Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) President, Felix Tshisekedi has arrived in the country for the commissioning of the multi-million Dollar Kazungula Bridge and border facilities.
The plane carrying President Tshisekedi touched down at Harry Mwaanga Nkhumbula International Airport in Livingstone at about 18:00 hours.
The DRC Leader was welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs, Joseph Malanji, Southern Province Minister, Edify Hamukale, DRC Ambassador to Zambia Chantalal Konji Maloba, and senior Zambian government officials.
President Tshisekedi was accorded a half guard of honour by the Zambia Army.
Scores of Congolese nationals were on hand to welcome President Tshisekedi to Zambia’s tourist capital, Livingstone.
Mr Tshisekedi is among several regional Heads of State expected to witness the commissioning of the Mega Bridge and international border facilities built at a cost of US$259 Million at the border between Botswana and Zambia.
Mozambican President, Felipe Nyusi who is also Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) is expected in the country tomorrow.
The Kazungula Bridge will directly connect Botswana and Zambia and link the Port of Durban in South Africa to the DRC and Tanzania, this will further promote and enhance trade and regional integration.
Tshisekedi arrives at Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport.
Meanwhile, President Edgar Lungu and his Botswana counterpart Mokgweetsi Masisi are expected to commission the multimillion dollar Kazungula Bridge today, Monday, May 10, 2021.
The 923 meters long rail and road Bridge in Kazungula District, Southern Province, is a bilateral project between Zambia and Botswana, co-financed by the two governments.
The Kazungula Bridge is expected to boost trade and commerce between the two countries.
The bridge will also increase economic activities and prospects of other land-linked countries in the SADC region such as Zimbabwe, Malawi, Namibia, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.
The bridge is also envisaged to improve border management operations at one stop border facilities on each side of the two countries.
It has further answered all the challenges imposed by the existing pontoon service that had been carrying a maximum of two trucks when crossing the Zambezi River.
Tshisekedi welcome to Zed the land of many neglected structures.Hopefully Kazungula bridge will be an exception to our UTH, Kulima tower and its markets etc.
Pa nkongole, per PiyeF00l modus operandi!
Give credit where it’s due. This is one of the best projects Zambia has undertaken since the Kariba and TanZam railway. Hiccups are expected for sensitive projects like this one however we should thank our neighbours Botswana for extending their professionalism and quality control. We applaud the president of Zambia for persisting and encouraging others to join in this project. We would like to see more infrastructure collaborations across the continent. Well done Zambia and Bostwana for this wonderful bridge. May the good relations continue. We should also work together with our neighbours to introduce new standards for building roads and railway for our region.
Long overdue great achievement. Now go and rest you have failed don’t just pass in one subject. Chiluba did better than you. Shilako abanobe.
This is what our african leaders spend time doing, commissioning bridges, what a waste of resources. We need to grow and change
Uko….bridge Afilika yonse coming to watch…
GREATEST DEVELOPEMENT MAYBE AT WHAT COST AND WHO’S CHILDRENS CHILDRENS ARE GOING TO SUFFER IN REPAYING THE DEBT
BOTSWANA WILL MEET THEIR REPAYMENTS BUT I GAURANTEE YOU ZAMBIA WILL DEFAULT
This is a good and meaningful Bridge than those placed in Lusaka – flood bridges. God bless all these works – Botswana and Zambia
Great development. I hope Botswana, Zambia and DRC will now workout a coordinated fleet management especially of freightliners. Perhaps Zimbabwe must also be included because that’s another route that truckers use. It won’t do for Zambia to admit a large number of transit trucks, especially to DRC, when the latter has no capacity to clear and admit them all in good time. Kasumbalesa is already a sorry site and health hazard because of too many trucks awaiting clearance by DRC authorities. We don’t congestion of trucks at this bridge. So I’m happy that President Tshisekedi has come to witness this event. Let it not end there, he must be briefed about the inconvenience that we suffer. We can’t have trucks line up the street from Chililabombwe up to Chambishi, that’s not acceptable
Great achievement and very encouraging. It cannot be better, we appreciate.
Aren’t ashamed of ourselves that even a bridge being built annoys us. Hmm we truly Zambians? You may not have value for the bridge but those who are celebrating it understand its importance.
The govt should seriously consider compelling trucks which are DRC bound to be using the Sesheke via Kaoma and Kasempa highway as means of reducing heavy congestion on Livingstone – Kasumbalesa road as it will also save on road damage. goods destined for Mines in Northwestern province and Lualaba province in DRC should be transported through this corridor via Mushindamo and Kambimba Border in Mwinilunga East. This action if taken will decongest Kasumbalesa Border port as the there will be an increase in number of trucks being cleared.
If its not for Botswana this bridge would have cost 50% more due to non payments by the Lazy Lungu govt.
The president of Botswana should have the lion’s share of the commissioning as it had spent more money on the bridge to cover Zambia’s shortfalls on the same project. Infact lungu should just seat down in the whole process unless he shows records that they paid back Botswana for the their share.
MOST DONT WANT TO UNDERSTAND THE ABOVE COMMENT WHICH IS VERY VALID
IF LUAPULA PROVINCE WILL NOT BE EMPOWERED WITH SERIOUS FARMING FOR EXPORTS TO DR CONGO WITH PROCESSED FARM PRODUCE, IT IS BOTSWANA AND SOUTH AFRICA THAT ARE GOING TOBENEFIT FROM THE KAZUNGULA BRIDGE IN A SERIOUS WAY. ZAMBIA NEEDS TO BE FEEDING DR CONGO AND THE PROVINCE TO CHEAPLY FEED DR CONGO IS LUAPULA.
Can Interpol, ACC and ZP tame the un-uniformed police officers who harass people driving vehicles with foreign number plates for coca cola money under the pretext of investigating “Interpol”. Even a financed vehicle cleared by interpol in both S.A and Botswana for a visit to Zambia is “stolen” until coca cola money is given. I have been asked for a K1,000 before until I made threats to make a phone calls or return and use Vic Falls. ZP, Interpol, ZRA, ACC Either 1. Give them an office, uniforms and an honest list of procedures and requirements that must be well advertised including on social media (maybe also give them food and coca cola) OR 2. They should be removed. Why do we not get the same overexcited harassment in S.A and Botswana yet checks are done at every border? No matter…
The bridge will “link the Port of Durban in South Africa to the DRC and Tanzania,” How? The port of Durban links with the DRC via Beit Bridge and Chirundu. This Bridge goes South West.
The bridge will “link the Port of Durban in South Africa to the DRC and Tanzania,” How? The port of Durban links with the DRC via Beit Bridge and Chirundu. This Bridge goes South West onto Windhoek.
Some people are choking. They only wish it were them the landmark masterpiece was attributed to. They even forget this is a Zambian heritage. PF may have made inadvertent oversight mistakes. But this bridge is one of their pride and successes. Just like the Mongu-Kalabo once impossible road project, give thanks. Just give credit.
Why should “the Zambia you want” only start and end with HH?
Great things . Twalumba
ALL THIS WILL BE RESOLVED WHEN THE NEW GOVERNMENT TAKES OVER
ITS NOT LONG NOW !!!!!!!!!
A NEW ZAMBIA IS DAWNING VIVA
@Mulongoti Machayi. Anything positive annoys the UPND and it’s cadres. You have given two very good examples, but that doesn’t matter to them as HH hasn’t overseen these projects. The truth is often unpalatable but…it is still the truth. This is a very positive development.
This bridge was conceived long time ago as part of the SADC North-South Corridor Project during MMD tenure, approved in 2011 and signed in Feb 2012. Project funds were already committed from development partners (JICA 57.5%, Bots and Zam Govts 9.2%, EU-ITF 1.8% and ADF 31.5%) . It went through several design options hence the delay to start. It was not a PF govt’s idea at all but as SADC regional integration idea. I salute the govt for keeping the project alive as it required numerous diplomatic engagement. Well done. But let’s give credit to the MMD and Bots govt for convincing our partners! Let’s now fix our eyes on other equally important tasks. Sesheke-Livingstone Road is impassable. Great North Road equally has very bad stretches.
A lot is said on bridges but nothing comes to fruition,
Congratulations to the people of Zambia and Botswana! Cheers to the MMD government, Botswana government and financiers. A project worthy in its cost and value.
Certainly, PF is welcome to inaugurate it and claim accomplishments. However should use this occasion to learn how to implement vales
Projects, will Nate as of those silly, costly
Flyovers in Lusaka!
It’s buffling how others get so consumed in politics and forget that Zambia as a country is bigger than any political party. In case people forgot as our country is known for having a large number of the population who suffer from amnesia, this project was started under the MMD government. Just like most of the infrastructure projects around the country, the commitment of the government of the day to complete the project is equally vital. The national development plan for Zambia does not belong to any party, it belongs to the Zambian people. Those worried about debt from this bridge are reading outdated theories. This bridge is like opening a cashflow channel and connecting it directly to your bank account.
Well done govt. of Botswana. The cost of the bridge did not go beyond the budgeted (approx. $260m) amount thanks to the financial discipline of the govt. of Botswana.
The facilities are state of the art on both sides but mwebantu bakwa lesa just wait for 2 months elo go compare the ablution blocks ku Zed and Botswana, Iye ku Zed you will find feaces on the walls.
No one has given thanks to the Japanese that paid for most of it and the Koreans that built it not some cheap Chinese knock off, LT you forgot to tell us how much it will cost to travel across it.
This is very good, however you look at it.
Mulongoti Machayi – How much did Mongu – Kalabo bridge cost …it cost about $350m and that’s excluding the monies from delayed works in the past. This govt has not even paid off that loan …learn to look at the numbers plus you will be charged a toll fee to cross this bridge when it is your bridge paid for with your money so why charge you twice?
My comment is awaiting moderation
If ECL thinks this mainly Botswana funded Project will give him votes he is mistaken. People have already made up their minds about “The Zambia we want”. They are fed up of ECL and PF Corruption, Lawlessness, mismanagement of the Economy, misrule etc. On August 12 People will vote for “the New Zambia we want”. ECL and PF will be sent “ku wire” and HH ,UPND and “the Zambia we want” will be ushered into Power. The writing is on the wall.
On this one, ECL has earned the votes. I advise HH to say something positive about Kazungula bridge. Kazungula people have always given him votes,