ABOUT KABWE DISTRICT

Edit

Kabwe is the Provincial capital of Central Province situated along the Great North road 139Km from the North of Lusaka and about 55Km South of Kapiri Mposhi. It is located in vicinity of latitude 14 27’ South and longitude 28 27’ east. The district has an area of approximately 1 572 square kilometers which translates into 159,268 Hectares. Kabwe has been an important mining town for many decades, it was early connected to the country’s principal railway line that goes up to Dares salaam in Tanzania. The name Kabwe formerly known as Broken Hill is short for “Kabwe Ka Mukuba” meaning the stone of ore or the place of smelting.

According to 2022 Census of Population and Housing Preliminary Report of December 2022, Kabwe Central Constituency had a total projected population of 179,275 people in 2022 whereas Bwacha Constituency had 199,391. However, in 2035 Kabwe Central Constituency is expected to have 281,305 inhabitants while Bwacha Constituency 175,020 people.

Edit

The Council shares with the District vision of being a sustainable, vibrant, inclusive, well connected and smart city by the year 2050

Edit

Delivering exceptional value and quality of life through governance and team work.

Edit
HISTORY AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES  OF KABWE

Cultural Heritage

Broken Hill Man

The district has a historical significance in the evolution of man in that historical
evidence shows that Kabwe is the place where the skull of the primeval man was
discovered during the mining activities in the late 1800s and 1900s. The skull according
to historians was discovered in June 1921 by a Swiss miner named Tom Zwigelaar and
an unnamed African miner, working at Broken Hill Mine (Puech et al 1980). The area
was known by the local people as Mutwe wa Nsofu or head of an elephant (KMC, 2016).
The replica of the Broken Hill Man and the Bust has been installed and mounted on the
Broken Hill Man monument at the Civic Center, drawing people from various
backgrounds to view these replicas and thereby boosting local tourism. The
monument’s plaque is inscribed in both English and Bemba. The inscription recounts
the discovery on April 17, 1921, during mining operations at No.1 Kopje Broken Hill, of
one of the most fossilized human skulls.

Cultural Activities

The district has a diverse cultural background owing to the various ethnic groupings
represented in the district. The Department of Arts Culture coordinates arts, cultural
industry (Sculpture, carving, basketry, ceramics, fashion and designs, jewelry) and
music to preserve our cultural heritage. Shown below are Sites for the tourist
attractions in the district.

Mukuyu Tree

The Big Tree locally known as the Mukuyu tree plays a significant role in the history
and cultural heritage of the district. This is a fig tree with branches spread outwards
creating a unique green canopy measuring over 50 metres standing tall in the middle
of the Central Business District along Freedom Way. The Big Tree is listed as one of
the important heritage sites in Zambia and was declared a national monument
because of its historic significance (Ng’uni, 2017). The tree in pre-civilization time
served as an assembly area for donkeys and caravans and also as a resting place for
slaves and traders.

The tree also played a significant role in the early history of the town. The tree’s
historical significance has not only attracted attention from the local community but
institutions such as World Bank. The Big Tree is one of the symbols on the emblem of
Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC, 2018). The Bank of Zambia (BoZ) in 2002 also
recognised the historic significance of the tree and depicted it on the K50 banknotes.

Investment Opportunities

The Bayer Zambia Seed Processing Plant

The Bayer Zambia Seed Processing Plant, enhancing agricultural productivity through efficient seed processing

MAP

Tourist Sites In Kabwe

Broken Hill Man Monument
Mulungushi Dam
The Mukuyu tree
Lukanga Swamps
Previous
Next

©2023. SMART Zambia Institute. All Rights Reserved.