04 Sep 2025

The Gumare-Sepopa road cold recycling and asphalt overlay project carried out by Bango Trading Company stands at 72 per cent and 57 per cent progress in package one and package two respectively.

This was said by the Gumare-Sepopa and Sepopa-Mohembo roads, project manager Mr Alec Dennison in response during a virtual special Okavango District Development Committee (DDC) meeting on September 2. 

The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament from Okavango District with the district leadership.

Mr Dennison reported that the Gumare-Sepopa Road project layers such as prime base, sub base, road bed and cut were completed, adding that they were yet to do cement stabilisation in the first package of the project while they have managed to complete cut, road bed, sub base, base. 

Asphalt is ongoing and we are yet to do emulsion treatment in package two of the project, he told the meeting.

He said for Sepopa-Mohembo Road project, done by Rockefeller Civil Engineer PTY/LTD, the progress was at a total of 25 per cent of completion from both package one of asphalt overlay and package two of shoulder widening.

The Member of Parliament for Okavango West Mr Kenny Kapinga had expressed dissatisfaction regarding the progress of the ongoing road projects.

Mr Kapinga said he observed the DDC report put the road project progress at 72 per cent and 57 per cent for Gumare-Sepopa package one and package two respectively while the Sepopa-Mohembo was said to be at 25 per cent yet there was less visible progress on the ground.

He therefore emphasised the need for prioritisation of road infrastructure to fast track developments in the Okavango District.

The Member of Parliament for Okavango East Mr Gabatsholwe Disho reiterated that Gumare-Sepopa and Sepopa-Mohembo road progress was inadequate.

Mr Disho further said there was need for frequent grading of the Mohembo-Gudigwa road which was in a terrible state and for Okavango leadership to seek assistance for grading of Nokaneng-Gumare road which posed danger to road users while awaiting a permanent solution.

When presenting the DDC report, Okavango District Council (ODC) principal economic planner Ms Ludo Moloi said the Gumare-Sepopa road project progress was initially delayed by the change of scope that resulted in dividing the project into two packages.

Ms Moloi said the other challenges were unavailability of design drawings at the commencement of the project as well as lack of quality gravel.

Regarding Sepopa-Mohembo road Ms Moloi said the package one of the project of asphalt overlay depended on package two which included shoulder widening.

She therefore said both packages were initially delayed by lack of construction materials due to delayed approval of mining license for Shadikekete burrow pit and ongoing Environmental Impact Assessment study for the Nxamasere and Sepopa burrow pits.

Ms Moloi further said all dry grading and spot improvement projects in the district have been negatively affected since all graders were awaiting maintenance. ENDS