Rundu has less than 10% of Windhoek’s tarred road coverage
Council ordered to submit road upgrade plan in two weeks
Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has called on the Rundu Town Council to prioritise upgrading the town’s roads, saying the current network cannot meet the demands of its rapidly growing population.
He noted that Rundu, Namibia’s second-largest town with more than 100 000 residents, has less than 10% of Windhoek\'s tarred road coverage.
Ngurare made these remarks during his visit to Kavango East last week.
“Rundu needs about 500 kilometres of proper roads to enable easier access for people,” Ngurare said on Friday.
He said the town council has been given two weeks to draft a clear plan identifying priority areas for road development.
He further directed that the plan be submitted not only to his office but also to the urban and rural development ministry for follow-up action.
Quality of life
Roads Authority (RA) regional engineering manager Kennedy Chigumira highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that Rundu “does not even have half of 10% of what Katutura in Windhoek has got in terms of tarred roads”, despite the town’s size and importance.
He emphasised that this imbalance hampers not only residents’ daily mobility but also access to critical services such as schools and police stations.
Chigumira explained that, to date, only about 22.4 kilometres of Rundu’s roads have been upgraded or rehabilitated.
These include the 2.8 km rehabilitation of Dr Sam Nujoma Phase 1, the 2.4 km rehabilitation and widening of Dr Sam Nujoma Phase 2, and the 2 km rehabilitation of Dr Sam Nujoma Phase 3.
In addition, 1.6 km of the John Mutorwa gravel road, formerly linked to AMTA, has been upgraded, along with a 1 km dual traffic circle on TR08-04.
The RA has also overseen the upgrading of 2.5 km of the Unam Dr Samuel Kavetu Mbambo gravel road to tarred standard and 10.1 km from the Unam junction to Maria Mwengere School, also upgraded from gravel to tarred road.
Chigumira stressed that providing at least 200 km of tarred roads would significantly enhance Rundu’s status and meet the expectations of residents and stakeholders alike.
Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga acknowledged the urgency of the matter, stating that the council would take Ngurare’s directive seriously.
Kanyanga added that the council will also engage local stakeholders and technical experts to ensure the plan is practical, cost-effective and aligned with the town’s long-term growth.
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He noted that Rundu, Namibia’s second-largest town with more than 100 000 residents, has less than 10% of Windhoek\'s tarred road coverage.
Ngurare made these remarks during his visit to Kavango East last week.
“Rundu needs about 500 kilometres of proper roads to enable easier access for people,” Ngurare said on Friday.
He said the town council has been given two weeks to draft a clear plan identifying priority areas for road development.
He further directed that the plan be submitted not only to his office but also to the urban and rural development ministry for follow-up action.
Quality of life
Roads Authority (RA) regional engineering manager Kennedy Chigumira highlighted the scale of the problem, noting that Rundu “does not even have half of 10% of what Katutura in Windhoek has got in terms of tarred roads”, despite the town’s size and importance.
He emphasised that this imbalance hampers not only residents’ daily mobility but also access to critical services such as schools and police stations.
Chigumira explained that, to date, only about 22.4 kilometres of Rundu’s roads have been upgraded or rehabilitated.
These include the 2.8 km rehabilitation of Dr Sam Nujoma Phase 1, the 2.4 km rehabilitation and widening of Dr Sam Nujoma Phase 2, and the 2 km rehabilitation of Dr Sam Nujoma Phase 3.
In addition, 1.6 km of the John Mutorwa gravel road, formerly linked to AMTA, has been upgraded, along with a 1 km dual traffic circle on TR08-04.
The RA has also overseen the upgrading of 2.5 km of the Unam Dr Samuel Kavetu Mbambo gravel road to tarred standard and 10.1 km from the Unam junction to Maria Mwengere School, also upgraded from gravel to tarred road.
Chigumira stressed that providing at least 200 km of tarred roads would significantly enhance Rundu’s status and meet the expectations of residents and stakeholders alike.
Rundu mayor Gabriel Kanyanga acknowledged the urgency of the matter, stating that the council would take Ngurare’s directive seriously.
Kanyanga added that the council will also engage local stakeholders and technical experts to ensure the plan is practical, cost-effective and aligned with the town’s long-term growth.
[email protected]
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