14 Jul 2022

Government intends to improve the frequency of maintaining gravel roads in Okavango constituency to augment the existing planned maintenance schedule.

Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale, however, said it would be determined by the availability of funds.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Tuesday, Mr Molale said his ministry would increase the frequency of grading gravel roads from quarterly to monthly.

“The planned maintenance schedule in Okavango constituency is that maintenance will be done at least once every quarter. I am, however, ceased with the matter with my officials of increasing the frequency of grading from quarterly to at least once a month, funds and pricing permitting,” he said.

He noted that maintenance contractors were engaged to maintain two sections of 40km each from Mohembo to Seronga effective December 2021, and that both were expected to complete the contract in November this year. In addition, he said two other contractors were deployed to maintain the Seronga/Gudigwa sections of 40km each from May 2022 to May 2023.

He also said the Roads Department last month completed the dry grading of the Mohembo/Ghani/Chukumuchu/ Tsodilo and Nxamasere road through in-house resources. He added that there were more planned maintenance activities underway.

“I am further informed that the following maintenance activities are being planned for, in this instance, not just the constituency, but the Sub district of Okavango.Nokaneng/Qangwa/ Dobe/ Xaixai-178 of dry grading which started on the 6th of July 2022. 

Habu junction to Habu which will start in September 2022, Qurube/Nxaunxau is also planned to be graded in September 2022,” he said.

Additionally, Mr Molale noted that the Roads Department had inadequate graders to maintain the gravel roads due to equipment breakdown resulting in low production rates. 

However, he said his ministry was engaging the central transport to ensure that the graders were not unattended for extended periods.

The MP for Okavango, Mr Kenny Kapinga had asked the minister to inform Parliament about the maintenance schedule for gravel roads in his constituency, and to further state why the Nohembo/Gudigwa road and other gravel roads had gone unattended for excessive periods. 

He also asked the minister whether the Roads Department in Okavango had the necessary equipment in the form of graders to maintain the gravel roads. Ends