Kazungula Border Post to Operate 24 Hours as Botswana and Zambia Push for Non-Stop Trade Corridor

The Kazungula One Stop Border Post (OSBP) is set to begin operating on a 24-hour basis as Botswana and Zambia move towards transforming the strategic crossing into a fully non-stop border facility.

Speaking at the joint launch of the Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA) on Tuesday, Botswana President Advocate Duma Boko said the decision followed engagements with his Zambian counterpart, President Hakainde Hichilema, during the 39th Ordinary Session of the African Union Assembly in Addis Ababa.

President Boko said extending operations to a round-the-clock model marked a key step in the evolution of the OSBP into a seamless, non-stop border post. He added that the Botswana Stock Exchange would champion the technological transformation required for the transition, working with technical partners to conceptualise systems that would support continuous operations.

He described the launch of the Kazungula Bridge Authority as a milestone that strengthened the longstanding bilateral relationship between Botswana and Zambia, calling the bridge a model of regional cooperation worthy of emulation across Africa.

President Hichilema echoed the emphasis on technology, noting that digital innovation would be central to eliminating bottlenecks and improving efficiencies at the border. He said streamlining processes would reduce the cost of doing business and significantly enhance trade flows along the corridor.

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The Kazungula Bridge, situated at the unique quad point linking Botswana, Zambia, Namibia and Zimbabwe, forms a critical component of the North-South Corridor. President Hichilema said truck volumes could potentially increase from 400 to 1 000 per day, underlining the bridge’s growing importance to regional and continental trade, including for countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Angola.

He also proposed expanding tourism opportunities around the Chobe-Zambezi confluence, including the possibility of floating restaurants to complement the infrastructure investment.

Kgosi Morgan Makhanga of Kazungula described the bridge as a powerful symbol of unity and shared heritage, noting its contribution to job creation and improved livelihoods. However, he urged the two governments to review customs charges, road levies and insurance fees at the border, arguing that they were higher than those imposed at other crossings.

The move to 24-hour operations is expected to ease congestion, reduce delays for goods and travellers, and further entrench Kazungula’s status as a preferred regional trade route.