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Botswana, Zambia to expedite Kazungula bridge project

Botswana, Zambia to expedite Kazungula bridge project
By Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Tuesday August 12, 2008 [04:00]

BOTSWANA has said it is fully committed to undertaking the Kazungula bridge project on a bilateral basis with Zambia, excluding Zimbabwe which was also party to the initial development talks. Works and transport minister Johnnie Swartz told the Botswana Parliament last week that the move was made in an effort by Botswana and Zambia to expedite the project.

“Further, the two countries have agreed to shift the alignment of the bridge upstream along the Zambezi River to avoid traversing the area that had been the subject of an unresolved border dispute between Botswana and Zimbabwe,” Swartz said.

He added that the consultancy services contract has also been amended to provide for Botswana and Zambia to be the signatories to the contract with the consultant.

He said it should be noted that the project is still at feasibility and detailed design stage, which will start in September 2008 and be completed in September 2009.

Swartz said it is anticipated that the mobilisation of funds and tendering for construction of the bridge will take a further nine to 12 months, adding that it is expected that construction of the bridge would commence in late 2010.

The minister said the new agreement provides for the inclusion of a rail component in the Kazungula bridge project.

He added that the two countries are now in the process of consulting their respective railway authorities and the consultant to bring the new component under the contract as additional scope of feasibility and design work.

Swartz said the signing of the initial contract was aborted at the last minute because Zimbabwe objected to proceeding with the project due to the fact that funds for the Zimbabwean border facilities had not been secured.

Last month, Zambia’s works and supply minister Kapembwa Simbao announced that Zambia and Botswana had abandoned the initial plan of constructing the Kazungula Bridge through Zimbabwe.

Simbao said the bridge would be constructed through the Namibian waters.

Labels: BOTSWANA, INFRASTRUCTURE, KAZUNGULA BRIDGE

posted by MrK @ 4:18 AM