Work on Kanyemba floating bridge that will link
Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique through Kanyemba border post is expected to
start before the second quarter of this year, following finalising
processes for the introduction of the ferry boats on the Zambezi river by the
Zambian authorities.
Zambian Minister of Transport and Infrastructure
Development, Cde Joel Biggie Matiza, said that the multi-million dollar project
will establish a floating bridge that will be used as a deck to ferry heavy
trucks across the Zambezi into Zambia and Mozambique.
“The Kanyemba Bridge provides an alternative to the
North-South Corridor initiative within the Southern Africa Development
Community (SADC) region.
It is also part of a corridor-long infrastructure improvement program that
enhances regional trade and integration,” said Biggie Matiza.
The project will create the shortest route linking
up Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique, reducing the link distance by 550
kilometres, cutting costs on fuel and time.
The Project, funded by the Japanese government,
will boost trade among the three countries while it revives operations on the
border post which had retreated into a ghost point due to inactivity, with a
broad forecast of further linking with the rest of Central Africa.
Supportive infrastructure such as the road network
to the area is being worked on and 5 kilometres of the approach road to the
pontoon landing bay is complete with a drivable surface. The project was
granted national project status with at least US $24m allocated toward the
capital projects in the area bordering Zambia and Mozambique.
Developments of the Kanyemba and the Kazungula are part of Zimbabwe’s 2030 vision of transforming the country into a middle income economy. It is scheduled for completion in 2020.https://constructionreviewonline.com/2019/02/construction-of-kanyemba-floating-bridge-set-to-begin/
