Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema announced that his country has agreed with Zimbabwe to restrict the use of the Victoria Falls bridge by heavy trucks and trains, due to the age of the bridge and its limited structural capacity.

Restrictions on shipping between Zambia and Zimbabwe

During his participation in the Engineering Authority of Zambia conference held in Livingstone, the president explained that the bridge, which is over 100 years old, is no longer suitable for heavy traffic.

The head of state revealed that the two countries are planning to build a new bridge and a modern railway crossing capable of accommodating trucks and heavy trains, while at the same time preserving the existing bridge as a historical landmark.

President Hichilema also affirmed his government's ambition to raise the size of the Zambian economy to US$80 billion, noting that the economy had almost doubled in the past four and a half years.
He added that the government is working to ensure that all regions contribute significantly to the country's GDP, as part of a broader strategy to achieve inclusive growth.

The president also proposed linking the Luapula and Kafue rivers, with the aim of improving water resource management and increasing power generation capacity.

In the same context, Minister of Infrastructure and Urban Development Charles Milovi said that Zambia is moving from reactive to proactive infrastructure planning, taking into account future demand resulting from climate change, urbanization and technological development.

For his part, Southern Province Minister Credo Nanjua affirmed that engineering remains a key element in Zambia’s national development agenda.

The Engineers Association of Zambia conference saw wide participation from engineers, policymakers and industry representatives, who discussed innovative solutions to infrastructure-related challenges and ways to achieve sustainable development.