Luanshya
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Luanshya | |
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  Luanshya
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| Coordinates: | |
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| Country |  Zambia |
| Admin. division | Copperbelt Province |
| Population (2000) | |
| - Total | 115,579 |
Luanshya is a town in Zambia, in the Copperbelt Province near Ndola. It has a population of 115,579 (2000 census).
Luanshya was founded in the early part of the 20th century after a prospector/explorer, William Collier, shot and killed a Roan Antelope on the banks of the Luanshya River, discovering a copper deposit in the process. The antelope fell to the ground, its head resting on a rock where an exposed seam of copper ore was clearly visible. The mining company eventually formed to exploit Collier's find was named "Roan Antelope Copper Mines Ltd".
For most of the 20th century, copper was mined in great quantities at Luanshya but towards the end of the century, mining there became increasingly uneconomic, causing a severe recession in the town. There is still a fair amount of copper underground. Whether the town sees a revival in its fortunes will depend on how efficiently it is extracted and sold.
In 2006, Luanshya was the home of the Miss Commonwealth Africa (Emma Chishimba). The city is also the birthplace of Rhodesian folk singer, John Edmond.
Luanshya is the home base of a Technical and Vocational Teacher's College (TVTC).
