What you need to know about the new bridge connecting KZN and Mozambique | Centurion Rekord

What you need to know about the new bridge connecting KZN and Mozambique
Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi and KwaZulu-Natal Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala officially opened the new Maputo-Catembe Bridge that connects Maputo and KwaZulu-Natal’s East Coast Border over the weekend. Here are six things you need to know about this new development.

The Bridge was opened on Saturday, 10 November. KZN Economic Development MEC Sihle Zikalala said the Bridge will boost the countries’ economies and create more jobs as it will enhance trade opportunities, which will make it easier for exports and imports between the two countries.

Here’s what you need to know about this new development:

1. The Maputo-Catembe Bridge will reduce travel time between Maputo and South Africa

The Maputo-Catembe Bridge will reduce travel time drastically between Maputo to Kosi Bay, KwaZulu-Natal’s East coast border post, from 6 hours to 90 minutes. Zikalala added that more trade between the two countries would create more jobs.

2. Maputo-Catembe Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in Africa

The Bridge has surpassed the Matadi Bridge in the Democratic Republic of Congo as the longest suspension bridge in Africa. Lauded as Southern Africa’s latest engineering feat, the three-kilometre-long suspension bridge extends 680 metres over Maputo Bay. It straddles the Indian Ocean inlet of the Espirito Santo estuary, hovering 60 metres above the azure waters below.

3. The Maputo-Catembe Bridge has a complicated and controversial history

Former Mozambican President Samora Machel had plans for an improved transportation network back in 1989. These plans included a proposal for a bridge as part of Maputo’s urbanisation policy, which was endorsed by the World Bank. Due to Mozambique’s civil war, the project was shelved and resurrected in 2010 when the then Portuguese Prime Minister, José Sócrates, offered to fund the construction of the Maputo-Catembe Bridge. These plans also fell through giving China an opportunity to fund the project as part of the Links Roads Project. This was also delayed due to resettlement disagreements of the Malanga Locals.

4. The Bridge is part of the African Continental Free Trade Area

MEC Zikalala said that when South Africa joined more than 50 African states in signing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AFCTFA) agreement, which is aimed at facilitating a single market for goods and services on the continent, the Maputo-Catembe Bridge was one of the things that the agreement aimed to achieve.

5. China funded the Maputo-Catembe Bridge

The Bridge is one of the investments China is making in Africa. The China Road and Bridge Corporation has been handling construction of the Maputo-Catembe Bridge. It has spent $785 million on the bridge, which was opened after four years of construction. According to several reports, the funding was granted as a loan to the government of Mozambique. Many have expressed concern that this move creates more African countries becoming indebted to China.

6. Crossing the Maputo-Catembe Bridge could cost you

Crossing the bridge will cost locals $2.60 or 158.19 Mozambican Metical. For South Africans, it will cost R37 to cross the bridge.

https://rekordcenturion.co.za/…/need-know-new-bridge-conne…/

What you need to know about the new bridge connecting KZN and Mozambique | Centurion Rekord

Source