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Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema and his Botswana counterpart, Duma Boko, have inaugurated the Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA), calling on African nations to take ownership of their development agenda and harness the continent’s resources for economic growth.
The Kazungula Bridge, a 930-meter-long, 18.5-meter-wide road-rail structure linking Zambia and Botswana over the Zambezi River, was officially opened on May 11, 2021, by then presidents Edgar Lungu of Zambia and Mokgweetsi Masisi of Botswana.
The bridge is a key gateway for trade along Southern Africa’s North-South Corridor.
Speaking at the launch in Kasane, Botswana, Hichilema described the bridge as “a shared asset belonging not only to Zambia and Botswana but to the region and the world,” noting that such infrastructure helps restore economic unity and regional cooperation.
Boko called the bridge an “iconic and transformative” symbol of regional connection and said leaders must remove obstacles that hinder progress.
He urged Africa to benefit from its resources, harness local talent, and develop the real economy rather than relying on raw material exports.
Boko also said truck queues at the border had already been reduced, with plans to move toward 24-hour and eventually non-stop operations.
Zambia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Milupi, said the Kazungula Bridge Authority, established under a bilateral agreement, is ready to manage the bridge and enhance its operations.
He highlighted a rise in daily truck crossings from an average of 214 in 2021 to 491 by December 2025, demonstrating the bridge’s role in promoting regional trade and revenue generation.
The authority is expected to improve efficiency at the border through technology and facilitate a transition from a one-stop to a non-stop border post, further boosting trade volumes.
The bridge’s opening in 2021 was attended by African Union Chairperson and Democratic Republic of Congo President Félix Tshisekedi, Southern African Development Community Chairperson and former Mozambique President Filipe Nyusi, and Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa, with Namibia Vice-President Nangolo Mbumba and Eswatini Acting Prime Minister Themba Masuku also present.
Tshisekedi commended the infrastructure for promoting commerce between Zambia and Botswana and across the SADC region.
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