A recent article published by CNN gives an update of the status of operation of the Kazungula bridge. This bridge, whose construction works commenced in October 2014 and ended in 2021, was built with a $260 million project co-financed by Botswana and Zambia, that in August 2007 announced a deal to construct a road and rail bridge to replace the old ferry transport system between the two countries.

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A report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), a legislative branch agency within the Library of Congress that provides comprehensive legislative research and analysis in order to contribute to an informed national legislature in United States, recapitulates the initiatives developed by the various international organizations and governments so far to support the African Union (AU) and in particular, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) negotiations and implementation. The report recognises that the US funding in support of the AfCFTA is significantly lower than that provided by some other donors (notably the EU), but also that the technical assistance provided by such donors has to date focused heavily on the AfCFTA Secretariat and various AUC departments, rather than at the national and regional level, where additional support is needed to help national governments and regional organisations to address AfCFTA implementation challenges. The US Congress is urged to consider the development of mechanisms aimed at fostering greater coordination among and with all partners supporting the continental FTA. To this end, an official cooperative forum, formally involving AfCFTA and development partner officials (e.g., from the EU and U.S.), could act as a channel to clarify African needs and address capacity gaps to be filled with additional assistance.

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