Katima mulilo: Community activist Allan 'Anytime' Kasale is calling on the government to prioritise the 'damaged' road between Machita and Kwena in the Zilitene area of the Katima Rural Constituency in the Zambezi Region. In a telephonic interview with Nampa on Monday, Kasale said community residents want the government to urgently address major infrastructural challenges in the area before a life is lost.
According to Namibia Press Agency, Kasale mentioned that recent heavy downpours had damaged the seven-kilometre road. "It's not safe for now and if it continues raining the way it is then it will be a disaster hence government and other stakeholders have to join hands. Some prominent elders especially farmers in the area have also started contemplating on what to do temporarily to avert the worst-case scenario," he said.
Similarly, Kwena Village Development Committee (VDC) chairperson Puteho Kasale expressed that it is high time the perennial problem is addressed, emphasizing that a formal capital project proposal for the road will be drafted and submitted to the constituency office as a priority. "The problem has to be addressed because it is through this road that we connect to other areas for other important services including health services at the clinics," he said.
Contacted for comment, newly elected Katima Mulilo Rural Constituency councillor Dennis Sinchembe Mukena said infrastructure development tops his to-do list, adding that he visited the area on Sunday to assess the situation. He noted that, for now, the situation is manageable and the road is not completely cut off, but acknowledged the need to address the perennial problem. Mukena added that what he observed does not warrant an emergency at this stage, compared to other road sections such as the Kalumba road, which was totally closed.
The councillor pointed out that the way forward would be to install culverts, as advised by road experts from the Roads Authority, once the water levels subside. He highlighted ongoing capital projects in the constituency and mentioned that even sedans are still able to pass through the Machita-Kwena road. However, he assured that relevant stakeholders have been engaged to ensure a permanent solution is implemented to avoid similar issues during future rainy seasons.