Katima Mulilo Bridge, International road bridge across Zambezi River between Katima Mulilo, Namibia and Sesheke, Zambia.
Katima Mulilo Bridge is an international road crossing over the Zambezi between Katima Mulilo in Namibia and Sesheke in Zambia. The structure spans approximately 900 meters across 19 sections, carrying both vehicle and foot traffic along the Trans-Caprivi Highway that connects the two countries.
Construction started in 2002 following decades of delays caused by political tensions, with the opening ceremony held on May 13, 2004 under Presidents Nujoma and Mwanawasa. The project finally resolved a long-standing barrier to regional connectivity between the two nations.
The structure links communities across the Zambezi, fostering interaction between residents on the Namibian and Zambian sides who share trade routes and family ties. Daily traffic shows how people use this crossing to maintain connections that would otherwise be broken by the river.
The crossing accommodates both vehicles and pedestrians, linking Namibia's Walvis Bay port to Zambia's mining regions and broader central African trade routes. You should be prepared for border formalities at both ends and have your travel documents ready for inspection.
The entire structure was built on Zambian territory to secure international funding, as Namibia's economic standing would have required repayment of development loans. This uncommon placement reveals how financial constraints shape the actual location of cross-border infrastructure.
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