Kasama, Zambia

Kasama
Nickname(s):  Aba saamike akatambala ku chimuti
Kasama Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 10°12′42″S 31°10′42″E / 10.21167°S 31.17833°E / -10.21167; 31.17833
Country	Zambia
Province	Northern Province
District	Kasama District
Elevation	4,508 ft (1,374 m)
Population  (2010 census)
• Total	101,845
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
Climate	Cwa

Kasama is a city in the Northern Province of Zambia. It serves as the provincial capital and the headquarters of Kasama District.^[1]

Location[]

It is situated on the central-southern African plateau, approximately 856 kilometres (532 mi), by road, north-east of Lusaka, the capital and largest city in Zambia.^[2]

Kasama is located on the Great North Road from Mpika through Kasama to Mbala and on to Mpulungu, at the tip of Lake Tanganyika.

Population[]

The city population grew considerably in the 1970s and 1980s after construction of the TAZARA Railway through the city, and the tarring of the Great North Road, Zambia. Its population, according to Encyclopedia Britannica, was 74,243 in 2000 and had increased to 113,779 in 2010.^[3]

Overview[]

Kasama is in the heartland of the Bemba ethnic group,^[1] whose Paramount Chief Chitimukulu maintains his headquarters 9 kilometres (6 mi) from Malole, which is 51 kilometres (32 mi) east of the city center.^[4]

In 1898/1899 a crisis over the succession of the Chitimukulu led to Bishop Joseph 'Moto Moto' Dupont gaining the agreement of Bemba chiefs to the British colonial Administrator of North-Eastern Rhodesia, Robert Codrington taking control of the area. Codrington established a boma at Kasama and the town's central location as well as its closeness to Chitimukulu's court led to it eventually becoming the largest and dominant town of the north-eastern lobe of what became Northern Rhodesia, then later, Zambia.

Economic activities[]

The town has a few modern facilities, among them are a Shoprite Checkers branch, Budget Stores, a local supermarket called PJT and four bakeries. The town has branches of Zambian commercial banks including Zambia National Commercial Bank, National Savings & Credit Bank, Atlas Mara Bank Zambia Limited, Standard Chartered Zambia, Cavmont Bank, Barclays Bank of Zambia and Indo-Zambia Bank Limited. The town has VISA and ATM services.^[1]

Most people in Kasama are not formally employed and they run small businesses to earn a living. Kasama has around six internet cafes where people can access internet services. The hospital is the , that provides locals with health services. The city has a police station and several police posts. The available mobile telephone operators include MTN Group, Airtel Zambia and Zamtel.^[1]

There are several Agri Based industries in Kasama, which include Northern Coffee Company Limited (NCCL), a subsidiary of Olam International, growing coffee at Kateshi Estates,^[5] and Kalungwishi Estates growing sugar cane and producing the Kasama Sugar brand.

Tribes[]

In as much as there could be other tribes, Kasama district is highly populated by the bemba speaking people.

Suburbs[]

Kasama has the following residential compounds within the district council boundaries:

• Central Town (the largest)
• New Town or Mbulo
• Location
• Mukulumpe
• Chikumanino

The compounds below are out of the council boundary:

• Mulenga Hills
• Jazz
• Tazara
• Misamfu
• Milima
• Chiba
• Chitamba
• Brown
• Winberg
• Kasama Village
• Kungu
• Mutale/Milenge
• Chisanga
• Soft Katongo
• Lua Luo

Transport[]

Kasama is served by a good network of major highways, including (a) Kasama–Mpika Highway (b) Kasama–Mbala Highway (which are part of Zambia's Great North Road), (c) Kasama–Luwingu Highway and (d) Kasama–Isoka Highway.

The 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge TAZARA Railway connects Tanzania to the north via Kasama, with Zambia Railways at Kapiri Mposhi to the south.

Air transport is accessible through Kasama Airport. It can accommodate small aircraft, and it is undergoing an upgrade to be able to accommodate larger aircraft. It was expected to be ready by the end of 2017.^[6]

Recreation[]

Kasama recreational facilities include the Kasama golf club, which also offers tennis, volleyball, badminton, body building, and a small football ground with one stand that can seat less than a thousand people. The town has other football grounds where people can play soccer.^{[citation needed]}

There are resorts at Chishimba Falls and guest houses and lodges such as the Chinchi's Nest and Kings Guest House, and 3 nightclubs.^{[citation needed]}

Rivers[]

Kasama district has five big rivers and these include, Chambeshi, Lukulu, Lukupa, Lubansenshi and Luombe. The Chishimba falls is found on the Luombe river and it is one of the major tourist attraction in Zambia.

Climate[]

World War I[]

At the end of World War I, when it consisted of a handful of government offices and a dozen stores, it was evacuated by its British population of a couple of dozen in the face of a surprise raid from the north-east by German East African forces under General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. Not knowing that the armistice had occurred in Europe the day before, the Germans took the abandoned town on 12 November 1918 and continued south-west (there was no battle at Kasama since the British imperial forces were at Abercorn), agreeing a cease-fire at the Chambeshi River on 14 November when they were informed of the German surrender in Europe. For further details, see Von Lettow-Vorbeck Memorial.

Art[]

Kasama is known for the Stone Age rock art in the surrounding area. The Chishimba Falls also lie near the town.

See also[]

• Railway stations in Zambia

References[]

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kasama.