The Congolese Head of State, Félix-Antoine Tshisekedi, and his Zambian counterpart, Hakainde Hichilema, recently inaugurated the “Kasomeno-Mwenda” project. This ambitious project includes the construction of a 345-meter cable-stayed bridge over the Luapula River, as well as the paving of the Kasomeno-Kasenga-Chalwe-Mwenda road.
With a total cost of 252 million US dollars, this project is jointly financed by the Congolese and Zambian governments. It aims to improve road connectivity between the two countries, in particular by making it easier to connect the city of Lubumbashi, in the DRC, to Dar-es-Salam, in Tanzania, avoiding a long detour of 300 kilometers.
The Chalwe Bridge, located on the border between the DRC and Zambia, will become an important official and modern crossing point between the two countries. Equipped with a computerized infrastructure, it will offer a one-stop shop allowing simplified registration for travelers. This initiative aims to facilitate trade and reduce the administrative hassle that travelers faced at Kasumbalesa, the current main border post.
In addition to the economic benefits linked to the facilitation of trade, this project will also have a significant impact on the development of the Kasenga and Kasomeno areas in the DRC. These regions, which have long been isolated due to the poor state of the roads, will now benefit from better accessibility and will thus be able to stimulate their economic development.
This project marks an important step in cooperation between the two countries and demonstrates their desire to strengthen their regional connectivity. It will open new opportunities for trade, tourism and exchanges between the DRC and Zambia, while promoting the socio-economic development of the regions concerned.
The construction of the Chalwe Bridge and the Kasomeno-Mwenda road is a concrete example of the importance of transport infrastructure in the development of countries and the region. It also illustrates the desire of Congolese and Zambian leaders to implement large-scale projects to improve the quality of life of their populations and promote regional economic development.
Thanks to this new infrastructure, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Zambia are opening a new page in their cooperation, allowing the populations of both countries to better connect and benefit from the opportunities offered by better regional connectivity. A real engine of development and progress for the entire region.