Zinhle, who has been travelling to Zambia by road for the last eight years, recalls her experience of crossing the Zambezi River from Botswana to the Zambian border on a pontoon as ‘agonising’. But, like many other travellers, the opening of the new state-of-the-art Kazungula Bridge in May 2021, has given Zinhle high hopes and a sense of pride for African countries.
Zinhle Mugabe shares her Kazungula Bridge experience (before and after) below…
Life before Kazungula Bridge
Eight years ago when I first travelled to Zambia by road, I used a pontoon to cross the Zambezi River, from Botswana to the Zambian border.
The pontoon was nothing more than a slab of steel used to ferry people and vehicles across the river. It felt like an adventure, but once was enough. I have travelled on that route several times since then and sharing the old rusty slab with trucks made the experience agonising.
In 2019, I witnessed the construction of the Kazungula Bridge; a partnership between Botswana and Zambia.
Two years later, with bated breath, I embarked on the trip again. I had heard that the bridge had started operating and that it had officially opened about six months earlier (May 2021). The yearning made the 16-hour drive from Johannesburg, South Africa to the Zambia-Botswana border seem longer than usual.
Also read: The Kazungula Bridge is officially open!
The state-of-the-art engineering of the bridge exceeded even my wildest expectations. It is a feast for the eyes.
Elevating Africa to World-Class Status
I beamed with pride at the testament of what African countries could achieve if they worked together. I imagined how similar feats across the continent could elevate Africa to world-class status.
The partnership between Botswana and Zambia also includes one immigration stop in a shared building.
With Zimbabwe rumoured to be coming on board, the bridge joining the three countries and the quick and efficient immigration protocols from a central location promise a melting pot of tourism extravaganza.
On the Botswana side, about 10 kilometres from the bridge, there is Kasane; a town rich with wildlife. Across the Zambezi River about 70 kilometres from the border, the tourist town of Livingstone in Zambia, boasts arguably Africa’s most prestigious attraction, the Mosi-oa-Tunya (the smoke that thunders), popularly known as the Victoria Falls. The Victoria Falls stretches across to Victoria Falls Town in neighbouring Zimbabwe; less than 20 kilometres from Livingstone.
I cannot even begin to fathom the endless possibilities brought about by the bridge: the transformation of the sleepy Kazungula town into a vibrant getaway, the economic boom, job creation opportunities, quick and efficient delivery of goods between countries and a window to the rest of Africa.
You could have breakfast on a boat cruise in Zambia, a tour of the Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and an afternoon game drive in Botswana, all in one day.
- Before the bridge, a pontoon ferried people and vehicles across the Zambezi River. Image by Maxime Mugabe
- A recent picture of the Victoria Falls in Zambia, by Maxime Mugabe
Working Together
When countries work together, the possibilities are endless. The construction of the Kazungula Bridge is a testament to that. Botswana, Zambia and Zimbabwe are well-positioned to become Africa’s tourism hub.
I remain optimistic that Namibia, the missing puzzle of the quadripoint will come to the party.
Words by Zinhle Mugabe
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