The communities of Okathitu Kambanda, Embwa, and Oluteyi in the Omusati Region met the government halfway by raising funds to construct a 4-kilometre access road. 
The new road, located along the envisaged Epato-Ombathi gravel route, will link residents to nearby clinics, churches, and schools.

For decades, villagers have struggled to access essential services as the existing route becomes impassable during the rainy season. 
When heavy rains fall, residents are cut off from vital services, with some relying on ploughing tractors as the only means of transport to clinics or crossing deep Oshanas by foot. 

Schools such as Oluteyi and others are often forced to close temporarily due to poor road conditions.
After waiting for years for government intervention with no success, the community decided to act by collecting funds among themselves.
After learning about the initiative, local businessman David Sheehama stepped in with graders, excavators, dump trucks, and compactor rollers.

“People have been suffering just to get access to the other village from the tarred road, as you can see the Oshana. When the rain comes, it gets full of water, so they have no access, and then they have been crying. Then I said, ‘Once I get time in my busy schedule, I will try and help the community here.’ If they just contribute a small amount of money for the machinery use, I will help them.”  

The Councillor of Ogongo Constituency applauded the community’s determination, describing the development as a much-needed relief for residents. 

“So our people here have gone deep in their pocket to find some money and contribute so that Tate Kambwa Trading can come in and assist them because we are talking about the money, which is not even enough to establish a site, so the Kambwa came in to assist us,” remarked councillor Daniel Iilende. 

Iilende called on the Ministry of Works and Transport (MWT) to prioritise the construction of the long-awaited Epato-Ombathi gravel road.
Once completed, the access road will ease mobility for residents of Olunkavu, Epyamukuyu, Iingapanda, Yambalantu, Iipanda yaNgandjera, and Uuthima Wameya villages.