By Angela Moonga
Zambia’s Ambassador to Brazil Dennis Alibuzwi and his Botswana counterpart to that country Tumelo Benetia Chingapane have agreed to collectively advocate for using the Kazungula Bridge to boost intra-SADC trade and attract Brazilian investment into value-chain products.
In a meeting with Changapane, during a series of meetings Alibuzwi has been having with his southern African counterparts in Brazil, the two envoys focussed squarely on the transformative Kazungula Bridge, which the Botswana ambassador described as “the physical embodiment of SADC regional integration.”
“Both ambassadors agreed that their missions must collectively advocate for using this efficient transport corridor to boost intra-SADC trade and attract Brazilian investment into value-chain projects,” first secretary for press and public relations at Zambia’s mission in Brazil Lloyd Kapusa stated in a press statement.
Kapusa stated that the engagements, which Gen Alibuzwi started on September 8, 2025, were aimed at reaffirming Zambia’s unwavering commitment to regional solidarity, economic cooperation, and a unified diplomatic presence within the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Brazil.
He stated that Ambassador Alibuzwi’s engagements commenced with a meeting with Ambassador Vusi Mavimbela of South Africa, who also serves as the Dean of the SADC Ambassadors in Brazil.
Kapusa stated that Ambassador Mavimbela emphasized the critical need for a coordinated SADC voice.
“The Dean of the SADC Ambassadors highlighted that SADC countries in Brazil present a unified front to effectively champion regional agenda, from economic integration to peace and security, ensuring the voices of all SADC nations are amplified in Brasília,” Kapusa stated. “The Zambian Ambassador’s subsequent courtesy calls highlighted the deep-rooted historical and cultural bonds within the region grounded from the liberation struggle era.”
During another meeting with Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Brazil Meshack Kitchen of Zimbabwe, who is also the immediate past SADC Chairperson, the latter reaffirmed the strong fraternal ties forged during the independence struggle.
Both envoys committed to fostering unity and presenting a cohesive African front in Brasília.
In an engagement with Ambassador Selma Nghinamundova of Namibia, Ambassador Alibuzwi described the shared liberation struggle as an “unbreakable bond.”
The discussion focused on shifting from political solidarity to economic empowerment in agriculture, energy, and infrastructure, with both envoys celebrating the enduring cultural ties between the Lozi people of Western Zambia and the Lozi people of the Zambezi Region of Namibia,” Kapusa stated. “Ambassador Alibuzwi also paid a courtesy call on His Excellency Jacinto Januário Maguni, Ambassador of the Republic of Mozambique to the Federative Republic of Brazil highlighting the historical solidarity rooted in Zambia’s support for Mozambique’s liberation movement.”
In a meeting with Dr. John Simbachawene, Ambassador of the Republic of Tanzania to Brazil Ambassador, Gen Alibuzwi acknowledged the profound history of Zambia and Tanzania, citing key joint projects like the TAZARA Railway and the TAZAMA Pipeline as tangible symbols of economic partnership.
Both ambassadors pledged to enhance cooperation and create platforms for closer engagement in Brazil.
Meeting with His Excellency Ambassador Rev. Dr. Levi Njombole Nyondo, the envoys reaffirmed the long-standing cultural, historical, and political bonds.
They stressed the importance of a shared vision for regional cooperation and development, underpinned by their shared membership in SADC and the African Union.
