Fear grips ESCO as bridge takes shape: what next when pontoon engines shut in Kazungula?

‘WHEREAS we celebrate the progress that is being made here, for the bridge [Kazungula Bridge], and the value it is going to add to the trade and commerce for Zambia, and the region in general, it also collapses a life of the pontoon service here in Kazungula,” said former Minister of Works and Supply Felix Mutati on his visit here not too long ago.

He said: “So we take that threat very seriously, and that’s why we are here; first to monitor the progress of the bridge and two, to work very hard to create new opportunities for Kazungula.”
Well, shortly after, Mr Mutati was dropped as minister and replaced by Mutotwe Kafwaya – and as per tradition, Mr Kafwaya toured the province to not only familiarise himself with the operations of his new ministry, but also to boost the morale of the workers under his ministry.
One such crop of workers are those from the Engineering Services Corporation Limited (ESCO), a government department in charge of running ferries (pontoons) in the country.
“We are very happy that you have taken the time to come and visit us here today,” ESCO managing director Patrick Nyirenda told Mr Kafwaya.
He continued: "we hope that as you have come, you will also try and help us reassure the people here. There has been a lot of anxiety among employees with regards to what will become of them once the bridge is completed."
Well, in truth, the anxiety and uncertainty there is real.

One employee who spoke on condition of anonymity shared with the Daily Mail the fears among colleagues.
"We don't know what will become of us. In truth, we are happy with construction of the bridge, very happy actually, but we have also been hearing a lot of rumours regarding our future after the bridge is completed," he said.
He said one of the rumours flying around is that they may be retired.
"Otherwise, we don't know for me, apart from being hopeful that a solution or indeed a station would be found for us," he said.
Kazungula, the border town connects Zambia and Botswana. It facilitates movement of both people and cargo wishing to proceed as far as other parts of Africa, via South Africa - that is how significant the crossing point is, to both Zambia and the entire region.
And to make that happen, one has to rely on the four pontoons operating on either side - two from the Botswana side and two from the Zambian side.
However, Mr Kafwaya allayed those fears and just like is predecessor, assured that all ESCO employees are government employees who need to be taken care of by Government.
"...and Government must always be open to other options that we, in the Ministry of Works and Supply are fully aware of the development of this bridge which I am told that sometime in March 2020, it might be fully complete which means that our pontoons might not be so useful here," he said.
He continued: "I am sure there could be anxiety among my people here who are serving Government through ESCO. Let me assure them that we are doing everything possible to diversify the operations of ESCO."

Mr Kafwaya said even if the pontoons became not so useful there, it doesn't mean that they may not be as useful elsewhere in country.
"We have a lot of demand for crossing across the country and I think we are going to find altenative locations for our people to continue operating," he said.
Two such crossing points are Luangwa to connect Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and also Kashiba, connecting Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Otherwise, in as much as the threat that the construction of the Kazungula Bridge has on the pontoons, the future of ESCO is still bright.
Mr Kafwaya who partially toured the Kazungula bridge project recently, said Government does not want to lose out on revenue generated from the pontoons.
“Kazungula collects huge sums of revenue for Government which is later given back to the community through service. We need to maximise on this profit especially in the wake of the bridge.
"Let us sensitise the people that they are not going anywhere and also on the importance of the bridge itself and the benefits it will bring for us," he said.
In a typical, 'another man's meat, another man's poison' style, that is the case with the Kazungula ferry and the emergence of the Kazungula bridge.
Nonetheless, the impact that the Kazungula Bridge, once complete will have on Zambia's economy is too huge to ignore.
"But most important, we are not a one minded Government. We are one that is driven by ideas and we are going to apply our faculties to make sure that our people remain secured," said Mr Kafwaya.
Bridget Chimbala, acting senior cashier at the Kazungula ferry disclosed recently that the pontoons have so far been consistent in terms of revenue collection.
"The only challenge we have is that there are times when foreign trucks prefer using the Botswana ferry as opposed to ours because of various reasons," she said.
Mr Kafwaya who was in the company of officials from his Ministry called for market research in order to tap into all the possible money pools.