Open new Kazungula Bridge now, cry traders

CLEARING agents, Cross Border Traders Association (CTBA) and ordinary residents at Kazungula border have called on the two governments of Zambia and Botswana to commission the multi-million Kazungula Bridge.

The stakeholders have noted that there had been a number of postponement on the opening of the bridge and that all issues must be addressed.

CTBA Kazungula District

Vice Chairperson, Mphelo Msunduwe, observed that members were becoming impatient over the matter.

Ms Msunduwe told the Daily Nation in Kazungula that once the bridge was commissioned, it would come with a number of advantages not just to CTBA or the residents of Kazungula but for the governments of the two nations.

She said, once the facility is operational, it would result in increased revenue for both countries and further boost trade in the SADC region.

“The bridge will bring a lot of development on our side because right now, we are having challenges with the transportation of goods using pontoons. As a result, clients run away from doing business from here (Kazungula) because of the way we are moving.

“So the opening of the bridge will help us to have more clients, more business and more traders using this route hence it will increase on the collection or revenue and just the development of this place,” she said.

Ms Msunduwe expressed optimistic that the opening of the bridge would also see a number of foreigners visiting Zambia and that would translate into increased forex.

And Phenias Chikuwe, one of clearing agents who has been doing business at Kazungula Border Post for more than 20 years, expressed concern with postponements in the commissioning of the bridge. However, Mr Chikuwe was optimistic that the expected commissioning of the bridge slated for next month would come to pass.

He noted that the current situation at the border was not conducive with the regular breakdown of the pontoons resulting in long queues for truck drivers.