WINDHOEK: The Roads Authority (RA) has set itself a target of testing and issuing 90 per cent of licences and permits to motor-vehicle drivers and operators applying for these documents annually by 2014/15.
This is according to its three-year strategic plan, which was launched on Friday.
Currently, only 70 per cent of applicants are tested and issued with licences and permits per year.
Achieving this target will involve the establishment of adequate facilities and the implementing of a customer service charter and strategy, the RA’s acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Conrad Lutombi said during the launch of the strategic plan in the capital.
As part of the RA’s key objective of managing traffic and transport operations, Lutombi said they are targeting a six per cent reduction in overloading by maximising weighbridge operations and enforcement at a cost of N.dollars 4,8 million.
“We are targeting 100 per cent compliance to traffic and transport regulations,” he said, adding that the baseline figure currently stands at 90 per cent.
Efforts to improve compliance to traffic and transport regulations will include maximising law- enforcement and vehicle and driver testing and licensing.
Lutombi further noted that the RA is committed to managing road infrastructure, and will aim to have at least 80 per cent of road projects funded on-time in accordance with business plans, and aims to have 90 kilometres (km) of gravel roads constructed per year and 100km of roads improved to bitumen standards by 2014/15.
The Roads Authority also committed itself to contributing to small and medium-sized enterprises’ (SMEs) development, with 15 per cent of the total value of contracts planned to go to SMEs by the 2014/15 financial year.
Addressing the issue of human capital, Lutombi stated that the RA wants to entrench its core values in its employees in order to build a conducive organisational culture.
It will also strive for employee satisfaction by conducting annual employee surveys, and implementing improvement plans to address issues identified.
“We have a huge responsibility ahead of us as quality work is critical to the RA,” he said.