Day: June 30, 2023

The Roads Authority Chief Executive Officer, Conrad Lutombi, said the Windhoek-Okahandja road project, which has so far amounted to N.dollars 2 billion, will be completed by May 2024.

Lutombi said this during a media briefing on the progress of the project on Thursday, where he alluded to the number of challenges experienced during the construction of the roads.

“This was a big project that required optimal funding. We are happy that in this financial year we received adequate funding. The total for the Windhoek-Okahandja road was N.dollars 2 billion. As for materials, the contractors are hauling material from long distances, with some materials coming from as far as Karibib,” Lutombi said.

Lutombi added that this is a Harambee road project, and all finances have come from the Namibian Government. As for the contractors, this is a CMC-Otesa joint venture.

Speaking on the number of freeways constructed so far, Lutombi said there are the Windhoek-Okahandja, Windhoek-Hosea Kutako, and Walvis Bay-Swakopmund roads, and the Roads Authority also plans to construct a freeway from Windhoek to Rehoboth.

As for the other challenges experienced, the CEO said they had to look at where the communities would resettle and negotiate with the municipality to relocate these people, as well as deviate the road as a result.

“By the end of August, we plan to open the section of the road from Omakunde interchange to Gross Barmen interchange so that people can start enjoying these roads,” the CEO said.

Lily Brandt, Chairperson of the Roads Authority Board of Directors, said that the project is moving within the established timeline, especially since it was postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic, adding that the bridges have been built to a very high standard.

“This particular road is one of the most important roads that we have undertaken to build within the last five years, and it’s important for us to finalise it at least by May next year. It will improve the traffic between the coast, the northern regions, and Windhoek. And also improve the lives of people as a result,” Brandt said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

A 45-year-old man died instantly after allegedly eating two pieces of meat at a cucashop at Ndama location in Rundu of the Kavango East Region on Thursday.

A crime report issued on Friday by the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) said the man allegedly found people known to him eating cooked meat commonly known as kapana and was offered two pieces by a person allegedly related to him, before he started coughing and collapsed and died on the spot.

The report said the incident happened at about 14h30 and the deceased, Joseph Ruvundo was declared dead at the scene by a nurse with his cause of death yet to be determined via a post-mortem.

His next of kin have been informed and the body was transported to Rundu State Hospital mortuary.

Meanwhile, Namibian national Wayera Hamutenya, 68, was found dead with multiple injuries on her back, chest and head at Nserengani village in Angola where she went to catch fish in the river on Wednesday.

The police said the deceased was a resident of Kasivi village in Kavango West and left for Angola by canoe on Wednesday at about to 13h00, accompanied by her nine-year-old grandchild to catch fish on the Angolan side of the river.

The pensioner allegedly left the grandchild on the bank of the river to set up her traps for fish several metres away.

“According to the grandchild, it got late and as the grandmother took too long to return, the grandchild paddled the canoe and crossed the river and went home. The grandchild reported the matter and the family returned that evening to look for Hamutenya and discovered her body with multiple injuries on her back, chest and head,” said the report.

It noted that injuries observed on the deceased’s body suggests that she might have been attacked and bitten multiple times by an aggressive hippopotamus which was still seen around the same area.

The police said the incident occurred in Angola and was attended to by Angolan police officers and NamPol officers, noting the body was handed over to NamPol and transported to Rundu hospital’s mortuary.

“The next of kin of the deceased are informed. Police investigations from both sides continue,” it said.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency

Three men were arrested on Wednesday at Walvis Bay, after the Namibian Police Force (NamPol) received information that suspects driving a rental VW Polo Vivo planned a cash-in-transit robbery against a security services company.

According to Erongo NamPol’s Inspector Ileni Shapumba, it is alleged that the police spotted a white VW Polo Vivo vehicle at a shopping parking area at Rikumbi Kandanga Road, Walvis Bay.

“When the police officers approached the vehicle, the suspects sped off, heading to Kuisebmond, but were allegedly found in Hebron Street, Kuisebmond, and arrested,” Shapumba said.

The three male suspects arrested are Namibian, aged 30, 34, and 31 years of age.

It is further alleged that three sets of number plates were found hidden near the VW Polo Vivo that was driven by the suspects.

Police investigations into the matter continue.

Source: The Namibian Press Agency