Zambezi River Basin

Navigation in the Zambezi Basin Navigation on the Zambezi River is both international and local. The main international

transported in barges up to Mphanda Nkuwa in the 1970s. New projects in the region may require transportation of materials by river and lake navigation. These include coal mining in Tete, the rehabilitation of Sena Sugar Estates in Mozambique, and the construction of the Mphanda Nkuwa River Dam (SADC 2000). On Lake Kariba, a ferry provides the main transport system linking Binga and Kariba in Zimbabwe. On the Zambian side another ferry operates between Siavonga and Chepepo, and Siavonga and Shenga. In Zambia, a number of other ferries operate on the Zambezi River at Chavuma, Ngoma, and Sandaula/Malumbu in Mongu, Katima Mulilo/Shesheke, and the Kalongola/Senanga. In Lukanga, water crossings exist between Chilwa Island and Chitanda. Other crossings are at Caia and Songo in Mozambique

transport routes are the Kazungula and Luangwa-Kanyemba, while major national routes are in the upper Zambezi River and on Lake Malawi/Niassa/Nyasa. There are also small crossings that provide access to major markets (Denconsult 1998). There are major crossings on the Kabompo River, Kafue River and Chobe River in Namibia and Botswana, and on the Shire River in Mozambique and Malawi. Tanzania, Malawi and Mozambique, which share Lake Malawi/Niassa/Nyasa, all use the lake for navigation (Denconsult 1998). The section of the Zambezi running 570 kilometres fromMphanda Nkuwa, Mozambique to the Indian Ocean is the longest navigable portion of the river. Coal was transported in barges along the river in the 1940s and molasses in the 1970s. Construction materials for the Cahora Bassa Dam were also

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Ferries are one of the main means of transport on navigable sections of the Zambezi basin.

Zambezi River Basin navigation system

TANZANIA

ZAMBIA

ANGOLA

MALAWI

Z a m b e z i

Lake Malawi/ Niassa/Nyasa

L u n g u e B u n g o

Chavuma

K a b o m p o

L u a n g w a

Zambezi town

C u a n d o

Mongu ferry

Luang- Kanyembawa

Kalongola- Senanga

Lake Cahora Bassa

K a f u e

S h i r e

Nmawala (Kafue Flats)

Z a m b e z i

M a z o e

Lake Kariba

Katima Mulilo

Kazungula

Caia

NAMIBIA

S h a n g a n i

Bridge Lake navigation

MOZAMBIQUE

BOTSWANA

Downstream of Cahora Bassa Dam, Zambezi River used to transport local molasses and construction materials, as well as supporting coal mining at Moatize Ferry crossing

Source: World Bank 2010. The Zambezi River Basin, A Multi-Sector Investment OpportunitiesAnalysis.Volume3,Stateof theBasin. IBRD/WorldBank,WashingtonDC. SADC and ZRA 2007. Rapid Assessment Report: Integrated Water Resources ManagementStrategy for theZambeziRiverBasin.SADCWaterDivision,Gaborone.

ZIMBABWE

Figure 3.4

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