Members of Parliament (MPs) from the Okavango District have expressed disappointment over the slow progress of ongoing road projects, citing visible delays despite reports of significant completion rates.
Speaking during a virtual special Okavango District Development Committee (DDC) meeting recently, project manager Alec Dennison reported that the Gumare–Sepopa Road rehabilitation project, implemented by Bango Trading Company, currently stands at 72 percent for package one and 57 percent for package two.
He explained that for package one, layers such as the prime base, sub-base, roadbed, and cut had been completed, with cement stabilisation still outstanding. For package two, work on the cut, roadbed, sub-base, and base had been completed, while asphalt works were ongoing. Emulsion treatment is yet to begin.
On the Sepopa–Mohembo Road project, handled by Rockefeller Civil Engineering (Pty) Ltd, Dennison reported overall progress at 25 percent. This covers both package one, which involves asphalt overlay, and package two, which focuses on shoulder widening. However, MPs argued that the reported figures do not reflect reality on the ground.
Okavango West MP Kenny Kapinga voiced his dissatisfaction, noting that although reports indicated progress of 72 percent and 57 percent on the Gumare–Sepopa packages and 25 percent on the Sepopa–Mohembo Road, little visible work had been achieved. He urged for the prioritisation of road infrastructure to accelerate development in the district.
Okavango East MP Gabatsholwe Disho echoed similar concerns, describing progress on both projects as inadequate. He stressed the urgent need for frequent grading of the Mohembo–Gudigwa Road, which he said is in a deplorable state. He further called on district leadership to seek assistance in maintaining the Nokaneng–Gumare Road, which currently poses serious risks to road users while awaiting a long-term solution.
Presenting the DDC report, Okavango District Council principal economic planner Ludo Moloi acknowledged the delays. She explained that the Gumare–Sepopa Road project was initially hampered by a change in scope, which led to its division into two separate packages. Other setbacks included the unavailability of design drawings at the project’s start and a shortage of quality gravel.
For the Sepopa–Mohembo Road, Moloi said progress was slowed by delays in securing construction materials. This was due to the late approval of a mining licence for the Shadikekete borrow pit and the ongoing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies for the Nxamasere and Sepopa borrow pits.
She added that all dry grading and spot improvement projects across the district have also been negatively affected, as graders remain grounded awaiting maintenance.
