Molefhi unaware of Zim threats against Kazungula Bridge
Boitshepo Majube | Friday April 11, 2014 15:57
Speaking to Business Week, the minister expressed ignorance of the reports from Zimbabwe stating that his counterpart has told Parliament they have objected to the project, as it will reap them of economic gains.
Insisting that the construction of the bridge would commence as scheduled in July, Molefhi told Business Week that, “We are not aware of any news that Zimbabwe might block the construction of the Kazungula Bridge.”
Molefhi said they had not been approached by anyone on the matter. “We know nothing.”
Once operational, Zimbabwe fears there will be one-way economic benefit to Botswana at their expense, as traffic would by-pass Beitbridge Border Post, resulting in loss of revenue currently generated from tollgates and at the border post.
Briefing Zimbabwean Parliament this week, the country’s Transport Minister, Obert Mpofu said that there is no direct border between Botswana and Zambia in that area. “If a bridge has to be constructed in that area, it will have to go through Zimbabwe, hence the stalemate. I have engaged my colleague in Zambia and this engagement has also been escalated to the principals of the two countries, and the matter is at that level.”
At the heart of Zimbabwe’s query is that Botswana and Zambia do not share a boundary at the site where the bridge will be constructed, therefore their role could not be brushed aside.
Mpofu told fellow legislators that their understanding is supported by the United Nations on boundaries. “If they want to build a bridge on that piece of land Zimbabwe has to be involved,” he said.
The Botswana office of the UN would not comment on the matter, saying it was best tackled by New York.
According to the African Development Bank (AfDB), Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, the project site is situated where the borders of four countries meet, namely Zambia, Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe. AfDB says the proposed construction of the bridge will avoid an area between Zimbabwe and Zambia that has not been ratified. “It will follow a curved alignment layout to avoid the border area in the Zambezi waters between Botswana and Zimbabwe, where the exact border positions have not been ratified,” the report said.
The project is located on the North-South corridor and, it is specifically located at the border between Botswana and Zambia on the Zambezi River in Kazungula.
The civil works comprise the construction of a 923-metre long by 18.5 metre wide rail/road bridge, two one stop border facilities and access roads and ramps across Zambezi river.