The City of Windhoek says its paved road network, covering approximately 883 kilometres, has largely exceeded its original design lifespan, resulting in a significant maintenance backlog.
The Municipal Council has approved an action plan to fast-track pothole repairs ahead of the rainy season. The City said the initiative is aimed at improving road safety, protecting infrastructure and reducing the mounting backlog of repairs.
According to the municipality, potholes in Windhoek stem from a combination of factors, including inadequate drainage, ageing pavements, high traffic volumes, climate cycles and historic under-maintenance.
Currently, 16% of road surfaces and 18% of structural layers are rated in poor to very poor condition.
The City has accumulated a road maintenance backlog of N$2.67 billion between 2020 and 2025 due to chronic underfunding, according to Rowan Adams, Acting Strategic Executive for Infrastructure, Water and Technical Services.
Adams said earlier this year that Windhoek requires N$384 million annually to keep its road network functional, but actual allocations have fallen well short of this requirement.
“The asset replacement value of Windhoek’s road network is N$15.4 billion. However, maintaining this infrastructure at a functional standard requires N$384 million per year. In contrast, the actual annual budget has been far below this amount, contributing to a growing backlog of road maintenance, now estimated at N$2.67 billion,” he said.
He added that recent rains have worsened the condition of the city’s roads, with damage reported on 650 streets. The municipality has brought in private contractors to support its internal teams in carrying out urgent repairs.
