Africa-Press – Botswana. The Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA) is a project that has the potential to benefit the whole of the African continent, and not just the host countries of Botswana and Zambia.
This was said by the Minister of Transport and Public Works, Mr Eric Molale during a joint ministerial committee engagement with the Zambian delegation in Botswana headed by the Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Mr Charles Milupi.
Mr Molale indicated that testimony to the potential of the bridge was in the volume of traffic, both human and cargo that crossed it daily to places even beyond the borders of the two countries.
“This is a testament that the bridge is a cradle of economic activity and that the two countries must as a matter of urgency continue striving to make it operate efficiently,” he said.
Mr Molale therefore, said he hoped the meeting would help iron out all bottlenecks delaying its optimum operation.
He said the meeting succeeded the engagement between President Dr Mokgweetsi Masisi and his Zambian counterpart, Mr Hakainde Hichilema about three weeks back in Kasane.
“The two leaders were very clear about what they desired regarding economic growth between the two countries, as well as free trade across Africa,” he said.
Mr Molale also said the recommendations would help actualise the visions of the two leaders to the benefit of the two countries.
“This is all geared towards improving the livelihoods of our people,” he said.
He also said Botswana has already allocated land for offices and housing for the KBA as was agreed between the two countries.
Apart from the Kazungula Bridge, Mr Molale mentioned other projects that could boost trade between the two countries, such as the envisaged Mosetse-Kazungula-Livingstone rail line.
He said that this project was urgent as it would help reduce the transportation of goods by road, which he said shortened the lifespan of goods as it took longer due to existing challenges.
“These are some of the issues that we broadly aim to discuss at a later stage,” he said.
For his part, Zambia minister, Mr Milupi said Botswana and Zambia have enjoyed cordial relations from yore. “The Kazungula Bridge has further strengthened these strong relations as it has ensured fluid movement and greater integration of the region,” he said.
Mr Milupi describes the bridge as an icon for the region and a benchmark for many, and that all should be done to take advantage of its uniqueness.
He also stressed the need to complete documents to pave the way for the signing of the bilateral agreement concerning the KBA as desired by the two Heads of State.
The meeting was part of a week-long bilateral engagement between Botswana and Zambia geared towards formulating a Programme of Cooperation between the two nations to be signed in Livingstone, Zambia next month.
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