Gobabis-Grootfontein road a catalyst to development: Ipinge

GROOTFONTEIN, 28 APR – Otjozondjupa Governor, Otto Ipinge has described the newly constructed tarred road between Gobabis and Grootfontein as a catalyst for growth of the local economy and tourism.

Ipinge made these remarks at Grootfontein on Friday during the official inauguration of the road that stretches between Gobabis in the Omaheke Region to Grootfontein in the Otjozondjupa Region.
According to Ipinge, the road is a catalyst to economic, social and tourism growth for many African countries as it connects South Africa and Namibia via the

Trans-Kalahari Border post situated about over 110 kilometres east of Gobabis.
The road from Gobabis passes through Otjinene, Okamatapati and Grootfontein to connect to the Trans-Zambezi Highway linking up to towns in Zambia, Angola, Botswana and Zimbabwe, said Ipinge.

Ipinge said the road delights him as it reduces distance of travel and hours between Gobabis and Grootfontein compared to those days when it was gravelled.
Governor Ipinge said the road has already started to boost tourism in both regions by providing an access link to the Victoria Falls from South Africa through Gobabis, Grootfontein, Rundu and Katima Mulilo.

“This sound transport network we have is already enabling movements of people, goods and services to facilitate the domestic, regional and international trade between our countries,” said Ipinge.
On her part, Grootfontein Constituency Councillor, Nelao Amagulu thanked the government for the road.

“I am happy with this new road which has strengthened performances of our local economies, fight poverty in our villages and improved the living conditions of our people in many ways,” she said.

Amagulu said since farmers in communal areas situated along the road transport their livestock for auctions at Grootfontein and Gobabis, the new road is playing a major role in their business activities.

Amagulu said the lives of ordinary citizens travelling for medical or personal reasons from Okondjatu, Okamatapati and Otjinene amongst others to nearby towns have been made easier with the completion of the road.

President Hage Geingob on Friday took a halfway drive on the road with this motorcade shortly after he officially inaugurated it.
Geingob also expressed satisfaction with the quality and standard of the road.

The actual construction of the road which stretches 391 kilometres started in December 2013 and was completed in March 2018. The cost of the project was N$ 684 million.

NAMPA