04 Nov 2020

The soon to be commissioned Kazungula Bridge project which is jointly funded by the governments of Botswana and Zambia and the African Development Bank is symbolic of the cooperation that the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is anchored upon. 

While the project is viewed by the two countries as an example of strong bi-lateral relations that they have enjoyed since their independence, on a critical point of view, the mega project which is located at the quadripoint where Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe meet, will also be a significant contributor to tourism, a sector that plays a critical role in the eradication of poverty in the SADC region.

In an interview, the executive director of the Kavango-Zambezi Trans Frontier Conservation Area (KAZA TFCA), Dr Nyambe Nyambe noted that the Kazungula Bridge is a major investment which is consistent with the SADC vision of regional integration hence the need to commend Botswana and Zambia for the achievement.

Dr Nyambe said the multi-million project would contribute immensely towards the development of tourism and the KAZA vision, anchored around creating the TFCA as a competitive tourism destination.

He noted that infrastructure was key to the promotion of tourism and the recent refurbishment of airports such as Victoria Falls, Kasane Airport, Livingstone, Menongue, Cuito Cuanavale and the long planned upgrade of Katima Mulilo were other forms of investments of efforts that countries in the region were putting in. 

On the Kazungula Bridge, Dr Nyambe said in terms of huge infrastructure connecting the two countries, the bridge joins another one that connects Zambia and Namibia within the KAZA landscape.

He said even during the construction stage the state of the art infrastructure bridge attracted both local and international tourists who visited it to take photographs and have the experience of the bridge being constructed. 

“The bridge in its own right is a tourism attraction site as there is going to be history told about its construction in 30-40 years from now,” he said. 

He said those who are lucky to have taken pictures on the pontoons will help tell part of the history. 

Dr Nyambe said tourism is not about wildlife only but the experiences of people and culture that need to be documented.

He said the idea of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP), which will require travelers entering either of the countries to stop once for travel formalities, is a welcome development for the tourism sector as both local and international tourists work on a budget in terms of resources and time.

“OSBP will reduce the time tourists spend at the border compared to now and they will be greater efficiency in the processing of border formalities in terms of clearing of vehicles and facilitating movement of people,” he said.

Dr Nyambe said with the KAZA univisa which is being discussed in Botswana, Namibia and Angola following its successful piloting in Zambia and Zimbabwe will be another opportunity in promoting tourism and increasing tourist flows.

He said the bridge will also help ease regional movement of people who have challenges such as water and pontoon phobia as they will have opportunity to experience what KAZA and beyond has to offer.

He said all in all the bridge provides a critical contribution to the development of tourism and its competitiveness within KAZA region.

Dr Nyambe said it is up to how the private sector organise themselves to take advantage of the Kazungula Bridge as the governments have provided an enabling environment for them to strive. 

“In all these we have to remember the important role the communities’ play, the need to secure their livelihoods, the need to create jobs and the need to ensure security,” he said.

Meanwhile, KAZA TFCA is a SADC project aimed at promoting the wise use of natural resources and effective protection of natural environment. 

Previously in his various briefings to the different stakeholders who visited the project during construction, the lead consultant, Mr Kobamelo Kgoboko indicated that the project will facilitate trade in the entire SADC region as it will reduce transit time for freight and passengers.

He elaborated that with the use of the ferryboats, trucks queue for about three days to a week awaiting to be conveyed across the Zambezi River but with the bridge the transit time will be reduced to approximately two hours.

Mr Kgoboko noted that once completed the bridge will address the problem of accidents resulting from trucks sinking on the pontoon in the Zambezi River.

He said the multi-million project will contribute significantly to the SADC region economy as there will be increased traffic throughput along the North-South corridor as well as increased global competitiveness of goods from Botswana and Zambia due to reduced time-based trade and transport cost.

Apart from Zambia and Botswana route, the bridge is a vital channel for other SADC member countries such as Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi and South Africa.

With some SADC countries having multi-membership of other groupings such as Common Market Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) which is aimed at promoting regional integration through trade and development of natural and human resources, the Kazungula Bridge will optimise chances of those uniting with SADC and other regional groupings in accelerating the continental economic integration.

According to the 2011 Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Summary (ESIA) of the project, once operational it will increase employment chances for women as envisioned by the SADC Gender Policy that advocates for a 30 per cent quota of women in employment opportunities.

“In addition to the increased employment opportunities in the project, there will be increased income generating opportunities from emerging demand services such as restaurants, small shops and allied activities which tend to favour women, due to the expected increase in traffic,” states the ESIA.

The ESIA further states that there will also be opportunities for trading with salaried workers and provisions of roadside services to subsequent road users, especially truck drivers and those activities are known to be dominated by women, a thing that the SADC Gender Policy advocates for.

The use of ferries was inefficient with frequent breakdowns leading to long queues and extended stays at the border area by truck drivers, a thing that brought about a number of social ills among them environmental pollution and sex work.

With the completion of the bridge, Kgosi Bakwena Balemogeng is elated that it is now good bye to socials ills that have been part of Kazungula from as far back as the date the ferries were introduced as truckers will spend few hours in the area.

He said in an interview that some people from all corners of Botswana and the neighbouring countries were involved in illicit trade, and when their deals went wrong other crimes such assaults and wrestling of property effected. Ends