Saturday, November 23, 2024

Zambian and Botswanan Presidents Pledge Enhanced Cooperation and Establish Kazungula Bridge Authority

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In a spirit of collaboration and mutual understanding, President Hakainde Hichilema and President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi met in Kasane for a productive working day. The two leaders engaged in extensive discussions, fostering an agreement on multiple fronts of economic cooperation.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting was the establishment of the Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA), aimed at ensuring the efficient and responsible management of the vital infrastructure. The Kazungula Bridge plays a crucial role in facilitating the swift movement of citizens and goods between the two neighboring nations.

President Hichilema and President Masisi expressed a shared commitment to strengthening economic ties across various sectors. The leaders identified agriculture, livestock, health, mines, defense and security, tourism, and value chains within these sectors as focal points for deepening collaboration.

President Hakainde Hichilema and President Mokgweetsi Eric Keabetswe Masisi, of Botswana

In a bid to translate these aspirations into tangible actions, the presidents tasked their respective ministers and technocrats to develop specific deliverables within the next two months. These proposed initiatives will be subject to signing in Livingstone within the designated timeframe, emphasizing a commitment to prompt implementation.

President Hichilema, in his address, underscored a departure from past practices where agreements were signed but not effectively implemented. He emphasized the need for tangible results that directly address the priorities of the citizens of both nations.

The ministers and technocrats from Zambia and Botswana are expected to work diligently to meet the designated deadlines, reflecting the urgency and importance of delivering on the people’s priorities. The joint effort between the two sister countries signals a new era of cooperation, where collaboration is not only encouraged but is also expected to yield concrete and impactful outcomes.

23 COMMENTS

  1. The East and Southern Africa region is divided. Those that gathered in DRC to witness the swearing in ceremony for Tshisekedi are Oppenheimer’s puppets. Kazungula bridge is owned by 4 nations, so it’s deceit to think that much can come out of a discussion that excludes the other 2. Ian Khama has run away from his country because of the brutality of the puppet President. This is a case of birds of the same feather consulting on how to cut more deals

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    • Please name the four countries that own this bridge. The article states that the aspirations of the two presidents are to be translated into initiatives with specific deliverables that will be signed in two months. Would it not be better to wait two months and see if this will materialise or not instead of peddling negativity and pessimism? If you have used the border, you will agree that there are substantial delays on the Zambian side whose sorting out may not require much to deal with beyond agreements on procedural issues by the authorities of the two countries. This is a good move. Let our journalists just follow up to ensure implementation is done in planned timelines.

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    • Seeker of truth

      There is no more details……….

      Only mugabe anti western rhetoric, yet as said above……….

      the loudest anti western cdes are the ones embracing western conforts………..

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    • Fellow Zambians, People from Botswana are known as Batswana, and Lesotho are Basotho.
      Secondly, if you don’t understand issues better keep quiet before you expose your ignorance, We in Botswana understand why Khama has an away. It has nothing to do with the brutality of the current regime. @Ayatollah, please do a bit of research before you embarrass yourself.

  2. Does Kandeke want to build another bridge in Kazungula. Just come back home and sort out the Kwacha, fuel and Cholera.

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    • No, nobody wants to build another bridge in Kazungula. A basic understanding of the article above should have told you that. Then again, perhaps this is your attempt at sarcasm. The ‘sorting out of the Kwacha sustainably’ requires a sustained, multi-pronged approach. There will be no magic, instantaneous solution. Improving ease and efficiency of flow of people, goods and services across our borders with neighboring countries is a small but important cog in the process as is the exploring of economic cooperation. Don’t belittle the potential contribution of the action of the two heads of state.

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  3. Fuseke!!! Benefiting from pf infrastructure drive

    And some upnd f00Is were busy making noise when I said that zambia cannot win a single competition in football under upnd. They can only win under pf e.g. 2012. The performance was abysmal and yet hh gives praise without true constructive feedback. When you are a failed president you have to praise failure because you are desperate to be liked

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    • LPM signed the kazungula project with the South Koreans, your pf drunkard even failed to pay for the bridge.

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    • Fellow Zambians, People from Botswana are known as Batswana, and Lesotho are Basotho.
      Secondly, if you don’t understand issues better keep quiet before you expose your ignorance, We in Botswana understand why Khama has an away. It has nothing to do with the brutality of the current regime. @Ayatollah, please do a bit of research before you embarrass yourself.

  4. …………….

    This is what should have been done when the bridge was built ………..

    With meetings and updates every 6 months……….

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  5. Zambia and Botswana have always had good relationship…. but some oval head wants to claim credit. Go and visit our friends in Harare… how long are you going to be skirting around Zim to visit other neighbouring countries?

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  6. Iwe Kaizer this bridge was started by Mwanawasa, PF just came in to embarrass themselves with their poor payment culture. You should be talking about your disposable roads and the over priced mushelemukos here. Have some shame iwe ka lab technician.

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  7. I just hope the KBA wont be as lame as Zambia’s civil service. The civil service is an institution that pays lip service to its duties on its way to draining our national treasury. We pay it for nothing. Zambia’s civil service only knows how to do one thing. Put up red tape in the path of progressive citizens. That way they create frustrations which they charge citizens to sort out. Which political party will sort out our civil service?

  8. I think both countries could have done better than Masisi and Hichilema. Both came into office with so much potential but that momentum has died down like second marriage.

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  9. Please include your counterpart from Namibia because their customs are frustrating Zambian cargo which is supposed to go direct to Kazungula. NamRA are so corrupt to a point where you risk your cargo and life just passing through this port. Let’s have our own officers from ZRA deal with Zambian cargo directly from the port all they way to Kazungula.

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