Katima mulilo: Minister of Works and Transport, Veikko Nekundi, on Monday instructed the Roads Authority to act swiftly and deploy a contractor to attend to the cut-off road between Lubuta, Sachona and the Lizauli road in the Judea Lyabboloma Constituency of the Zambezi Region. The 31-kilometre road is in a dire state after being cut off by heavy rains experienced across the region. More than four sections along the same stretch have been rendered impassable.

According to Namibia Press Agency, Nekundi expressed urgency in addressing the issue, stating, "It's a disaster when the people are cut off like that. We must start with emergency procurement. Tonight we must get a contractor on site, we must have funds to deal with this..." He made these remarks during a site visit to assess the damage.

A senior community member of Lubuta, Agrey Katembo, highlighted the impact on local commuters, particularly school learners. The cut-off points have left many stranded, with those travelling between Lubuta and Sachona Secondary School, as well as Sachona and Lubuta Primary School, facing significant challenges. "The learners commuting from Sachona to Lubuta are typically affected. That water is so deep and those who would want to get medical attention on the other side are affected because the clinic is in Sachona with over five points along this road totally cut-off," Katembo explained.

The Roads Authority's Regional Manager, Lynnette Malipa, has advised motorists using the road to remain vigilant, as the RA works on a long-term solution to this recurring problem. Lubuta is situated five kilometres from Sachona.

Earlier in the day, Nekundi conducted site visits to several other regional roads under construction. These included the Bukalo-Muyako road, Namalubi-Kalumba road, and Machita-Zilitene road in the Katima Rural Constituency. He also visited access roads into the Sibbinda Constituency and the Makanda-Masida road in the Linyanti Constituency before proceeding to Judea Lyabboloma, where the situation was found to be critical.

Nekundi was accompanied by the newly appointed RA Chief Executive Officer, Mbahapu Tjivikua, along with other senior Roads Authority managers.