Patience Makwele
The Road Fund Administration (RFA) has launched a suite of new digital self-service platforms aimed at improving efficiency, accessibility and service delivery, as the institution moves to modernise how road funding is managed in Namibia.
The rollout includes an online fuel levy refund portal, a prepaid cross-border charges system, a mobile application for mass distance charge clients, and an upgraded website designed to serve as the central access point for all RFA services.
The initiative forms part of the organisation’s broader digital transformation drive aligned with national efforts to improve public service delivery through technology.
Speaking during an information-sharing session at the government information center in Windhoek, Road Fund Administration information and communication technology executive, Dennis Shindume, said the new systems are designed to bring services closer to users while reducing reliance on manual processes that often slow down service delivery.
He said the shift is not only about convenience, but also about strengthening how the institution collects and manages road funding.
“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 is also looking ahead to more advanced technologies, including artificial intelligence and data analytics, which could be used 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.
The RFA said the digital rollout comes at a time when Namibia’s road network continues to play a critical role in supporting tourism, trade and regional connectivity, making efficient funding systems increasingly important.
One of the key features of the new system is the fuel levy refund portal, which allows users to submit claims online without visiting RFA offices.
Applicants can upload documents, track the progress of their claims and receive updates digitally.
Shindume said the platform is intended to reduce administrative burden on clients who previously had to take time off to submit claims in person.
“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.
For cross-border transport operators, the newly introduced prepaid charges system is expected to improve efficiency at border posts by reducing delays linked to manual payment verification.
Operators will now be able to top up accounts remotely and access services more seamlessly when moving across borders.
The RFA said the system is designed to support smoother logistics operations and strengthen regional trade flows by minimising unnecessary stoppages at entry points.
The institution has also introduced a mobile application for mass distance charge clients, allowing users to submit kilometre readings, request logbooks and lodge queries without visiting physical offices.
Shindume said the mobile platform is part of efforts to meet clients where they are, given the central role smartphones now play in daily life.
“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,” he said.
Alongside the new tools, the RFA has upgraded its website, positioning it as the central hub of its digital ecosystem.
The redesigned platform features improved navigation and visuals, with future plans to introduce chatbot functionality to further enhance user support.
Beyond service delivery improvements, the organisation is also shifting towards a more data-driven approach to planning and decision-making.
Shindume said emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics could play a key role in forecasting funding needs and improving long-term infrastructure planning.
The RFA says the goal is to ensure more sustainable and efficient management of road funding by using real-time data to guide future investment decisions.
“We need to embrace digital transformation. It is transforming our economy and allowing us to do more with what we have,” Shindume said.
The organisation has encouraged road users, transport operators and stakeholders to embrace the new platforms, saying digitalisation will ultimately reduce delays, improve access and strengthen service delivery across the road funding system.
