04 Sep 2022

Plans to provide a shuttle service on the Kazungula Bridge are at an advance stage.

The Kazungula Bridge Project manager, Mr Pius Seone said when briefing Chobe leadership consultative forum organised by the area MP, Mr Machana Shamukuni.

Regarding three options on how the shuttle service could be provided at the bridge, Mr Seone said the Joint Steering Committee (JSC) sitting of last month opted for the procurement of private shuttle services, one from Botswana and another one from Zambia.

He said expression of interest would be floated and transport operators would be taken on board to provide the service.

Mr Seone said in the interim, private taxi operators would continue to transport people across the border. 

He however said since the route was un-gazetted it was realised that operators were charging passengers exorbitantly and the departments of transport in the two member states were assigned to regulate the fares this month.

On the usage of the public facility in the One Stop Border Post, he said in the Zambian side the facility was fully occupied with restaurant, bureau de change and ATMs amongst others but in the Botswana side there was nothing, adding that the border agencies were assigned to meet and agree on the modalities of harmonization of the occupation of the facilities.

He said once the consultations were completed an expression of interest would be floated, adding that the tourist and tour operation of the bridge would also be outsourced. Two tour companies, one on either side will be hired and the amounts raised will be shared between the companies and the project office, he said.

He further said negotiations on the establishment of the Kazungula Bridge Authority would resume in the near future. Ends