Zambias government has entered a deal with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the construction of a bridge in Kazungula which is set to cost US$200mn
Financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the loan would form part of more than US$200mn needed to build the 930-metre bridge.
This development would create more than 1,000 jobs with good salaries in a project co-funded by loans from the African Development Bank, Infrastructure Trust Fund (ITF) and the Zambian government.
The AfDB would provide US$78.4mn; the ITC will contribute US$2.4mn while the government would spend US$1.57mn on the project.
The deal was sealed during President Michael Sata’s recent visit to Japan between Zambian foreign affairs minister, Given Lubinda and Japanese minister of foreign affairs Koichiro Genba.
Genba was optimistic that the Kazungula Bridge would contribute to the development of not only Zambia and Botswana but the entire southern African region, boosting both trade and investment.
“It is our hope that the bridge will be constructed quickly because it is a social-economic facility that will not only promote trade in Zambia and Botswana but also enhance regional integration,’’ Lubinda said.
Kazungula Bridge is a joint venture between Zambia and Botswana that is set to cost US$248mn with the two countries contributing half of the amount.
Nawa Mutumweno
