Walvis Bay Mayor Trevino Forbes says the recent rains have exposed the vulnerabilities of Namibia’s road infrastructure.
This comes after heavy rainfall across the country—measuring between 40mm and 60mm in some areas—caused significant damage to roads and infrastructure.
“Sometimes, disasters come, and they provide opportunities as well… This rain came and exposed how weak our road infrastructure really is, but it has also given us an opportunity to leverage that and get services ready to go with immediate effect,” Forbes said during a council meeting on Tuesday.
Forbes said the municipality is actively working to address the town’s rainwater-related issues, including hiring contractors to pump out excess water. Additionally, negotiations have been concluded to restore roads to their previous condition.
“I know meetings were held, and more are still to come between the CEO and different entities, and the results will soon be visible. We resolved to have contractors on the roads very soon—at least six will start work shortly to repair the damaged roads,” he said..
He also commended the local and business communities for coming together to support each other during this period.
“That is what makes Walvis Bay special—the spirit of togetherness, the spirit of pulling together and assisting where needed. To my fellow councillors, now is the time to stand together with our community and residents and put aside petty issues,” Forbes urged.
However, the latest 12-day forecast predicts further heavy rains, increasing the risk of additional damage to roads and infrastructure.
Live weather reports from Walvis Bay weather stations indicate the possibility of thunderstorms, a high UV index, and forecasted gale-force winds, which could further complicate recovery efforts.
