Muchinga Province

Muchinga Province
Province
The Luangwa River; the other bank belongs to Muchinga Province.
Coordinates: 10°0′S 32°0′E / 10.000°S 32.000°E / -10.000; 32.000Coordinates: 10°0′S 32°0′E / 10.000°S 32.000°E / -10.000; 32.000
Country	Zambia
Capital	Chinsali
Time zone	CAT (UTC+2)
• Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+2)
Districts	6

Muchinga Province is one of the ten provinces of Zambia. It is located in the northeast of the country and borders with Tanzania in the north, Malawi in the east, Eastern Province in the south, Central Province in the southwest, Luapula Province in the west, and Northern Province in the northwest. The administrative center of the province is Chinsali.

The name of the province originates from the Muchinga Mountains.

Geography

The province is elongated from southwest to northeast and is located on both sides of the Muchinga Mountains (Muchinga Escarpement), which serve as a divide between the drainage basins of the Zambezi (Indian Ocean) and the Congo River (Atlantic Ocean). The main rivers of the province are the Luangwa River, a major left tributary of the Zambezi, and the Chambeshi River, a tributary of Lake Bangweulu, in the drainage basin of the Congo. The source of the Luangwa is located in the province.

Three national parks are located in the province. There are Lavushi Manda National Park, North Luangwa National Park, and South Luangwa National Park. The latter is shared with Eastern and Central Provinces.

History

The creation of a province was announced by President Michael Sata in October 2011.^[1] In November 2011, the president appointed Malozo Sichone as Muchinga Province Minister. The parliament approved the creation of the province at some later date.^[2]

The province consisted originally of five districts. Chama District was transferred from the Eastern Province, and the other four districts were transferred from the Northern Province.^[3] In 2013, Mafinga District was created^[4] by splitting off Isoka District.

Administrative divisions

Location of four districts before their transfer to Muchinga Province

The province is administratively subdivided into six districts:

• Chama District
• Chinsali District
• Isoka District
• Mafinga District
• Mpika District
• Nakonde District

Transportation

The TAZARA Railway which connects Kapiri Mposhi and eventually Lusaka with Tanzania crosses the province from southwest to northeast.

A road connecting Lusaka with Tanzania runs through the province, passing Mpika and Isoka. In Mpika, another major road branches north to Kasama. Chama is connected with Lusaka by a different road which follows the Luangwa River and passes Petauke and Nyimba, connecting to the Great East Road.

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Muchinga Province.

• "Zambia map showing the province borders". Thomas Brinkhof. Retrieved 23 December 2013. 

v t e Districts of Zambia Central Province Chibombo Itezhi-Tezhi Kabwe Kapiri Mposhi Mkushi Mumbwa Serenje Copperbelt Province Chililabombwe Chingola Kalulushi Kitwe Luanshya Lufwanyama Masaiti Mpongwe Mufulira Ndola Eastern Province Chadiza Chipata Katete Lundazi Mambwe Nyimba Petauke Sinda Vubwi Luapula Province Chiengi Chipili Chembe Kawambwa Lunga Mansa Milenge Mwansabobwe Mwense Nchelenge Samfya Lusaka Province Chilanga Chirundu Chongwe Kafue Luangwa Lusaka Rufunsa Shibuyunji Muchinga Province Chama Chinsali Isoka Mafinga Mpika Nakonde Northern Province Chilubi Kaputa Kasama Luwingu Mbala Mporokoso Mpulungu Mungwi Nsama Northwestern Province Chavuma Ikelenge Kabompo Kasempa Mufumbwe Mwinilunga Solwezi Zambezi Southern Province Chikankata Choma Gwembe Kalomo Kazungula Livingstone Mazabuka Monze Namwala Pemba Siavonga Sinazongwe Zimba Western Province Kalabo Kaoma Lukulu Mongu Mulobezi Senanga Sesheke Shangombo