Dear Editor,
THE Kazungula Bridge officially opened yesterday. As usual, some sectors of society will try and down play this important milestone in Zambia’s infrastructure development goals.
The Kazungula Bridge Project was an initiative of the four countries whose borders meet at Kazungula, these being Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. But after protracted negotiations Namibia and Zimbabwe opted not to be part of the project and in 2007, the governments of Botswana and Zambia signed an agreement to build the bridge to replace the existing pontoon.
The bridge is deliberately curved to avoid the borders of Namibia and Zimbabwe which are close by. Construction of the bridge officially started in 2014. The cost of the $260m project was to be financed by the following; 1. Botswana and Zambia were to finance 9.2 percent of the project or $23, 920, 000 2. Japan International Cooperation Agency were to finance 57.5 percent of the project or $149, 500, 000 3. African Development Fund were to finance 31.5 percent of the project or $81, 900, 000 And the EU-ITF was to finance 1.8 percent of the project or $4, 680, 000. However, just before construction started in 2014, the major financer JICA pulled out of the project after a dispute on the tender for the construction of the bridge.
The Zambian government, together with the Botswana government stepped up to the plate and pledged to take up the financial deficit and contribute $86, 710, 000 each. The Zambian government has released US$82.4 m towards the completion of the Kazungula bridge project, as of December 2020 balance on the contract in the sum of US$4.7m remained to be certified and issued to the Zambian government.
This was a remarkable achievement by Zambia considering that the deficit that was created by the withdrawal of JICA was never budgeted for and was done at the very last minute of the launch of the programme. So next time someone asks you why Zambia is in debt, simply point at the Kazungula Bridge.
The bridge is a marvel but most importantly it will improve the efficiency of transit traffic through the Kazungula border to facilitate and increase trade activities and global competiveness of Zambia and Botswana; improve regional connectivity of the North South Corridor; and contribute to economic regional integration within the SADC region. Congratulations to the governments of Botswana and Zambia on this milestone.
KATIMBA CHISANGA.
