Minister slams roads excluding vulnerable users
Namibian Minister James Sankwasa has criticized urban road designs for prioritizing motorists while neglecting pedestrians, cyclists, and people with disabilities. He urged local authorities to ensure future infrastructure projects are inclusive and cost-effective.
Why it matters
This reflects a growing global push for inclusive urban planning and fiscal accountability in public infrastructure projects.
Urban and Rural Development Minister James Sankwasa has criticised the way urban roads are designed in Namibia, saying they cater almost entirely to motorists while ignoring pedestrians, cyclists and people with physical disabilities.
Sankwasa made these remarks at yesterday’s press conference hosted by the Road Fund Administration (RFA) at the Namibia Institute of Public Administration and Management (NIPAM) in Windhoek.
The event focused on urban road management and was attended by policymakers, local authorities and other stakeholders, who discussed current and future funding for urban road management and maintenance.
While the minister welcomed efforts to identify gaps in road funding, he questioned those responsible for designing local roads, saying they failed to consider people with physical disabilities.
He said he is yet to see a road designed to serve them, as well as cyclists and pedestrians.
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