HH, BOKO CALL FOR AFRICAN-LED ECONOMIC GROWTH AT KAZUNGULA BRIDGE LAUNCH.

HH, BOKO CALL FOR AFRICAN-LED ECONOMIC GROWTH AT KAZUNGULA BRIDGE LAUNCH.

President Hakainde Hichilema has called on African nations to take ownership of the continent’s economic development agenda. He was speaking during the launch of the Kazungula Bridge Authority in Kasane, Botswana, where he emphasized the need for Africa to unlock its full economic potential through regional cooperation and trade.

President Hichilema described the Kazungula Bridge as more than just infrastructure, stating that it is a shared regional asset linking Zambia, Botswana and the wider Southern African region. He noted that the bridge has become a preferred trade route, with truck traffic expected to increase from 400 to 1,000 trucks per day. He stressed that increased movement must translate into real economic value through improved trade efficiency, reduced transportation costs and business growth for border communities.

The President further challenged the private sector to maximise opportunities created by the bridge by ensuring trucks moving north and south carry return loads to strengthen regional supply chains. He assured that both governments stand ready to remove trade barriers and facilitate smoother cross-border operations.

Meanwhile, Botswana President Duma Boko urged African countries to shift from exporting raw materials to promoting value addition and industrialisation. He said Africa must process its own minerals and build industries that create jobs and drive the “real economy.”

President Boko described the Kazungula Bridge as transformative infrastructure that supports regional integration and the goals of increased intra-African trade under continental frameworks. He added that truck queues at the border have significantly reduced, with plans to move towards 24-hour operations to further enhance efficiency.

The Kazungula Bridge, which spans the Zambezi River, is seen as a strategic gateway for trade within the Southern African region and a symbol of growing economic cooperation between Zambia and Botswana.