The towering new landmark is a 1.2-kilometer-cable-stayed bridge, built over the Okavango Delta and connects villages east of the river on the edge of the Okavango Delta with the rest of the country. Goscor Access Solutions, Concord, and Uni-Span all worked together to supply key components used to construct the bridge.

The bridge site lies close to Botswana’s border with Namibia. The bridge provides easier access to Namibian ports. It has also improved transport connections to Angola and Zambia. The full project includes the construction of 3 kilometers of approach roads that connect Mohembo with existing road networks, as well as storm-water drainage works, electrical installations, and street lighting.

Since Botswana’s independence, communities of the panhandle have depended on a ferry to cross the Okavango river to the rest of the country. This is now history since the opening of the Mohembo bridge to traffic.

The construction project started in 2016. When the bridge opened for the first time, Minister of Transport and Public Works, Eric Molale in June flew from Gaborone to Mohembo to witness the opening.

During the ceremony, Eric Molale spoke saying that the project will simplify access to villages, unlock tourist opportunities in the area and facilitate the transfer of basic economic necessities for the impoverished communities.

Lesedi Boy, Okavango Sub-district chairman explained the reason for the project, citing the decades-old inconvenience that the communities had suffered. He said, “as the council, we experienced challenges that negatively affected service delivery as the ferry sometimes experienced breakdowns rendering movement impossible across the Okavango river.”

The design is an elephant tusk; it pays tribute to African Elephants. The country has the world’s highest concentration of Elephants in the world.

The existence of this bridge has boosted the economy of the nation as it has improved tourism and tourism activities.