By Ellen Hambuba
President Hakainde Hichilema has called on African nations to take the lead in unlocking the continent’s economic potential.
Speaking during the launch of the Kazungula Bridge Authority in Kasane, Botswana, President Hichilema said Africa has all the ingredients needed for growth but must take ownership of its development agenda.
He emphasized that the Kazungula Bridge is more than just infrastructure, describing it as a shared asset belonging not only to Zambia and Botswana but to the region and the world.
President Hichilema thanked the Government and people of Botswana for hosting the launch and paid tribute to the local communities of Kazungula and Kasane for safeguarding the bridge and surrounding crossing points over the years.
He noted that although colonial borders divided African communities, initiatives such as the Kazungula Bridge are helping restore economic unity and regional cooperation.
The President revealed that the bridge has now become the preferred route for countries further north, with truck traffic expected to rise from the current 400 trucks per day to a target of 1,000 trucks daily. He stressed that increased traffic must translate into real economic value, including trade efficiency, lower transportation costs, and business growth for communities on both sides of the border.
President Hichilema further challenged the business community to maximize opportunities created by the bridge, calling for a system where trucks moving north and south carry return loads to boost trade volumes and strengthen regional supply chains. He assured that the Zambian and Botswana governments stand ready to remove any barriers slowing trade, stating that government’s role is to facilitate while the private sector drives economic expansion.
The Kazungula Bridge links Zambia and Botswana across the Zambezi River and is seen as a key gateway for trade within the Southern African region.
Meanwhile, President of Botswana Duma Boko said Africa must break free from an outdated economic model that exports raw minerals and imports finished products. He stressed that the continent can no longer afford to ship out its wealth in raw form while jobs and industries are created elsewhere.
President Boko called for value addition, industrialisation, and innovation, urging African countries to process their own minerals and power what he described as the “real economy” where goods and services are produced.
He said the African Continental Free Trade Area places a responsibility on African leaders and citizens to increase intra-African trade and build stronger links between countries. He emphasized that infrastructure must now connect African economies to each other, not simply move resources out of the continent.
Describing the Kazungula Bridge as iconic and transformative, President Boko said it represents the kind of regional integration needed to unlock Africa’s potential. He revealed that truck queues at the border have already been reduced significantly, with plans to move toward a 24-hour operation and eventually a non-stop border post.
