Staff Reporter
THE Governor of the //Kharas Region, Dawid Gertze, has criticised local authorities in the region for failing to utilise allocated funds intended for road upgrades.
“Road Fund Administration (RFA) funding is available, but sluggish procurement processes in our municipalities and village councils are locking up millions of dollars that should be actively used to upgrade our roads. I call upon all underperforming local authorities to streamline their procurement management units immediately,” he said.
Gertze made these remarks during his recent 2026 State of the Region Address (SORA) in Keetmanshoop, where he outlined key achievements and challenges in the //Kharas Region over the past year.
He revealed that out of N$29.66 million earmarked for road maintenance in the region, local authorities spent about N$12.36 million, resulting in an overall expenditure rate of below 50%.
“Our region faces a severe execution bottleneck. Execution bottleneck is our pain. The region achieved an overall expenditure rate of just 41.7%,” Gertze said.
The Governor revealed that the Keetmanshoop Municipality achieved full utilisation of its N$4.07 million allocation, while Oranjemund only spent 67.6% of its allocation, and the //Kharas Settlement recorded 57.2%. However, he stressed that several local authorities, including Lüderitz, Karasburg, and all village councils, spent none of their combined N$11.4 million allocation.
“It’s worrisome. We are leading people. We are serving the interests of our people. Those of us who are accountable for executing projects are not doing that. And then we keep the government responsible for our own flaws. That cannot continue any longer,” he said.
The Governor also revealed that only 16.7% of the N$857,000 allocated for traffic law enforcement was used, leaving critical road infrastructure underfunded.
Gertze also provided an update on major road infrastructure projects, noting that the Main Road (MR) 118 reconstruction between Rosh Pinah and Oranjemund, valued at N$213 million, is 30% complete and currently employs 51 workers. He also announced that the Keetmanshoop weighbridge, a N$50 million project, has been completed.
Gertze explained that the RFA has a forward-looking infrastructure pipeline aimed at strengthening regional connectivity and trade, with several key priorities. These include the rehabilitation of Trunk Road 1 between Grünau and Keetmanshoop, the upgrading of Main Road 27 between Keetmanshoop and Klein Manasse Border Post to bitumen standard, and the planned bitumen upgrade of District Road 212 between Aussenkehr and Rosh Pinah.
Picture for illustrative purposes only. Photos: RFA/NBC Digital News
