The managing member of Kuru Kaje Investments CC says the workers doing the debushing and clearing for the Andara-Shamaturu road in Mukwe, Kavango East Region, will be paid on Thursday.

This comes after 63 workers downed tools last week because the subcontractor failed to pay them for March. 

Jerry Kauyu says the company had to approach a financial institution for assistance this week and managed to secure N$300,000 just for the workers' wages. 

He said all 63 workers will be paid for the months of March and April.

The employees decided to stop working after going without payment from Kuru Kaje Investments CC, the SME responsible for earthworks on the construction site, for up to six weeks.

Kauyu says payment will be made by 8 May, a site meeting will take place on the 9th, and work will resume on the 10th. 

Kauyu told NBC News that the construction of the Andara-Shamaturu gravel road is a government project and that the work commenced at the end of the financial year, which has influenced the duration of invoice payments. 

He says even though the delay in payment from the client, which is the Roads Authority, has caused a setback of about three weeks, Kuru Kaje Investments will make up for the lost time, adding that they will ensure that nothing like this ever happens again. 

The construction of this 15-kilometre road to gravel standard aims to provide improved access to basic services like healthcare.