Staff Reporter
THE Road Fund Administration (RFA) has launched a suite of digital self-service platforms aimed at improving accessibility, efficiency and customer experience while strengthening Namibia’s road transport funding system.
The platforms, which include a fuel levy refund portal, a cross-border charges prepaid customer portal, a mobile application for mass distance charge clients, and an upgraded website, form part of the RFA’s broader digital transformation strategy aligned with Namibia’s national ICT development goals.
Speaking during an information-sharing session at the Government Information Centre, RFA Executive for Information and Communication Technology Dennis Shindume said the digital solutions are designed to bring services closer to the public while ensuring that the organisation fulfils its mandate of securing and allocating sufficient funding for the country’s road sector.
He said the initiative supports Namibia’s development agenda by moving public services online and reducing reliance on manual processes.
“As the RFA, we felt the need to expand our services to the people of Namibia. These initiatives bring efficiency into how we collect funding and ensure that we have systems that allow us to optimally fund the road sector,” Shindume said.
He added that the organisation’s long-term vision includes the use of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and data analytics to improve planning and predict future funding needs for road infrastructure.
“We want to ensure that as RFA we are able to do predictive analysis. The data that we collect through our systems should allow us to determine how we optimally fund the road sector in the coming years,” he said.
Shindume highlighted that Namibia’s road network remains a key contributor to economic activity, tourism and regional trade, and that improved digital systems would help maintain the country’s reputation for quality roads.
He said the fuel levy refund portal eliminates the need for clients to visit RFA offices to submit claims manually, allowing them to submit applications remotely and track their progress online.
“The aim was to ensure that stakeholders do not take time off from their busy schedules to visit our offices. They can submit their fuel levy claims from the comfort of their homes or offices and follow the status of their applications,” he said.
The cross-border charges prepaid customer portal, according to Shindume, is expected to improve logistics efficiency by enabling operators to top up prepaid cards remotely and reduce delays at border posts caused by payment verification processes.
He said the system would allow cross-border operators to move through borders more smoothly, supporting regional trade and transport operations.
The RFA’s mobile application for mass distance charge clients will also allow users to access services previously requiring physical visits, including submitting kilometre readings, requesting logbooks and submitting queries.
“The mobile phone is part of our daily lives, and we want to use this platform to ensure that our clients get the necessary information and services in real time,” Shindume said.
He further noted that the newly modernised RFA website serves as the central access point for the organisation’s digital ecosystem, with improved navigation, enhanced visuals and future plans to incorporate chatbot functionality.
Shindume encouraged the public to embrace digital transformation, saying innovation would contribute to faster, more sustainable and customer-focused service delivery.
“We need to embrace digital transformation. It is transforming our economy and allowing us to do more with what we have,” he said.
Photo: Ministry of Information and Communication Technology – Republic of Namibia
