Kitwe

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Kitwe
Kitwe (Zambia)
Kitwe
Kitwe
Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 12°49′S 28°12′E / -12.817, 28.2
Country Zambia
Admin. division Copperbelt Province
Population (2000)
 - Total 363,734

Kitwe is the third-largest city in Zambia, with a population of 363,734 (2000 census). It is in the centre of the Copperbelt, Zambia's copper-mining region, in the Province[1] of that name, with a complex of mines on its north-western and western edges.[2]

Kitwe includes a number of townships and suburbs including Nkana East, Nkana West, Mindolo and Garneton.[3] The city is sometimes referred to as Kitwe-Nkana. As well as the mines, the city has light industrial areas manufacturing building materials, furniture and consumer goods.[1]

Contents

[edit] Kitwe-Nkana Mines

Nkana open pit and headgear,Kitwe
Nkana open pit and headgear,Kitwe

There are two main underground mines in Kitwe, Nkana in the south-west and Mindolo in the north-west. Nkana includes a concentrator, smelter and refinery, as well as a cobalt plant producing about 1800 tonnes per year, operated by Mopani Copper Mines plc.[4] There are extensive mine tailings around both mines, and two small tailings dams right in the city centre. There are also small-scale emerald mines in the area.

See Copperbelt Province for the history of the copper-mining industry.

[edit] Communications

Kitwe lies at the end of Zambia Railways' passenger services from Livingstone, Lusaka and Ndola,[5] but freight lines continue to the mining towns to the north-west. The main highway through the Copperbelt runs south-east to north-west through the city, to Ndola (as a freeway) in the south-east, and to Nchanga, Chingola and Chililabombwe in the north-west. A laterite road goes west to Kasempa.[3]

Southdowns Airport, Kitwe lies about 12 km south-west of the town but does not currently receive scheduled services. The airport was closed down for repair in 2005, and are not expected to open anymore. Ndola Airport is 60 km south-east.[2]

[edit] Education

A student and teacher exchange programme was introduced in 1999 with teacher exchange visits by Kingsmead Technology College in Hednesford, England with two Kitwe schools - Helen Kaunda High School and Mukuba High School. This started a series of partnerships between Zambian and UK schools and there are now over 30 such school partnerships. Students from Kingsmead paid a visit to the Kitwe schools in 2005.[6]

[edit] Features of Kitwe

[edit] Around Kitwe

Mindolo club,Kitwe
Mindolo club,Kitwe

The landscape around Kitwe is an attractive mix of gently undulating woodland, dambos, farmland and rivers such as the Kafue River flowing along Kitwe's eastern and southern edges.

  • Mwekwera Falls 9 km south east just off the Kitwe-Ndola freeway, with a small lake and fish farms. The falls are small but scenic with an attractive pool below.[1]
  • Chembe Bird Sanctuary 20 km east on the Kasempa Road has a small lake surrounded by woodland and is excellent for birdwatching, fishing, camping and picnics. The shady lake shore has campsites with a communal amenities block, firewood, and water. Boats are available for hire and fishing is permitted. It is run by the Wildlife and Environmental Conservation Society of Zambia.[1]

[edit] Sister Cities

Kitwe's has four sister cities:

[edit] External links

Historical, vector-based map of Nkana-Kitwe, 1961

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Camerapix: "Spectrum Guide to Zambia." Camerapix International Publishing, Nairobi, 1996.
  2. ^ a b Google Earth accessed 2007.
  3. ^ a b Terracarta/International Travel Maps, Vancouver Canada: "Zambia, 2nd edition", 2000
  4. ^ Ebizguides website: "Zambia: Mopani Copper Mines" Website accessed 18 March 2007.
  5. ^ Seat61 website retrieved 2 June 2007, says information was correct in November 2006.
  6. ^ "Zambia/UK student partnerships fostering multi-cultural relations", Gethsemane Mwizabi, Times of Zambia, 2005

Coordinates: 12°49′S, 28°12′E