Kazungula Bridge is a road and rail bridge over the Zambezi River between the countries of Zambia and Botswana at the town of Kazungula. The 923-metre-long (3,028 ft) by 18.5-metre-wide (61 ft) bridge has a longest span of 129 metres (423 ft) and links the town of Kazungula in Zambia with Botswana. The bridge features a single-line railway track between two traffic lanes and walkways for pedestrians.[2]
Before the bridge was opened for traffic in May 2021, direct traffic between the two countries was possible only by ferry. The bridge takes advantage of the short 135-metre (440 ft) border the two countries share at the river,[3] and is curved to avoid the nearby borders of Zimbabwe and Namibia.[4][5]
History
Map of the Kazungula Bridge in relation to the Kazungula, Botswana (southwest) and Kazungula, Zambia (northeast)
In August 2007 the governments of Zambia and Botswana announced a deal to construct a bridge to replace the existing ferry.[6]
Construction of the US$259.3million project, which includes international border facilities in Zambia and Botswana, officially began on 12 October 2014 and was completed on 10 May 2021[7] by the South Korean construction firm Daewoo E&C. Opening was delayed due to transport issues affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.[8]
2013
In 2013, the governments of Botswana and Zambia jointly invited bids for the construction of the Kazungula Bridge at an estimated cost of US$260 million, as well as One-stop border facilities built on either side of the bridge. The project was stated to be financed partly through a loan of $80 million signed on February 2013 between Zambia and the African Development Bank, as well as between Botswana and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA). At this meeting, the project was announced to be completed in six years, and the bidder would need to supply consultancy services, design reviews, production of bidding documentation, supervision of works, and post-construction services.[9]
2014
By the following year, 40 replacement houses for Lumbo villagers were ready to be distributed as initial construction work had already started. According to the District Commissioner of Kazungula Pascalina Musokotwane, the 40 houses and a school were be handed over to the villagers in August 2014.[9]
In March of 2014, three companies were shortlisted for the construction bid out of the original twenty-six entries. The finalists were China Major Bridge Engineering Corporation, Daewoo E and C, and Shimizu-Stefanuti Joint Venture.[9]
In August 2014, Bernard Chiwala, Chief Executive of Zambia’s Road Development Agency, stated that the whole construction process would be given to Botswana and would be jointly financed at a total cost of US$124.22 million and it is expected to be completed in four years, eight years shorter than previously stated. Under the agreement, the JICA would provide US$41.77 million, the ADB US$78.41, while the Government of Zambia would contribute US$1.57 million.[9]
Construction of large Zambia’s Kazungula bridge started after the ground-breaking ceremony on the 12th of September 2014. At the ceremony held on the Botswana side of the Kazungula border, Zambian Vice–President Guy Scott and his Botswana counterpart, Ponatshego Kedikilwe welcomed press as well as stated that the cost would be US$259.3 million, be completed by 2018, and that the chosen contractor would be Daewoo Engineering and Construction.[9]
2018
In 2018, the three presidents of Zimbabwe’s Emmerson Mnangagwa, Seretse Khama of Botswana, and Edgar Lungu of Zambia, inspected the progress on the Kazungula Bridge. During this meeting, it was agreed that Zimbabwe to be part of the phase II of the project.[9]
The involvement of Zimbabwe was revealed during a press briefing by Botswana Transport and Communication Minister Kitso Mokaila, Zimbabwean Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joram Gumbo, and Zambian Housing and Infrastructure Development Minister Ronald Chitotela.[9]
2019
In March 2019, construction stopped after Daewoo Engineering and Construction failed to be paid for its services by the Zambian government. Daewoo stated the issue has led to an industrial strike by the employees, and Administration Manager Hong Seouk Park stated that these financial constraints have made it increasingly difficult to maintain the company’s running costs. Botswana had made payment for the project but Zambia had not, meaning a total of US $14.84 million was owed.[9]
In May 2019, President Edgar Lungu of Zambia stated the project was "78% complete" and is optimistic that the project would be completed on schedule.[9]
By November 2019, consultant Mr. Kobamelo Kgoboko said the project was 91.92% complete, with the Botswana side being 98.7% complete and the Zambian side was 80.5% complete. It was also stated that 6 of the 8 pylons had been completed. However, the project was announced to be pushed back to June 2020, meaning the project would open 10 months behind schedule.[9]
2020
In October 2020, the Botswanan Ministry of Transport and Communications stated that bridge and approach ramps were complete, with the Botswanan border post being 98.44% complete at a cost of US $38.4million, and the Zambia border post being 99.40% complete at a cost of US $13.1 million.[9]
In December, Zambia’s Minister for Housing and Infrastructure Development Vincent Mwale stated a total of US $82.3m had been paid by Zambia, with an additional US $73.7m being released in December and US $8.7m to be paid by the end of the year. These statements were in response to accusations that the Zambian Government had failed to pay its dues and would not honor the outstanding amount owed to the contractor. Vincent Mwale went on to say that he "would like to put it on record that the assertions currently being circulated via social media, purporting that the Zambian Government has failed to pay its dues and will not honor the outstanding amount owed to the Contractor, are not correct".[9]
2021
On 10 May 2021, the bridge officially opened.[9][7]
^"2. Project description and Justification", Zambia Botswana Kazungula Bridge Project ESIA Summary July 2011(PDF), African Development Bank Group, July 2011, p. 2, archived from the original(PDF) on 6 November 2015, retrieved 30 January 2018, The bridge has been designed as an extra-dosed road-rail bridge configuration with middle deck sections of 129m, and 4 piers in the river, with a total length of 923m. It follows a curved alignment layout to avoid the border area in the Zambezi waters between Botswana and Zimbabwe, where the exact border positions have not been ratified.
^"Botswana says China agreed to extend loan and cancel debt". Reuters. 9 September 2018. Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 10 September 2018. The bulk of the loan is expected to fund the Mosetse-Kazungula railway line project, which will link the central part of Botswana to the tourism hub in the northwest. The railway line will also promote regional trade as it will connect Botswana to Zambia via the Kazungula Bridge, currently under construction.
