From BRIAN HATYOKA in Kasane, BOTSWANA –
ZAMBIA and Botswana have pledged to stick to the promise made to the people of both countries to complete the construction of the Kazungula project by next year to boost trade in the southern African region.
President Edgar Lungu and President Seretse Khama Ian Khama said this yesterday at Cresta Mowana Safari Lodge in Botswana’s Kasane town, during a joint Press conference, after touring the Kazungula Bridge project, on both sides of the Zambezi River.
The two leaders said they would continue visiting the project to ensure that positive progress was maintained towards its completion.

•PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu and his Botswana counterpart Seretse Khama Ian Khama during a tour of the first stage of the construction of the Kazungula Bridge yesterday.
Picture by EDDIE MWANALEZA/STATE HOUSE

“We will be coming to these projects in six months or in a year’s time to make sure the progress we have seen is maintained because  this is the promise we have made to the people of Botswana and Zambia. We will stick to the time we have given ourselves to execute the project,” President Lungu said.
Mr Lungu said it was important that trade within Africa remained a key direction for African countries.
“We look beyond Africa  in terms of trade, including political influence but at the end of all this, we see this as a mark of bonding between Botswana and Zambia in trade, economic growth and prosperity of the people,” he said.
Dr Khama said the Kazungula bridge was remarkable project and it would further strengthen relationship between Zambia and Botswana.
He said the project was in line with the SADC emphasis on industrialisation and regional integration.
“The Kazungula Bridge project is well-positioned in southern Africa and we look forward to furthering cooperation with the two countries,” he said.
Meanwhile, speaking on arrival at the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka yesterday, President Lungu said the successful completion of the Kazungula bridge project would spur economic benefits not only for Zambia and Botswana, but the entire Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.
ZANIS reports that the Head of State said he would expedite the completion of the project in order for the people of the people of Zambia and neighboring Botswana to benefit from it.
Addressing Journalists in Lusaka upon arrival from Kasane, Botswana, where he had gone for a two day working visit, Mr Lungu expressed happiness that the construction of the bridge was on schedule.
“The success of the Kazungula Bridge project is that it will benefit the people in Zambia, Botswana and spillover to the entire SADC region. I remain committed to expedite this project,” the President said.
President Lungu was received by Vice-President Inonge Wina, Defence chiefs, and senior government officials from both Zambia and Botswana.
While, in Botswana, President Lungu held bilateral talks with Dr Khama and held private talks.
Zambia and Botswana are jointly implementing the US$161,961,304.84 bridge project, which was being constructed by Daewoo Engineering and Construction Company Limited of South Korea.
The project, which started in August 2007 is expected to be completed in December 2018 and will create over 700 jobs at its peak.