Residents and visitors at Oshikango have expressed dismay at the lack of alternative roads to get around town, which makes traffic a nightmare.

The border town, like many others in northern Namibia, receives a high influx of holiday makers during the festive season, and this year was no exception.

Traffic congestion could be observed on the main road leading to the town center, leaving motorists frustrated.

Those we spoke to are appealing to the Helao Nafidi Town Council to create alternative routes as well as remove the concrete balls, which they say have narrowed the road and are a danger to motorists and pedestrians.

"They cause a lot of accidents if you want to escape, and the Angolans, when they want to sell, you find them sitting there, and it's not a seating area, so we want our place to be clean to avoid danger, and they need to remove those things, and we need changes."

"As you can see, the cars are standing there; there is no control. You will sometimes find police officers here controlling the traffic. We wish Helao Nafidi and the Roads Authority could provide us with traffic lights because during December there is too much traffic and we can't move freely. I arrived in Oshikango an hour ago, and it's because of that that I have to spend all this time in a long queue." 

Helao Nafidi Mayor Darius Shaalukeni says he is happy that economic activities in the town have picked up over the holiday season and wants the concern of traffic congestion addressed.

"The nature of the road is very congested, and I urge them to give each other the right of way so that no accident happens here. We know the nature of the town, and when resources allow, we would like to expand it so that it is conducive to any road user."

 

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Ndapanda Shuuya