The construction of the Kazungula bridge, which will form a vital economic
link between Zambia and Botswana, get the green light.

LUSAKA, ZAMBIA (OCTOBER 13, 2008) REUTERS -
Botswana and Zambia will go ahead with the construction of the 70
million US dollar Kazungula Bridge across the Zambezi river on the border
between the two countries. The bridge promises be a vital economic link since
it will allow for free unobstructed movement for both people and cargo.
Feasibility studies being conducted have been funded by the African
Development Bank group but Zimbabwe, which was part of the project, has said
it will only accept to take part after carrying out its own study.
"Funding was provided to help the two governments in preparing a
study for the construction of a rail and road link over the Zambezi river at
Kazungula. The objective of the study is to prepare the economic feasibility,
detailed design and engineering tender documents for the Kazungula
bridge," said Vivien Apopo, Manager of the African Development Bank,
Zambia.
Zambia and Botswana have withdrawn from a Memorandum of Understanding
(MoU) that included Zimbabwe and signed a new one to undertake the Kazungula
Bridge Project on a bilateral basis.
"We are expecting to procure a contractor around 2010. This is
because the consultancy will end about August next year and we will use the
remaining part of next year to procure a contractor so we don't expect work to
begin until say January 2010," said Bizwayo Nkunika, Permanent Secretary
at Zambia's Ministry of Works and Supply.
The project is also aimed at the development of the mining sectors of
Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and will be of critical
importance to the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.
Analysts say lack of proper infrastructure in the SADC region increases
the cost of doing business here. So, infrastructure development is a priority
for governments in the region.
"Once the bridge is completed, we expect to see a faster movement
of goods and people over the Zambezi ports from Botswana, from Zambia and also
from South Africa and DRC that currently use the Kazungula crossing. We are
also expecting to see that the processing time for movements of cargo will be
much, much more efficient," added Apopo.
Two years ago more than 15 people drowned in the Zambezi river after a
ferry capsized under the weight of a truck, obstructing traffic for nearly two
weeks as engineers worked to replace the ferry.