19 Feb 2013

 Kazungula Ferry's cumulative cost on repairs cost government P1 764, 662.00, Parliament has been told.

Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr Nonofo Molefhi said since its commissioning in January 10, 2011, the Kazungula Ferry has since had several breakdowns.

Responding to a question in Parliament on Monday,  Minister Molefhi said one major breakdown was the Thruster Assembly, which was damaged following collision with an under-water metal cargo container.

Mr Molefhi highlighted that other breakdowns including broken flippers getting damaged upon loading vehciles on the Zambia landing bay were minor.

“The other was the faulty charging system which required new alternators”, he said.

The house heard that in the last 12 months, the ferry had broken down twice, once in June 2012 where the propulsion unit stem was damaged.

Again, he highlighted that the ferry damaged hydraulic oil seal on December 7, 2012.

However, Mr Molefhi said periodic servicing of the ferry was carried out after every 250 hours of operation as recommended by the manufacturer. This servicing, he said, usually took a maximum of two days to be completed.

He said two ferries belonging to Zambia and one to Botswana were operating between the two countries at Kazungula.

“In case of breakdown of one ferry, the other two are still available for transporting passengers and vehicles between the two countries”, he said.

Chobe MP, Mr Gibson Nshimwe had asked the minister to brief the house on the continuous breakdown of the Pontoon at the Kazungula Ferry.

He also asked the minister to further state the cost to government and how travellers are affected. ENDS