Connecting Botswana and Zambia at Kazungula, a Quadripoint Town with a Vital Bridge

The Shortest International Border in the World

The border between Botswana and Zambia, at a mere 150 meters long, is the shortest land boundary in the world. This tiny border is located in the town of Kazungula, where four countries - Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Namibia - come close to meeting. This point is known as a quadripoint.

The boundaries were established during colonial rule, and while the other three borders received official delimitations, the Botswana-Zambia border was never formally agreed upon. This led to some uncertainty about the existence of a legal quadripoint. However, it is now acknowledged that the international boundaries contain two tripoints joined by a short line, crossed by the Kazungula Bridge.

Connecting Two Nations

The Kazungula Bridge, a road and rail bridge, opened in May 2021, replacing the Kazungula Ferry. The 923-meter-long bridge has a single-line railway track, two traffic lanes, and pavements for pedestrians. Its curved design avoids the nearby borders of Zimbabwe and Namibia.

A Dispute Over Land and Borders

During the construction of the bridge, Zimbabwe disputed the existence of a direct border between Botswana and Zambia. Zimbabwe claimed that the border was actually between Zimbabwe and Namibia, and that Botswana's claim to the land crossing the Zambezi was actually Zimbabwe's land. This dispute threatened to escalate into a war.

Botswana and Zambia, realizing their mistake, asked Namibia for permission to use its land, and Namibia agreed. The bridge was then redesigned to curve, thus avoiding Zimbabwean land. Today, Botswana and Zambia maintain good political relations, and the bridge serves as a vital link between the two countries.