Completion of Monumental Kazungula Bridge Project
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ADVERTISE THE AFRICAN STORY WITH US DON’T BE LEFT BEHIND ISSUE NUMBER 742 VOLUME 2 19 - 25 OCT 2020 Zambian opposition leader gets two year jail term page 4 Zimbabwe’s restrictions on mobile money transfers are a blow COMPLETION OF to financial inclusion MONUMENTAL page 10 KAZUNGULA Desert and Delta Safaris – Making BRIDGE PROJECT an impact amidst Covid-19 • Project now awaits official commissioning by Presidents Masisi and Lungu page 12 page 2 2 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 19 - 25 Octo 2020 THE AFRICAN STORY News, Finance, Travel and Sport Telephone: (267) 3933 805/6. E-mail: newsdesk@echo. co.bw Advertising Telephone: (267) 3933 805/6 E-mail: [email protected] Sales & Marketing Manager Ruele Ramoeng [email protected] Editor Bright Kholi [email protected] Head of Design Ame Kolobetso [email protected] Completion of monumental Distribution & Circulation Mogapi Ketletseng [email protected] Kazungula Bridge project Echo is published by Two ministers of transport state of the art bridge has been Emmerson Mnangagwa, Ian bridge was at 78% in May of the YMH Publishing from Zambia and Botswana completed and I have been told Khama of Botswana and same year and moving to 91.9 % YMH Publishing, Unit 3, Kgale Court, Plot 128, conducted a final inspection of that this facility will reduce Edgar Lungu of Zambia did a in November. In May, the bridge GIFP, Gaborone the Kazungula Bridge Project the transit time for heavy duty final inspection in 2018 where was 78% complete and president Postal address: on Saturday, signaling the vehicles between Zambia and Botswana and Zambia agreed Lungu of Zambia was optimistic P O BOX 840, completion of one the major Botswana from more than 3 days to allow Zimbabwe to be part that the project will be completed Gaborone, multinational projects in to only 2 hours. This is a great of the project, in phase II of the on schedule. An announcement Botswana Telephone: (267) 3933 805/6. Southern Africa which will milestone in the promotion of project. The three countries was made early this month that E-mail: [email protected] improve the movement of goods trade and regional integration,” further agreed to put up a one- the bridge construction had www.echo.co.bw and services in the North – South Zambian minister Mwale said. stop border post at Zambia’s been completed. Phase two of Corridor, thereby facilitating For his part, Botswana’s Southern province. Last year the project which a one stop DISCLAIMER: trade and improved regional Transport minister said the in March the contractor halted border post in Botswana, and Echo Newspaper welcomes concise letters from readers. economic activity in the SADC project is one of the biggest construction works due non- Zambia one stop border post Letters must carry the bloc and the continent as a whole. and best modern engineering payment by Zambia which was are at 98.44% and 99.40%. with full name and address of ventures ever to be done in followed by an industrial action completion expected at the end the sender. Letters must The final inspection of the continent. He added that by staff. The progress of the of the month conform to the laws of the completed project over Botswana was excited at the Botswana and to the Press Council of Botswana’s Code the weekend, by transport successful completion of the Of Ethics. Letters will also be minister Thulaganyo Segokgo project for the economic benefits edited for length, libel and and Infrastructure minister it brings to the region and Africa. language. Vincent Mwale of Botswana The objective of the project and Zambia respectively has is to improve the efficiency paved way for the commissioning of transit traffic through the of the project by the heads of Kazungula border to facilitate state for the two countries. and increase trade activities and Presidents Mokgweetsi Masisi global competiveness of Zambia and his Zambian counterpart and Botswana. Edgar Lungu are expected to Some of the expected outcomes open up the project to use at time include reduced border transit date yet to be communicated. time, improved procedures on trade facilitation, improved Read more Echo The Kazungula Bridge border management operations, stories on our Project was co-financed by and consequently increased Facebook page by both government of Botswana traffic throughput and reduced and Zambia as well the Japan time-based transport and trade scanning the QR International Co-operation cost. code below with Agency (JICA), and the African Project Background your mobile phone Development Bank (ADB) at a In 2015, Botswana and Zambia total cost of US$260 million. invited bids for the construction of Kazungula Bridge Project The 930-metre-long and .Daewoo Engineering and 18.5-metre-wide road-rail Construction was selected to Bridge built over the Zambezi be the contractor of the project River, connecting the two and construction started after neighbours- Botswana and the ground-breaking ceremony Zambia, replaces the ferry and was held on the Botswana side is expected to reduce border by Vice Presidents Guy Scott and transit time for cargo haul trucks Ponatshego Kedikilwe of Zambia from about 3 days to 2 hours. and Botswana respectively. Three “We are excited that this regional presidents: Zimbabwe’s Echo Newspaper 19 - 25 Octo 2020 Echo Report 3 to enhance security for truck drivers on the DRC side of the border. Association president Stanley Muluka tells phoenix news that although the extension of operating hours is good for the flow of trucks crossing the border, the security situation on the Congolese side of the border leaves much to be desired as drivers are attacked by thugs even during the day and in full view of Congolese police officers. Muluka said with the extension of operating hours, drivers will be crossing in the night at times which will put their lives at risk. He has however commended both governments for agreeing to extend hours of operation at Kasumbalesa border post saying this will increase traffic flow beyond the current clearance of between 500 and 800 trucks per day. Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo on Wednesday this week agreed to implement the bilateral trade agreement, which will see the two countries Extension of operating hours at Kasumbalesa extend operation hours at Kasumbalesa border post from 6 am to 10 pm by 31st December 2020. border raises security concerns The imminent extension of and Democratic Republic of Southern Africa Development The association has since (Phoenix News) operating hours at Kasumbalesa Congo (DRC) has triggered Community (SADC) Truck challenged both the Zambian Border post between Zambia security concerns from the Drivers Association. and the Congolese governments 4 Echo Report Echo Newspaper 19 - 25 Octo 2020 Zambian opposition leader gets two year jail term Zambian opposition National proved its case beyond reasonable but also considered his conduct with Kambwili and should not have taken the sentencing of Democratic Congress-NDC- doubt as regards count one and during the proceedings which have continued presiding over the NDC leader as political leader Chishimba Kambwili has two of forgery and uttering a he says was disrespectful to the the case. victimisation when it is based been sentenced to two years false document but that the institutions of justice. Katuka added that although on evidence. imprisonment with hard labour prosecution failed to adduce Meanwhile the opposition there could have been a prima Addressing the media in for forgery and uttering a false sufficient evidence in the third UPND is dissatisfied and displeased facie case against Kambwili, it Lusaka today, Tayali who was document. count, resulting in an acquittal. over the conviction of national was against the rules of natural the complainant in the matter This is in a case where Kambwili In mitigation, one of Kambwili’s democratic congress-NDC- justice that he could be subjected is of the view that justice and was charged with three counts lawyer Musa Mwenye, state Leader Chishimba Kambwili. to a magistrate who had issues fairness must prevail as long of forgery, uttering a false counsel, pleaded for maximum UPND Secretary General with the same litigant he was to as there is evidence and those document, and giving false leniency saying Kambwili is a Stephen Katuka said while the convict of an offence. found wanting should be held information to a public officer. The diabetic patient and a family man party respects the decision of the Meanwhile, Socialist Party accountable. Tayali has refuted opposition leader has however who also heads a political party. court, in an ideal environment, Leader Fred M’membe says he claims suggesting that his decision been acquitted of the charge He asked the court to consider the circumstances under which does not think Kambwili received to take the opposition leader of giving false information to a giving his client a suspended or the justice system is dispensing fair trial under the hands of to court was sponsored by the public officer. non-custodial sentence. justice leaves much to be desired. magistrate Simusamba. ruling pf. Lusaka Principal Resident Simusamba in passing sentence He said it is a well-known But Economic and Equity Magistrate David Simusamba said he has considered that fact that principal magistrate Party leader Chilufya Tayali is (Phoenix News) sentenced Kambwili to 12 months Kambwili was a first offender David Simusamba had issues disappointment that Zambians -- in the count of forgery and another 12 months for uttering a false document saying the sentences will run concurrently meaning Kambwili will only serve a year in prison. It is alleged that in October 2013, with intent to defraud or deceive, Kambwili allegedly forged a ‘no change return’ (companies form 71) purporting to show that it was genuinely signed by his son Mwamba Kambwili when it was not.