FOR years, tourists, truck drivers and traders have faced challenges at Kazungula border on how to cross the Zambezi River, Africa’s fourth largest river which is 3,540 kilometres long. The pontoon, which is the only means of transport at the border, is unreliable.
This prompted the Southern African Development Community (SADC) member countries to consider constructing a bridge across the Zambezi River at Kazungula bordering Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and Zambia.
The construction of the bridge, which will be the sixth passage to span the width of the Zambezi River after Katima Mulilo, Chirundu, Tete and Livingstone, and the footbridge at Chinyingi Mission, has brought joy and relief to many Kazungula residents, travellers and truck drivers.
One of the residents, Patrick Imbwae, who spoke on behalf of small-scale traders at the border, said the bridge will bring a lot of investment into Kazungula considering its geographical position.
Frequent users of the ferry, who include truckers, traders and tourists, are optimistic that the construction of the Kazungula bridge will ease their movements and bring development to the district.
Kazungula has for many years lagged behind in terms of infrastructure development and is considered a remote area despite its potential as a transit town.
With the construction of the bridge underway, Kazungula will see banks, shopping malls being opened up and other infrastructure development.
Currently Kazungula has no bank, filling station, supermarket or shopping mall. Kazungula residents rely on Livingstone, which is about 70 kilometres and Kasane in Botswana almost 20 kilometres away.
“Kazungula is a border town like Kasane in Botswana but look how developed our friends are. They have banks, a hospital, a filling station and we do not have any of these facilities. It is our hope as Kazungula residents that once the bridge is complete, we shall see such development coming here too,” Mr Imbwae said amid applause from his colleagues.
The bridge, which will link Botswana and Namibia, is expected to boost trade and tourism in the SADC region and beyond.
Kazungula district commissioner Albert Chifita has since appealed to stakeholders to take advantage of the construction of the bridge by setting up various business ventures.
“A good transport and communication network is vital for commerce and trade for any country, not forgetting infrastructure which is critical to development. There is need to accelerate infrastructure development in any community,” he said.
Mr Chifita is hopeful that with the coming of the bridge, Kazungula will be a hive of activity for business houses to take advantage of.
“I wish to appeal to businessmen and women to take advantage of the strategic position of Kazungula and the bridge and set up business ventures,” he said.
The project has brought high hopes to the residents of Kazungula because once completed, the bridge will contribute to the economic transformation of the district.
Recently, the Zambian government announced that the construction of the bridge is expected to commence in the third quarter of this year and is co-funded by the African Development Bank (ADB) and Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA).
According to the announcement, construction of the bridge will cost K900 billion.
“The actual construction works are supposed to start in the last quarter of this year at a cost of US$200 million or K900 billion. This project has been co-funded by ADB and JICA,” Ministry of Works and Supply permanent secretary Watson Ng’ambi said.
The Kazungula bridge project comprises construction of a bridge and railway line across the Zambezi River between Botswana and Zambia.
The main objective of the Kazungula bridge project is to replace the ferry service between the two countries, which has been a hindrance to speedy traffic clearance because of limited carrying capacity.
The ferry carries 30 trucks per day and is prone to accidents, contributing to delays and high transport costs.
A South African truck driver, Thulani Dlamini, complained that the delays being caused by the ferry are impacting negatively on deliveries.
Mr Dlamini said time management is important in business anywhere and any delay causes loss of confidence.
“We spend days here and even go beyond our deadline, which is not good in this competitive world of business. I think the construction of the Kazungula bridge will ease the way of doing business, especially in trade,” he said.
The project is part of the North-South Corridor, which links the mineral-rich regions of Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo through Botswana and the port of Durban in South Africa.
The bridge is of strategic importance to the economic integration of the SADC region and central Africa.
The crossing provides the connection between the regional centres of economic activities and regional ports, which handle all exports and imports from Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
And Senior Chief Mukuni of the Toka Leya people of Kazungula has described the construction of the bridge as a right move in empowering the district.
Speaking in an interview recently, Chief Mukuni said the bridge will see the coming of numerous business ventures.
“Kazungula does not have a bank and I see one coming once the bridge is completed because there will be lots of economic activities. that will enable people make a lot of money. A need for a bank will arise,” the senior chief said.
In terms of trade, Zambia buys large amounts of salt, building materials and veterinary vaccine from Botswana, while Botswana buys maize, molasses, electric energy and about 80 percent of maize brand for livestock from Zambia.
“Zambia is fortunate to have a good climate and abundant water resources, which help her to be one of the leading countries in agriculture on the continent. The country can supply grain, vegetables, fruit and livestock products to SADC and COMESA and naturally I would like to see Botswana taking advantage of this opportunity to provide a market for Zambia’s food commodities,” Senior chief Mukuni said.
Some stakeholders in the tourism sector have welcomed the planned construction of the bridge at Kazungula border, saying it will boost Zambia’s tourism and trade.
Livingstone Tourism Association (LTA) official Frederick Mwendapole praised the government for responding to people’s cry for a permanent bridge at Kazungula.
Mr Mwendapole said tourism operators and other stakeholders had over the last 10 years been calling for the construction of a bridge at Kazungula.
“In the tourism sector, we are always hoping for steady flow of tourists and other goods at all border posts. Once the bridge is constructed, it will enhance tourism growth and spur other economic activities,” he said.
Mr Mwendapole said visiting tourists were currently facing challenges such as congestion at the border.
“Some years back, we had cases in which the pontoons broke down and we even lost lives there,” he recalled.
Kazungula is one of the international entry points to Zambia and it is commendable that the government has come up with a plan to build a bridge at Kazungula.
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