Pin Africa
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Read
  • News
  • Explore
  • Newsletters
Pin Africa
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Read
  • News
  • Explore
  • Newsletters
  subscribe 
Pin Africa
Pin Africa
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Read
  • News
  • Explore
  • Newsletters
  subscribe 

©2023 Pin Africa– All Right Reserved

  • November 16, 2023

DRC and Zambia Unlock Regional Potential with a Single Road Project

By: Ndama Nakashole

 © GED Africa

Last month, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia and President Antoine Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) broke ground on a multimillion-dollar project. This project presents an essential opportunity for regional growth and diversification.

For many years, numerous African governments have promoted the advantages of regional integration for the economies of several developing nations worldwide.

Several projects aiming for regional integration and access to international markets have been successfully implemented.

One noteworthy project that has captured the region’s attention is the recently launched Kasomeno (in DRC) – Mwenda (in Zambia) Toll Road.

The Kasomeno-Mwenda project, valued at US$850 million, is being developed as a public-private partnership. The project involves constructing and expanding a 184 km road highway, a 345-meter long cable-stayed bridge over the border at the Luapala River, and a one-stop border post. It also includes warehousing and parking facilities, a tolling system, associated infrastructure, and social infrastructure for community development.

The investment and project management company for the road project is GED Africa, headquartered in Mauritius. Its principal financial sponsor is Hungarian infrastructure developer Duna Aszfalt. This project represents Duna Aszfalt’s most significant infrastructure investment from Europe into Africa.

Some media outlets have described the project as ‘massive’ due to its importance extending beyond regional integration.

Zambia’s President Hichilema stated that the project would “strengthen connectivity, improve accessibility, reduce transport costs, and contribute to poverty alleviation by generating jobs and fostering wealth creation.”

Additionally, Zambia’s land-linked access to regional and international markets offers an opportunity for diversification, according to their head of state.

By combining shorter distances with DRC’s first one-stop border post, this new route to the east will unlock regional potential and create economic prosperity for all stakeholders.

Intended to reduce congestion at the busy Kasumbalesa border post, the Kasomeno-Mwenda toll road will also cut the roundtrip for commercial transporters from Haut-Katanga’s thriving mining sector to the Port of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, by about 500 km.

Commitment

Both countries’ governments have pledged to coordinate and work jointly to deliver this strategic infrastructure project as quickly as possible while maintaining international quality standards.

Experts have described this project as a model of a multinational public-private partnership (PPP) that positions the DRC and Zambia for sustainable economic growth through world-class engineering expertise, tolling technology, and modern infrastructure.

Klaus Findt, CEO of GED Africa, said during the groundbreaking ceremony for the Luapula bridge last month, “GED Africa and Duna Aszfalt are proud to announce the finalization of the border post agreement as this is a critical next step.”

The project will be constructed by GED Africa, with assistance from Agence Congolaise des Grands Travaux and the Zambia Road Development Agency.

GED Africa is the investment and project management company for the KMTR project, which combines two 25-year PPP concessions between GED Africa’s subsidiaries and the governments of the DRC and Zambia under separate concession agreements.

GED Africa has promised to allocate an additional multimillion-dollar sustainable impact fund over the concession period for various healthcare, education, and social infrastructure initiatives in the communities hosting the projects.

Findt also mentioned that GED Africa and Duna Aszfalt are strategically using the upcoming rainy season to fine-tune the engineering designs with their partners, ensuring major works can commence as planned.

Share FacebookTwitterLinkedin
previous post
Kenyans to plant 100 million trees

Recent Pins

DRC and Zambia Unlock Regional Potential with a Single Road Project
16 November 2023
Kenyans to plant 100 million trees
13 November 2023
Black and African Children Should See Themselves in Books and Media
31 October 2023
Could This Be The End of  Françafrique?
27 October 2023
Navigating Global Challenges: Insight into the 2023 Trust Conference
25 October 2023
Become
A credible storyteller.
Start
Support
The Next Generation of African Storytellers
Support
Create
Impact Today
Get In Touch
Previous slide
Next slide

History & Archives

The Windrush generation: how a resilient Caribbean community made a lasting contribution to British society

22 June 2023

An African Child’s Rights in a Digital Era

by Ndama Nakashole 16 June 2023

Did Africa contribute to the world’s mathematics, binary code and geometry development?

by Janet Machuka 11 April 2023

Colonised by Another African Country: The 33 Years of Namibian Independence You Likely Don’t Know About

by Ndama Nakashole 21 March 2023

Ernest Cole: Most Notable South African Photobook Republished After 55 Years

by Pin Africa 21 February 2023

Do You Know The Father Of Salsa, Arsenio Rodríguez?

by Ornella Mbula 14 February 2023

Visual Journalism

The Chess Kings and Queens of Oshodi

22 February 2023

Senegal’s Freestyle Football Sensation

by Azil Momar Lô, Mohamed KeitaMame Cheikh MbayeAbdoulaye Ba & Ayanfe Sanusi 21 February 2023

Pin Shorts

Afrofoodie: Changing African Narratives Through Food

20 April 2023

The Ocean is the Limit: Surviving Illegal Migration

by Mame Cheikh Mbaye & Benedicte Kalombo 21 February 2023

African Women who make Art: Meet Enam

by Benedicte Kalombo 21 February 2023

Peter Tabichi – World’s Best Teacher

by Benedicte Kalombo 21 February 2023

The cost of African organ donation – Belinda’s story.

by Benedicte Kalombo 21 February 2023

Founder of Long-standing IC Publications Speaks on Success

by Ahmed Idris & Benedicte Kalombo 21 February 2023

Pin Africa is a digital media platform & social enterprise devoted to telling African stories and equipping emerging storytellers with skills, resources & experience.

Useful Links

  • About Us
  • Pitch Your Story
  • Partner With Us
  • Contact Us

Proud Members & Partners of

Subscribe to our Newsletter

logo-2

Pin Africa is a digital media platform & social enterprise devoted to telling African stories and equipping emerging storytellers with skills, resources & experience.

Useful Links

  • About Us
  • Pitch Your Story
  • Partner With Us
  • Contact Us

Proud Members & Partners of

Subscribe to our Newsletter

logo-2

Pin Africa is a digital media platform & social enterprise devoted to telling African stories and equipping emerging storytellers with skills, resources & experience.

Useful Links

  • About Us
  • Pitch Your Story
  • Partner With Us
  • Contact Us

Proud Members & Partners of

Subscribe to our Newsletter

2023 |  Pin Africa – All Right Reserved. 

Pin Africa
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Read
  • News
  • Explore
  • Newsletters
Pin Africa
  • Watch
  • Listen
  • Read
  • News
  • Explore
  • Newsletters
@2023 | Pin Africa – All Right Reserved.

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept