PRESS RELEASE - OFFICIAL OPENING OF KAZUNGULA BRIDGE PROJECT AND ONE STOP BORDER POST FACILITIES

The Ministry of Transport & Communications is pleased to announce that the official opening of the Kazungula Bridge & one stop border post facilities is scheduled for 10/5/2021.

The construction of the bridge over the mighty Zambezi River, commenced in December 2014 and the final inspection was undertaken by the Minister of Transport and Communications, Honourable Thulagano Merafe Segokgo..

.. and his counterpart in Zambia, Minister for Infrastructure, Honourable Vincent Mwale in October 2020.

The Ministry of Transport and Communications applauds its strategic partner in this development, the Republic of Zambia for the successful completion of this magnificent project.

The project is an indication of the flourishing bilateral relations, which the two countries have enjoyed over time. The Ministry further extends its gratitude to the Co-funders, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), African Development Bank (AfDB),..

...and other major stakeholders for contributing enormously to ensure the project is realized.

The Bridge and its associated works, is expected to ease access to international markets through connectivity with major seaports as well as contribute to maximizing the operational efficiency of the SADC north-south corridor and enhance regional economic integration.

Freight and passengers transit time is projected to be significantly reduced due to improved border management operations arising from the One Stop Border facilities.

Following the devastating impacts of COVID-19, the Kazungula Bridge is anticipated to enhance the prospects of attracting more private sector investment, boost the tourism sector and contribute to advancement of the quality of life of the communities in the region.

PROFILE OF THE BRIDGE

The project has three (3) components being Package 1, 2 and 3 respectively consisting of the following:

1. Package 1 is the bridge, which is designed as an extra-dosed road-rail bridge to accommodate a future railway line which will link Mosetse-Kazungula in Botswana to Kazungula-Livingstone in Zambia.

(Single carriageway for motor vehicles, single railway track & pedestrian walkways on both sides).The Bridge has specifications of length 18.5m width and span arrangement of 923m. This package also includes an approach road on the Botswana side of 302m and 416m on the Zambia side

2. Packages 2 and 3 are the One-Stop-Border Post (OSBP) facilities on the Botswana and Zambia side respectively.

Each package consists of among others, a passenger terminal, vehicle inspection building, freight inspection building, truck transit offices (entry and exit), health inspection building and veterinary offices.

The packages also caters for internal circulation roads and car parking facilities for buses, trucks and light motor vehicles as well as access roads to the new border posts.

Funding

• The construction supervision was awarded to the Kazungula Bridge Consultants-Joint Venture comprising of Nippon Koei Co. Ltd.,..

...Chodai Co. Ltd., Gibb (Pty) Ltd, Bothakga Burrow Botswana (Pty) Ltd, CPP Botswana (Pty) Ltd and Zulu Burrow Development Consultants Ltd at a cost of USD 15, 726, 755.00 funded by JICA.

• Package 1: funded by both Governments of Botswana and Zambia on 50% basis.

The contract was awarded to Daewoo Engineering and Construction at an original sum of USD 161 961 304.84 which has been revised to USD 174 184 799.54 to incorporate 16% VAT component from the Government of the Republic of Zambia.

• Package 2, One Stop Border Post Botswana was funded by JICA exclusive of VAT while the Botswana Government funded the VAT component. The contract was awarded to Zhong Gan Engineering & Construction at a cost of BWP 440, 116, 275.30.

• Package 3, One Stop Border Post Zambia is funded by AfDB. The Contract was awarded to Anhui Foreign Economic Construction Group Co. Ltd at a cost of ZMW 263, 670, 419.98.