Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the RA, an institution he has been affiliated with since 2003, until December 2025. He held various executive management positions at the company before his tenure as the CEO.
"You may recall that most of the roads we constructed both after and before independence have now exceeded 30 years of age, while the normal lifespan of a road is 20 years; therefore, approximately 48% of our road network, particularly the bitumen roads, has reached its expected lifespan, which we have extended due to a very robust maintenance programme. This year, we received N$2.4 billion, but we actually needed N$3.7 billion from the Roads Fund Administration (RFA); however, they only provided us with N$2.4 billion, of which N$1.3 billion is allocated for routine maintenance. We have a network of 49,000 kilometres, all gravel, so N$2.4 billion is inadequate."
The Roads Authority officially opened the new roundabout connecting the Hosea Kutako International Airport to the Dr. Hage G. Geingob Freeway this year.
In the course of the past five years, there have been major road upgrades, including the Windhoek-Okahandja Freeway, which was officially opened on 1 November last year.
The Tses-Gochas Road in the Hardap and ||Kharas regions was rehabilitated, followed by the Gobabis-Aranos-Aminius Road in the Omaheke Region, which was upgraded to bitumen standards.
Meanwhile, Dr. Conrad Lutombi will finish his term as the CEO of the Roads Authority on the 31st of this month.
He was appointed in October 2013, overseeing the affairs of the Roads Authority until his contract lapsed in 2022, after which he applied for the City of Windhoek's CEO position.
After his successful appointment in the City of Windhoek in November the same year, Dr. Lutombi declined the offer after the Roads Authority board extended his contract by three years.
Reports, however, said he was advised not to leave.
"If the elders tell you something, you listen. I have listened, I have made my decision, and I don't regret it, and here we are. The contributions we have made to the country will definitely outweigh what we could have accomplished under the City of Windhoek, so I am quite happy; indeed, the advice given to me by the elders was very wise, and I don't regret it. I am not saying they told me not to go – they advised."
Dr. Lutombi will be replaced by Hippy Tjivikua, whose tenure is set to commence on 1 January 2026.
"We have already completed the transitioning; in fact, I have handed the new office to the new CEO, Mr Tjivikua, and am pleased that he, together with the board and the minister, will be able to take, and they have the capacity to take, the institution to great heights."