The African Development Bank (AfDB) has approved a grant amounting to 2.15 million U.S. dollars towards the construction of a bridge that would link Zambia, Botswana and Zimbabwe upon completion, state-owned Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) reported on Thursday.

The governments of the three countries have agreed to prepare the economic feasibility, detailed engineering design and tender documents and to propose optimum financing and operating arrangements for the Kazungula Bridge Project.

This came to light during the third tripartite meeting of the Joint Steering Committee for the Kazungula Bridge Project and Border Facilities which was held in Kasane, Botswana on Wednesday.

The meeting was attended by Zambia's Ministry of Works and Supply Permanent Secretary Bizwayo Nkunika, Botswana's Ministry of Works and Transport Permanent Secretary Gerald Thipe and Zimbabwe's Ministry of Transport and Communication Permanent Secretary George Mlilo, according to ZANIS.

The governments of Botswana and Zambia jointly requested for financial assistance from the AfDB to prepare the detailed design studies for the construction of the bridge over the Zambezi River with the participation of Zimbabwe last year.

The joint steering committee has further approved the recommendation for the facilitation of entry into the three member states for the purposes of carrying out activities associated with the project.

Source: Xinhua