2014: Construction Begins on the Kazungula Bridge Between Zambia and Botswana

October 12, 2014

Construction began on the Kazungula Bridge between the Republic of Zambia and the Republic of Botswana in the southern region of Africa. The Kazungula Bridge carries vehicular, rail, and pedestrian traffic over the Zambezi River, which is the fourth longest river in Africa and the largest river flowing into the Indian Ocean from that continent.

This cable-stayed bridge also serves as a direct link between two communities that share the same name – the town of Kazungula in Zambia on the north bank of the Zambezi River and the village of Katzungula in Botswana on the river’s south side. The Kazungula Bridge is specifically located near the point where the boundaries of Zambia, Botswana, the Republic of Namibia, and the Republic of Zimbabwe all meet.

Construction on the Kazungula Bridge was financed by both the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the African Development Bank. Daewoo Engineering and Construction, a South Korean company, carried out the actual building of the bridge. (The above photo of the Kazungula Bridge under construction was taken in March 2019.)

The Kazungula Bridge was officially opened on May 10, 2021. Those officiating at that dedication ceremony were Edgar Lungu, president of Zambia; and Mokgweetsi Masisi, president of Botswana. Other heads of state attending the ceremony were Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe; Felix Tshisekedi, president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo; and Filipe Nyusi, president of the Republic of Mozambique.

The Kazungula Bridge measures 3,028 feet (923 meters) in length. It is jointly maintained by the transportation ministries of Zambia and Botswana.

Photo Credit: Cosal (licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license at https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.en)

For more information on the Kazungula Bridge and other crossings of the Zambezi River, please check out https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_crossings_of_the_Zambezi_River

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