Project · Botswana, Zambia
Kazungula bridge and one-stop border post (Botswana and Zambia)
Record ZMB-P-0001 · draft, not yet reviewed by a person
Cite as: Laurence Wilse-Samson, Bridging African Borders, record ZMB-P-0001: "Kazungula bridge and border post" (public draft, built 2026-11-01). https://borders.lwilsesamson.com/ideas/zmb-p-0001/ Data and citation
Status by track
DeliveryOperating · 10 May 2021sources checked 30 Oct 2026
The bridge over the Zambezi and the one-stop border post facilities linking Botswana and Zambia were commissioned on 10 May 2021. They replaced a pontoon ferry.
- bridge and one-stop border post commissioned · 10 May 2021"The US$259 million Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi River and One Stop Border Post facilities connecting Botswana and Zambia were commissioned on 10th May 2021" "The US$259 million Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi River and One Stop Border Post facilities connecting Botswana and Zambia were commissioned on 10th May 2021"wording checked against the documentUS$259m Kazungula Bridge and One Stop Border Post Commissioned, Paving way for Enhanced SADC Integration and Development · news item text, first paragraph · wording checked against the document
Not established
- The legal instrument under which Botswana and Zambia run the post as one stop. No bilateral agreement was read.
- Clearance or crossing times after 2022. Not found in the sources read.
FundingUnknown
Not established
- How the cost was shared between the two governments, the African Development Bank and JICA, and on what terms. The SADC item names the funders (cited at record level) but gives no shares.
Financing
What the sources say this costs and who is putting money in. All projects' financing
| Stated amount | What it measures | Covers | Price basis | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USD 259 million | project cost | the Kazungula bridge and the one-stop border post facilities | not stated by the source; financing costs included: not stated by the source | "The US$259 million Kazungula Bridge over the Zambezi River and One Stop Border Post facilities connecting Botswana and Zambia"wording checked against the document |
| about BWP 1,994.95 million | contract value | package one, the bridge and approach ramps | not stated by the source; financing costs included: not stated by the source | "the bridge, whose construction commenced in 2014 at a contract sum of approximately P1 994 950 041.44 (USD174 184 799.54) was 100 per cent complete"wording checked against the document |
| BWP 440.116 million | contract value | package two, the Botswana one-stop border post | not stated by the source; financing costs included: not stated by the source | "package two, being a Botswana one stop border post, currently under construction at a cost of P440 116 275.30"wording checked against the document |
| about BWP 150.442 million | contract value | package three, the Zambia one-stop border post | not stated by the source; financing costs included: not stated by the source | "Package three, the Zambia one stop border post, ongoing at a contract sum of about P150 441 669.48 (ZMW 263 670 419.98)"wording checked against the document |
Not established
- The three contract sums total about 2.59 billion pula. SADC's US$259 million is not reconciled with them; the sources give no exchange rate or common date.
- The dollar and kwacha figures in the Botswana report are its own conversions; they are kept in the quotes and not used as figures.
Sources checked 30 Oct 2026. Amounts are shown in the currency the source gives, never converted or added together.
Observations
Two figures only: cargo clearance time at the Kazungula one-stop border post before the JICA project and in a 2022 survey, as a JICA news item reports them. The earlier period is not stated and the survey report was not read.
| Period | Segment | Measure | Value | Denominator | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| not stated by the source (before JICA's project) | cargo | clearance time | 30 hours | not defined by the source (whether an average, and which steps are included, is not stated) | "the clearance time for cargo at Kazungula OSBP, which is located at the border of Zambia and Botswana, has been highly reduced from 30 hours to 12 hours, approximately one third"wording checked against the document |
| 2022 | cargo | clearance time | 12 hours | not defined by the source (whether an average, and which steps are included, is not stated) | "In 2022, a survey on the progress of the Project was conducted"; "the clearance time for cargo at Kazungula OSBP, which is located at the border of Zambia and Botswana, has been highly reduced from 30 hours to 12 hours, approximately one third"wording checked against the document |
How to read these figures
- JICA calls the fall "approximately one third", and its headline says clearance time was reduced to one third; 12 hours is 40% of 30. The item also says cargo vehicles "still take several hours to cross" and that the pre-clearance option is not fully used.
Evidence
- who designed, built and funded it"detailed designs and construction were jointly led and coordinated by the Governments of Botswana and Zambia, and funded by the two Governments, supported by the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)" "detailed designs and construction were jointly led and coordinated by the Governments of Botswana and Zambia, and funded by the two Governments, supported by the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)"wording checked against the documentUS$259m Kazungula Bridge and One Stop Border Post Commissioned, Paving way for Enhanced SADC Integration and Development · news item text, SADC Executive Secretary's remarks · wording checked against the document
- expected effect on Beitbridge (Mozambique's President, as reported)"He further said the bridge offers a faster alternative route to Beitbridge and will help alleviate the congestion at one of Africa’s busiest borders" "He further said the bridge offers a faster alternative route to Beitbridge and will help alleviate the congestion at one of Africa’s busiest borders"wording checked against the documentUS$259m Kazungula Bridge and One Stop Border Post Commissioned, Paving way for Enhanced SADC Integration and Development · news item text · wording checked against the document
Still unknown
- How much traffic the bridge carries, and whether any has moved from Beitbridge. Not found in the sources read.
Institutions named
A role is shown only where a quoted source says what the institution does on this reform.
- African Development Bank
- Ministry of Transport and Communications (Botswana)
- Japan International Cooperation Agency
- SADC Secretariat
Reach: 0 cross-border links, 0 blockers, 4 institutions in 4 countries or bodies. Counted from the records.