Bye Bye Kazungula Ferry
Source : Kutlwano
Author : Thamani Shabani
Location : KASANE
Event : Developmental Feature
Bye bye Kazungula Ferry
Article: Thamani Shabani
Photos: Thamani Shabani
Kazungula ferry, often referred to as a pontoon has a rich history. For many years, the ferry has been facilitating the transportation of goods and services between Botswana and Zambia.
It has been playing a very significant role in enhancing regional trade, integration and spur global competitiveness.
However, at one point in history, the then South African apartheid regime labeled its services of transporting goods and people to Zambia illegal.
The regime claimed that Botswana and Zambia do not share a border, but only a quadri-point existed and possibly suspected that the ferry was carrying and supplying weapons to freedom fighters in Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
According to historical documents, Botswana firmly rejected the apartheid South Africa claim and at one point, in the 1970s, the Rhodesian army attacked and sank the ferry, accusing it of serving military purposes.
The life of the pontoon will come to an end this year following the construction of the multi-billion Pula Kazungula Bridge across the Zambezi River, which was mooted by the governments of Zambia and Botswana in August 2007 to replace the ferry.
It is reasoned and envisaged that the Mega Bridge will reduce transit time for freight and passengers, boost regional economy and even increase global competitiveness of goods from the South African Development Community (SADC) trading blocs and the rest of Africa.
The first time the ferry started operations cannot be ascertained. Kgosi Josephat Mwezi of Kavimba village has some scant memories of the ferry and in his village, Kgosi Mwezi is regarded as a walking encyclopedia.
He says the ferry boat might have arrived in the early 1960s and was widely welcomed as it was the modern mode of transport to ever reach Kazungula village.
Residents of the then small village nestled on the banks of the mighty Chobe/Zambezi River awaited eagerly the arrival of one of the most important mode of transport in their area.
He remembers that a few days later, cars and trucks began to rattle onto the boat, bringing heavy loads aboard, and the operators of the boat, who were regarded then as super human beings were explaining the various parts of the ferry.
Kgosi Mwezi explains that as the engine below deck started to rumble and throb, the operator blew his whistle and steers the ferry carefully out of the harbour. Once underway, the people on board watched with amusement until the time the ferry pulled up to the river pier.
Nowadays, many travelers view ferry transportation as an adventure and an experience that cannot be obtained from other modes of transportation.
During those early days, the ferry strengthened the Chobe district’s economy by enabling transportation of cattle to the abattoir in Zambia for slaughtering as well as goods and services to support local businesses and tourism.
On the economic side, Kgosi Mwezi recalls the days when the ferry was not only a necessity but a paying proposition.
He says the ferry provided critical transportation mobility to communities, and a convenient travel by-pass to avoid congestion in some other highways in the SADC countries.
The traditional leader explains that the ferry’s operation played an important role in the cattle industry because it was the only source of transport used for cattle from Botswana side to Zambia for slaughtering as the Botswana abattoir in Lobatse was deemed very far (more than 1000 km away).
“Cattle farmers in the district used to trek their cattle from as far as Maun, Mabele, Kavimba, Kachikau, Satau and Parakarungu villages to be crossed into Zambia using the ferry because the country was the only one near with a cold storage,” he adds.
He says the cattle were not loaded on the ferry but rather were tied on the side of the ferry and the ferry will be driven to cross the river.
Kgosi Mwezi explains that in 2010, Botswana introduced her ferry, which augmented the two from Zambia making crossings to and from quicker.
He says the cattle were not loaded on the ferry but rather were tied on the side of the ferry and the ferry will be driven to cross the river.
Kgosi Mwezi explains that in 2010, Botswana introduced her ferry, which augmented the two from Zambia making crossings to and from quicker.
“Even today, the vegetables that are sold in our shops and by street vendors are from Zambia. The ferry plays a very big role in the improvement of our lives as a district,” he adds.
Kgosi Mwezi adds that at that time, Zimbabwe, which was a little bit nearer, was inaccessible because of the then Ian Smith regime, which was fighting ZANU-PF for independence.
A 35 year-old Ms Thatayaone Banika, who is a regular visitor to the Zambian side to buy vegetables for sale in Kasane, explains that crossing using a ferry is accompanied by the rhythmic clink of the chains and glorious views across the Zambezi River.
“The first time you enter the water using the ferry, you will feel that your life is on the line, but two days later or so, you find that the river offers both adventure and joy,” she adds, reminiscing about her first day aboard the pontoon.
She first used it in 2011 when she accompanied her mother to the market side in Zambia, noting fear engulfed her and closed her eyes until the ferry reached the other side because she was afraid of the waters.
“I did not even hear the sound of the engine when the ferry was navigating through,” she adds.
Ms Banika says with the facing out of the ferry due to the new mega Kazungula Bridge, she would miss those moments when she would spot some crocodiles, hippos and other animals in the waters.
She also recalls that the Zambian pontoons were regularly experiencing accidents, citing that at some point upon her regular visits to Zambia using pontoon, it collided with another one and people were thrown into the deep waters.
With the Botswana pontoon, Ms Banika recalls that it regularly experienced breakdowns but they were not something to be overly worried about.
However, she comforts herself that the construction of the Kazungula Bridge will still provide the same scenery when the pontoon retires this year.
One of the pontoon operators, Mr Unaswi Seemule, says driving the pontoon was not only tough physically but mentally as well. “You are dealing continuously with conflicting opinions and racing nerves when you are a pontoon operator. Pontoon operators are made, not born, “he adds.
He notes is the operator’s responsibility to look after the safety and security of the ferry, the trucks, the crew and the people in the pontoon.
“It is akin to a military experience. Sometimes it is a matter of life and death,” adding that operating a pontoon was a strenuous job but explains that the river experience on its own is unique.
“Decisions come hard and fast and leave little room for error or second-guessing. In a tough situation, the operator is compelled to call the shots,” says Mr Seemule.
He is downhearted as he will miss his ‘friend’ as he now goes back to the Central Transport Organisation (CTO) to work for his properly trained for job as a driver, adding that operating a pontoon was a highlight in his life even though the job was less paying.
There have been many suggestions between the government of Botswana and Botswana Tourism Organisation (BTO) regarding the ferry when it retires this year.
Suggestions are that the ferry could be preserved as a symbol of remembrance for the upcoming generations and placed as a monument at the place where the other ferry sunk and resulted in the deaths of many people.
Kazungula ferry has seen it all, survived colonialism, apartheid and liberation wars and will retire leaving unforgettable memories behind.
