Mwinilunga

Mwinilunga is a town in the North-Western Province of Zambia. It is the headquarters of Mwinilunga District, one of the eleven districts in the province.[1]

Mwinilunga
Pathway Between the Old and New Market
Mwinilunga Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 11°43′02″S 24°25′44″E
Country	Zambia
Province	North-Western Province
District	Mwinilunga District
Elevation	1,391 m (4,564 ft)
Population  (2010 Census)
• Total	15,704
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)

Location

The town lies on the west bank of the West Lunga River, along the Chingola–Solwezi–Mwinilunga Road (T5 Road Zambia), which continues north-westwards to Caianda, in Angola. Mwinilunga is located approximately 275 kilometres (171 mi), by road, west of Solwezi, the provincial capital.[2] Another tarmacked state road (D286 Road Zambia), leads south to Kabompo, the capital of Kabompo District. Kabompo town is approximately 247 kilometres (153 mi) south of Mwinilunga.[3]

Mwinilunga sits in the extreme north-western corner of the country, close to the international borders with Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The geographical coordinates of Mwinilunga, Zambia are:11°43'02.0"S, 24°25'44.0"E (Latitude:-11.717222; Longitude:24.428889).[4] The average elevation of the town is 1,391 metres (4,564 ft) above mean sea level.[5]

Overview

Due to its proximity with Angola and DR Congo, Mwinilunga would have benefited from trade with the two neighboring countries. Poor roads, human conflict and lack of collective political will in the three countries, have so far prevented any meaningful trade policy from developing.[1] The Zambezi River originates in Mwinilunga District, in a community called Kalene Hill, approximately 80 kilometres (50 mi) north of town.[6]

Population

The town had a population estimated at 14,500 in 2006. The Chilunda-speaking Kanongesha-Lunda people are the largest ethnic group, and are related to the Chibemba-speaking Kazembe-Lunda of Luapula Province. In 1990, the census carried out that year, put the town's population at 6,342 people. In 2000, the population was 10,745 inhabitants. During the 2010 national census, the population of Mwinilunga was enumerated at 15,704 people.[7] The table below illustrates the same data in tabular format.

Year	Population
1990	6,342[7]
2000	10,745[7]
2006	14,500 (Estimate)
2010	15,704[7]

Climate

Climate data for Mwinilunga
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °C (°F)	33.1 (91.6)	31.9 (89.4)	31.0 (87.8)	30.6 (87.1)	30.8 (87.4)	30.2 (86.4)	31.4 (88.5)	32.8 (91.0)	36.8 (98.2)	34.8 (94.6)	33.6 (92.5)	31.7 (89.1)	36.8 (98.2)
Average high °C (°F)	26.0 (78.8)	26.3 (79.3)	26.8 (80.2)	27.3 (81.1)	27.0 (80.6)	25.9 (78.6)	26.3 (79.3)	28.7 (83.7)	31.0 (87.8)	29.9 (85.8)	27.4 (81.3)	26.2 (79.2)	27.4 (81.3)
Daily mean °C (°F)	19.9 (67.8)	19.9 (67.8)	20.1 (68.2)	19.9 (67.8)	18.2 (64.8)	15.9 (60.6)	16.1 (61.0)	18.9 (66.0)	21.7 (71.1)	21.3 (70.3)	20.3 (68.5)	19.8 (67.6)	19.3 (66.7)
Average low °C (°F)	16.2 (61.2)	16.2 (61.2)	16.0 (60.8)	14.2 (57.6)	10.1 (50.2)	6.7 (44.1)	6.6 (43.9)	9.3 (48.7)	12.4 (54.3)	14.8 (58.6)	15.8 (60.4)	16.2 (61.2)	12.9 (55.2)
Record low °C (°F)	11.6 (52.9)	12.6 (54.7)	10.0 (50.0)	7.8 (46.0)	1.6 (34.9)	−1.9 (28.6)	0.5 (32.9)	0.9 (33.6)	1.6 (34.9)	8.1 (46.6)	10.5 (50.9)	7.3 (45.1)	−1.9 (28.6)
Average precipitation mm (inches)	241.8 (9.52)	200.4 (7.89)	266.7 (10.50)	89.5 (3.52)	12.1 (0.48)	1.3 (0.05)	0.0 (0.0)	3.2 (0.13)	18.5 (0.73)	91.7 (3.61)	222.0 (8.74)	265.9 (10.47)	1,413.1 (55.63)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)	24	21	23	11	1	0	0	0	2	12	21	25	140
Average relative humidity (%)	82.5	84.6	84.1	77.6	70.2	64.5	58.7	50.8	49.1	67.8	78.3	83.7	71.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours	136.4	120.4	151.9	228.0	294.5	297.0	310.0	297.6	261.0	213.9	156.0	133.3	2,600
Source: NOAA[8]

This is one of the wettest places in Zambia with annual rainfall of about 1,400 millimetres (55 in) falling in the rainy season from October to May.[1]

Education

Mwinilunga Secondary School is the largest school to date in town. Government and community schools are scattered in the neighborhoods surrounding the metropolitan area, and provide education for children from nursery through high school. Mwinilunga is also home to The Sakeji School, a primary boarding school.[1]

Economy

Forest Fruits Limited has been operating in Mwinilunga since 1998, successfully working with over 7,000 beekeepers in the region to export organic honey to the European market. The company also employs about 100 staff.[9]

In early August 2019 gold deposits were discovered and confirmed by experts from the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development. The Government, through its subsidiary, ZCCM Investments Holdings (ZCCM-IH), intends to set up a gold mine in Chief Chibwika's area where the gold deposits have been discovered.[10][11]

Transport

In 2006 plans were formulated to extend the proposed railway to Solwezi to the town and even on to the Benguela Railway in Angola to avoid reliance on the line in the DR Congo, but these plans have not been confirmed and the Benguela Railway has not yet been re-opened. However, the Angolan transport ministry plans to build a line branching off the Benguela Railway at Luacano and entering Zambia from Macango, Anola.[12] The town is also home to Mwinilunga Airport.[1][13]

Tourism

Mwinilunga lies southeast of the Nchila Wildlife Reserve rainforest, known for its sable antelope and other large mammals, Luakela Forest Reserve and the Chitunta Plain, known for its birdlife and as the source of the Zambezi River.[1] The annual Chisemwa cha Lunda ceremony held by Senior Chief Kanongesha of the Lunda draws crowds to the district every September.[14][15]

References

1. Zambia.Info (28 May 2020). "About Mwinilunga, Zambia". Zambia.Info.org. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
2. Google (28 May 2020). "Road Distance Between Mwinilunga, Zambia And Solwezi, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
3. Google (28 May 2020). "Road Distance Between Mwinilunga, Zambia And Kabompo, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
4. Google (28 May 2020). "Location of Mwinilunga, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
5. Flood Map (28 May 2020). "Elevation of Mwinilunga, Zambia". Floodmap.net. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
6. Google (28 May 2020). "Travel Distance Between Mwinilunga, Zambia And Kalene Hill, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
7. Central Statistical Office Zambia and City Population (14 July 2019). "Population of Zambian Cities and Urban Centres: Mwinilunga". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
8. NOAA (April 2015). "Mwinilunga MET Climate Normals 1961–1990". Silver Spring, Maryland, United States: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
9. Zambezi Gold (29 May 2020). "Certified Organic African Wild Honey". Lusaka: Zambezigold.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
10. Lusaka Times (3 April 2020). "Kasenseli youths Mwinilunga district want gold mining rights". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
11. Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (27 April 2020). "ZCCM Gold Injects K45m In Kasenseli Gold Mine". Lusaka: Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
12. Lourenço, Manuel João (20 June 2011). "Projecto de reabilitação e modernização dos caminhos de ferro de Angola" [Project to rehabilitate and modernize the Angolan railways] (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional dos Caminhos de Ferro de Angola (INCFA)/Angolan transport ministry. Archived from the original on 19 April 2014. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
13. Airport Guide (29 May 2020). "Mwinilunga Airport: ICAO: FLMW". Airporgtuide.com. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
14. Times of Zambia (13 September 1999). "Zambia: Sata calls for peace in North-Western Province" (via AllAfrica.com). Times of Zambia. Ndola, Zambia. Retrieved 29 May 2020.
15. Gideon Thole (2 October 2007). "Chisemwa Chalunda – A Symbol of Unity Among Lundas". Lusaka Times. Retrieved 29 May 2020.

External links

• Zambia: 3 Illegal Gold Miners Die in Mwinilunga As at 12 August 2019.