The government is not considering the introduction of toll gates despite mounting pressure to find billions of dollars needed to maintain Namibia’s road network, Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi has said.
Nekundi dismissed speculation that the government plans to introduce toll gates, saying no such proposal has been submitted to his ministry.
“There is no such decision. It is not on my table. We are not prepared to introduce any tolls in the economy. We are clear about that,” he told the National Assembly in response to a question from Affirmative Repositioning (AR) leader Job Amupanda.
The minister stressed that any proposal to introduce toll gates would first have to undergo the normal government consultation and approval process before it could become official policy.
His comments come as the Road Fund Administration (RFA) warns that Namibia faces a road funding deficit of more than N$3 billion, increasing pressure on government to identify sustainable funding sources for road maintenance and expansion.
The RFA estimates that N$8.8 billion is required annually to maintain and upgrade the country’s road infrastructure. However, projected revenue from existing road user charges and government allocations is expected to leave a funding gap of between N$3.1 billion and N$3.3 billion.
According to RFA Chief Executive Officer Ali Ipinge, the shortfall threatens the maintenance and rehabilitation of key transport corridors and municipal roads, many of which have reached or exceeded their design lifespan.
To close the funding gap, the RFA has proposed reviewing fuel levies, vehicle licence fees, mass-distance charges and cross-border tariffs. It has also identified toll gates and distance-based road user charging systems as possible long-term funding options.
However, Nekundi’s remarks indicate that the government has not endorsed the introduction of toll gates, despite ongoing discussions on sustainable mechanisms to finance Namibia’s road infrastructure.
