Hertta-Maria Amutenja
The state has spent a total of N$ 1,451,839,274.13 to improve transport infrastructure between 2020 and February this year, through the Ministry of Works and Transport’s Namibia Transport Infrastructure Improvement Project(NITIIP).
This is according to a report seen by the Windhoek Observer.
According to the report, the African Development Bank(AFDB) also co- financed the project with N$ 900 million.
The report further indicates that the government spent over N$600 million on the 107.5 km railway upgrade between Walvis Bay and Arandis , N$400 million between Arandis and Kranzberg, which were complete this year February and another over N$400 million on supply of rails for Walvis Bay – Kranzberg rail way.
Spokesperson of the Works Ministry, Julius Ngweda told the Windhoek Observer that the project was funded by the Namibian government with 56 percent of its own funds and 44 percent of the loan from the AFDB.
“The loan from the AFDB was N$ 2 billion. It supports the NTIIP which encompasses two priority interventions in the rail and road transport sub-sectors. The upgrading of the Walvis Bay – Kranzberg railway section and Upgrading of the Windhoek to Hosea Kutako International Airport (HKIA) Road,” he said.
He added that the two interventions are part of the priority projects as identified in the Harambee Prosperity Plan (HPP), an action plan launched in April 2016 to accelerate the delivery of the targets under.
“These two projects are funded by the Government of Namibia and the African Development Bank. Both of the rail projects are fully completed and they have now begun the 12 months period of guarantee,” said Ngweda . He added that the road intervention is still ongoing.
The Walvis Bay to Arandis and Kranzberg project which was being spearheaded by China Gezhouba Group Corporation (CGGC) was geared to make the railway transportation of the country to meet the railway transport capacity of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
A joint venture between Qingjian Group and Unik Construction Engineering carried out the upgrade of the northern section of the loop between Arandis and Kranzberg.
The railway restoration project is a vital component of Namibia’s government’s Vision 2030 plan to expand transportation capacity and spur economic development. It also looks to establish Namibia as a logistics and transportation hub for neighboring African states.
In addition, the report also states that feasibility studies have been completed for the extension of the Trans-Zambezi railway between Grootfontein, Rundu and Katima Mulilo and for commuter rails between Windhoek and Rehoboth and Windhoek and Katutura.
In 2018 it was reported that the AFDB approved a US$153m loan to the government to co-finance the upgrading of the 210 km railway running inland from Walvis Bay to Arandis and Kranzberg, as well as the road from Windhoek to the international airport.
