GOVERNMENT RULES OUT TOLL ROADS - nbc

Minister of Works and Transport Veikko Nekundi informed the National Assembly that there is currently no proposal before his office to introduce tolling, adding that government is not preparing to implement such a system in Namibia. This follows an urgent oral question by AR Leader Professor Job Amupanda on reported plans to introduce tolling in Namibia. "This economy, Minister, cannot afford e-tolls. Can you imagine e-tolls between Okahandja? So you forget your key at home, and you are living in Osona; you must pay. You must go back and you must pay. Imagine an e-toll between Oshakati and Ongwediva. So it has failed in Johannesburg, a big economy that could absorb it. It has failed in Kenya and other places. So can you, Minister, really, and I know philosophically, you would not want to have a situation as your legacy to impose a huge burden on the people of Namibia. Can you just clarify that this progressive government is not busy with anything like that so that Namibians can sleep peacefully?" Nekundi said that he did not make such an announcement, and neither has the Ministry of Finance, saying that there is no government policy introducing tolling. "In terms of our constitution, policies are made by the ministers and policymakers. Anything of that nature is not a pronouncement of a minister; it is not a policy of this government. I have not made such an announcement. Finance has not made that pronouncement. There is no such policy of government. When I was deputy minister of Works and Transport, under the leadership of Honourable Mutorwa, there was a study that was done about e-tolls. Under the leadership of Mutorwa, we have rejected those e-tolls. We are not going to accept e-tolls. So therefore, as a standard, there are no e-tolls. It is not on my table."