The border dispute between Zimbabwe and Botswana regarding the Kazungula Bridge remains unresolved, despite high-level diplomatic efforts. The contention focuses on the location of border beacon BB842, which Botswana claims was marked incorrectly. Recent meetings have failed to lead to a resolution, and discussions are now being managed directly by the presidents of both countries.

The border dispute between Zimbabwe and Botswana has intensified due to the Kazungula Bridge, a significant infrastructure project inaugurated four years ago with a budget of US$259.3 million. Despite high-level discussions aimed at resolving the conflict, which revolves around the disputed location of border beacon BB842, tensions remain unresolved.

The Kazungula Bridge, which connects Botswana, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, was developed with funding from both Zambia and Botswana, supported by international entities including the African Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency. However, this project has unveiled underlying territorial disputes concerning border delineation between Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Central to the conflict is the positioning of beacon BB842, challenged by Botswana, which contends that it has been marked inaccurately. Following a border verification process, Botswana’s claims regarding the beacon’s location have added complexity to the contentious situation.

Efforts to resolve this issue through diplomatic meetings have not yielded positive outcomes, culminating in a deadlock during a recent discussion in December 2023. This meeting was attended by Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water, and Rural Development, Anxious Masuka, and Botswana’s then-Minister of Lands, Management, Water, and Sanitation Services, Kefentse Mzwinila, alongside Zimbabwe’s Surveyor General, Edwin Guvaza.

Surveyor General Guvaza indicated that the negotiations remain confidential. He noted that the matter is under the direct management of Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa of Zimbabwe and his counterpart in Botswana. Attempts to reach senior Botswana officials for comments regarding the dispute were unsuccessful.

The contention also encompasses Zimbabwe’s assertion that the Kazungula Bridge infringes upon its territorial boundaries. Insiders claim that Zimbabwean officials have presented valid arguments supporting the notion that the bridge overlaps its designated land.

An anonymous source explained earlier in the year, “There is a reaffirmation of border beacons, which is a routine periodic exercise… Zimbabwe has made a strong case that the Kazungula Bridge overlapped into its territory.” The contention remains a point of diplomatic tension between the two nations, which are still engaged in ongoing discussions to seek a resolution.

The ongoing border dispute between Zimbabwe and Botswana, prominently centered around the Kazungula Bridge, continues to present a challenge for diplomatic relations between the two countries. The disagreements over the placement of border beacon BB842 remain unresolved despite numerous discussions and high-level meetings. As both nations endeavor to address the territorial claims concerning the bridge, the situation underscores the complexities of border management and international relations in the region.

Original Source: bulawayo24.com

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