The Roads Authority (RA) of Namibia hosted the Committee and Board Meetings of the Association of Southern African National Roads Agencies (ASANRA) this week.

The engagements brought together regional road sector leaders to review progress, share best practices, and strengthen cooperation across Southern Africa.

Speaking at the media briefing, outgoing RA Chief Executive Officer Dr. Conrad Lutombi said Namibia remains committed to maintaining its position as Africa's top-ranked country for road quality. 

He attributed this achievement to strong alignment with national development priorities, including the recent upgrades to freeway standards and the expansion of key economic corridors.

"We have built new roads which speak to the needs of the country, to the needs of the people. We have not forgotten preserving what we have. As we continue building new roads, we continue preserving what we have. And that is a lesson. We want other member states to emulate."

Dr. Lutombi added that through partnerships like ASANRA, the country is able to deliver results across all regions.

ASANRA acting president Ephatar Mlavi commended Namibia for its long-standing contribution to the association, noting the Roads Authority's active role since ASANRA's establishment in 2001. 

He noted that reliable road infrastructure is essential for regional integration, enabling countries to trade more efficiently and connect communities to opportunities.

"Roads are really very important for the development of any country's economy. Typically, in many countries, it contributes up to 7% to 9% of GDP. In many countries, it is the dominant mode of transportation. In many SADC countries, typically, it carries up to 90% of the cargo and up to 80% of the passengers. So, it is really a very important catalyst to the development of many countries, and in particular the SADC region."

He said ASANRA's goal is to close gaps by harmonising road management and financing across SADC, ensuring that all member states benefit from safer, better-funded, and more efficiently managed road networks.