02 Mar 2016

It is believed that upon completion of the Kazungula Bridge construction, economic developments will manifest for areas near the bridge.

However, some people think this would not be the case, as river crossing operators were based on banks of the Chobe River.

These operators, through a booking system made by various travel agents, provided boats to transport individuals or groups of tourists across the Chobe River from Botswana and Zambia and vice versa.

Mr Sam Tshekonyane, owner of Big Sam Huber, said no consultation between river crossing operators and the government of Botswana was arranged to suggest the future of their service and how the negative effects could be avoided.

“Currently there is no coordination between those who are working on the bridge construction site and the river crossing operators as there is no area along the river allocated for parking for our boats. We are moved from one spot to another depending on where the constructors placed their machinery,” he said.

He further stated that recently their boats were prevented to park on the Zambian side of the river. Police officials chased their drivers off the river bank, nonetheless, this was resolved when he approached the Zambian police station commander.

In an interview, the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ public relations officer, Mr Kgomotso Makwati explained that the Botswana and Zambian governments held two consultative workshops to engage stakeholders and hear their opinion regarding the project.

He noted that his office had not received any complaints concerning the project from operators so far.

Furthermore, he indicated that stakeholders were continuously consulted in the planning and execution of the project.

“Monthly progress meetings are held to discuss all issues affecting the project,” he highlighted.

On one hand, the assistant manager of African Odyssey Mr Mbala Nkunyu, a company which had been providing river border crossing services for 15 years, confirmed that a consultative meeting between operators and the government took place. He further explained that they were given maps that showcased the routes that were outlined for the boats providing river crossing, the temporary and final structure of the bridge.

Mr Nkunyu noted that they had not been formally allocated any parking space and that he was expecting that to be done once the project ended.

“The information imparted indicated that the bridge system will not affect our services negatively, as it seems the bridge will be designed to open and close to allow our boats to manouevre along the sketched routes,” he added.

Mr Nkunyu said ton a daily basis, they serviced roughly 200 clients during peak season and they intended to continue recording such numbers even after completion of the bridge. Ends