By Kaleb Nghishidivali

OKANKOLO, 24 AUGUST – Officials from the Oshikoto Regional Council have revealed to the National Council Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Housing that the vast Oshikoto region is grappling with a severe scarcity of paved roads. With over 85% of the land being rural, the region heavily depends on a single fully tarred road, the B1, to link its inhabitants with essential services. This lack of proper infrastructure presents significant challenges, particularly for those living in remote areas.

During their recent visit, the Committee discovered that although many roads were designated, only a few have been gravelled. Additionally, the gravelled roads have not undergone renovation for more than twenty years, exacerbating the hardships faced by the population. The inadequate road network restricts access to crucial services like healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, resulting in inconvenience and impeding socio-economic progress within the region.

Committee members voiced their concern about the condition of the road network and its adverse impact on the lives of Oshikoto’s residents. They reiterated the importance of maintaining and improving existing roads to ensure the well-being and advancement of the population. Proper road infrastructure would enhance transportation efficiency, cut travel times, and facilitate the movement of goods and services, thereby stimulating economic growth and development in the area.

The Committee’s visit is aimed at evaluating the current state of road infrastructure not only in Oshikoto but also in the neighboring Omusati, Ohangwena, and Kavango West regions. This comprehensive assessment will offer valuable insights into the urgent road infrastructure requirements across the visited regions. The hope is that this evaluation will trigger the formulation of effective solutions and allocation of necessary resources to address the road infrastructure shortcomings in these areas.

Meanwhile, the dire state of road infrastructure, particularly in the Okankolo constituency of Oshikoto region, continues to make headlines. Councilor Hans Nambondi expressed his concerns in an interview with Namibia Daily News. As the rainy season approaches, the lack of proper road infrastructure results in water pooling on the roads, causing vehicles to become stuck and impeding service delivery.

Nambondi recounted an incident where a fuel tank truck got stuck on sandy roads due to the absence of stabilizing rocks or stones. “Given this situation, there’s concern that our business services might halt due to fears of getting stuck, which hinders their access to our area in need,” he expressed worryingly.

He emphasized that the existing road is aged and under-maintained, spanning a 70 km distance that urgently requires repair. Nambondi also highlighted the challenges faced by residents in the King Nehale Constituency, who are similarly affected by the lack of proper roads. Only vehicles with 4×4 capabilities can navigate through the terrain.

Nambondi is urging the government to intervene by graveling the necessary areas and prioritizing the construction of tarred roads.

The few available gravel roads within Okankolo are poorly maintained and have not undergone upgrades for over two decades, despite their intended lifespan of only five years.

The constituency is home to numerous growth points, government offices, schools, and clinics. However, accessing these facilities is a daily struggle for local residents, as their vehicles often break down or get stranded in the sandy tracks running alongside the proclaimed national road, which has been cleared of vegetation but left unconstructed for more than twenty years.

The National Council Standing Committee on Transport, Infrastructure, and Housing witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the inhabitants of Onkumbula settlement in the Okankolo Constituency and Omboto Village in Nehale lya Mpingana Constituency during their assessment of the road networks.- Namibia Daily News

Kaleb Nghishidivali

Windhoek, 23 August – The transition of ground handling services at Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) has been successfully completed, and operations are back to normal, announced Bisey Uriab, the Executive Director of Namibia Airport Company (NAC). The seamless handover from Menzies Aviation Namibia to Paragon Aviation Services occurred on 19 August 2023.

During the transition, three flights, two Eurowings Discover, and one Qatar Airways, chose to divert to Johannesburg voluntarily. Uriab clarified that this decision was unrelated to HKIA’s conditions, as the airport was fully capable of providing necessary ground handling services. Qatar Airways returned the next morning, and Eurowings resumed normal operations on 21 August. All 13 daily departures from HKIA are now proceeding as scheduled.

Uriab praised Paragon for their adept management of the transition and their collaboration with airlines and stakeholders. He highlighted improved baggage arrival times on the carousels, particularly for priority baggage.

Expressing gratitude for airline partners’ cooperation during the changeover, Uriab emphasized the seamless switch to a new ground handling service provider at HKIA.

In addition to ground handling services, Paragon has taken charge of cargo and freight operations since the transition. They operate their own internationally accredited warehouse and scanning facilities. However, there is a pressing need to address cargo already delivered to Menzies’ former warehouse, currently secured. NAC has requested cargo inventory and is facilitating its release to Paragon.

Uriab confirmed that requests were sent to freight forwarders’ representatives and Menzies to designate an employee for handing over relevant cargo to Paragon at HKIA. This step is vital for a smooth transition of cargo handling responsibilities.

Despite lacking responses from Menzies and the freight forwarders’ organization, Uriab assured stakeholders that NAC will follow up to resolve the matter swiftly. He urged Menzies to promptly release the cargo to Paragon to ensure proper handling.

Regarding claims questioning Paragon’s industry certifications and capacity for ground handling at HKIA, Uriab unequivocally denied such assertions. He pointed out Paragon’s well-documented industry certifications from the Namibia Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), readily available for verification.

Uriab expressed disappointment over misleading information from certain stakeholders and urged all parties to verify facts directly from Paragon, the NCAA, and NAC. He emphasized seeking accurate information from credible sources to prevent further misinformation regarding Paragon’s capacity and certification.- Namibia Daily News

By Charmaine Boois

Mariental, Aug. 23 — A pivotal stakeholder meeting convened at the Wimby Services taxi rank, addressing road safety concerns and disseminating crucial information to taxi drivers. Attendees included representatives from the Ministry of Youth, the Motor Vehicle Fund, traffic officers, the Regional Road Safety Forum, and TrenTyre Mariental. The primary focus of the meeting was to introduce and reinforce the Green Dot initiative, a project initiated by the Motor Vehicle Fund (MVA Fund) to enhance passenger safety within public transportation.

Under the guidance of Elifias Rukambe, the manager in charge of public education at the Motor Vehicle Fund, the gathering witnessed collaborative efforts to enhance road safety for both drivers and passengers. The Green Dot initiative, introduced several years ago, specifically targets public passenger transport and encompasses three crucial components: the vehicle, the passengers, and the driver. By addressing these elements, the Green Dot initiative aims to cultivate a comprehensive safety culture within the public transportation sector.

Gideon Kotze, owner of TrenTyre and a stakeholder, shared vital insights into tire safety. His presentation aimed to equip taxi drivers with essential knowledge about tire usage and maintenance to prevent accidents. In a demonstration, Kotze highlighted the importance of daily tire inspections before commencing journeys. “I urge all of you to perform daily tire inspections before hitting the road. Ensuring that vehicle components, especially tires, are in optimal condition is imperative for road safety,” he emphasized. Kotze also extended an invitation to drivers to visit his shop for inspections.

The meeting facilitated the sharing of emergency contact information, alongside discussions on practical aspects of road safety. A spokesperson from the Hardap region paramedic team provided emergency phone numbers, with 9682 designated as the general emergency contact and 99900 allocated for Mariental situations. Attendees were also informed about the central location of the Paramedics team at the town’s fire brigade office.

Traffic officers seized the opportunity to engage drivers in discussions about crucial topics such as driving restrictions and the necessity of possessing a valid driver’s license. These talks aimed to enhance road safety awareness and promote adherence to traffic regulations.

Rukambe shed light on the critical issue of road safety, particularly along the Noordoewer-Oshikango route through the Hardap region. He lamented, “We are losing approximately 700 lives annually out of Namibia’s 2.8 million population due to accidents on this road, with 90 percent of these accidents occurring on the B1 road.” The perilous route through Hardap poses risks to both passengers and drivers due to high accident rates. As a result, the meeting sought to provide attendees with safety recommendations to help them navigate hazards and safeguard their well-being during travels.

The collaborative efforts of stakeholders in this meeting underscore the commitment to enhancing road safety for all road users, especially public transport passengers. The multifaceted Green Dot initiative, combined with practical insights from experts, holds the potential to reduce accidents and elevate road safety awareness among taxi drivers.

– Namibia Daily News