Choma, Zambia

Choma is a market town and capital of the Southern Province of Zambia, lying on the main road and railway from Lusaka to Livingstone. It is home to a small museum dedicated to the cultural heritage of the Tonga people of southern Zambia. The population of Choma is said to be about 247,860 people and it serves as the commercial hub for the central region of the province. The Nkanga River Conservation Area lies nearby.

Choma is also the headquarters of a district of the same name. Most of the district lies at 1400 metres above sea level.

Climate

Choma has the typical climate of southern Zambia with temperatures between 14 °C and 28 °C and sunshine ranging between 9 and 12 hours per day. The highest temperatures occur between the beginning of October and the end of December. Once the rains start, temperatures tend to fall, partly because of the rain and partly due to the often heavy cloud cover. The lowest temperatures are usually recorded in June and July.

The rains generally start in the middle of October and continue through up to the beginning of April. Rainfall reaches its peak around January after which it diminishes slightly up to the beginning of April when usually it ceases entirely. Choma has an average rainfall of 800 mm of which 369 mm falls in January and February. There are variations in total rainfall and rainfall patterns from year to year and even in a particular season. These variations can have a major impact on crop yield. Humidity falls to about 33% until the onset of rains in October after which it skyrockets to about 77% in February. Humidity nosedives once the rains cease in April. The wind is predominantly from the east and south-west, and to a lesser degree from the north-east. The strength of the wind from these directions can be comparatively strong.

Education

Choma has a range of both state-run and private schools, including Adastra Basic School, Njase Secondary, Airport School, Choma Secondary^[1] and Choma Trades Training Institute.^[2] Choma is also home to St Mulumba's Special School,^[1] named after the Ugandan Saint Matiya Mulumba. Government investment has increased in Choma since president Sata made it the administrative capital for Southern Province^[3] with reports suggesting a new university will be built in the town.^[4]

Culture

Nightlife

Choma is home to a number of bars and nightclubs, including Chobro Masaka Nightclub,^[5] DC Nite Club^[6] and Choma Hotel & Bar^[7] and has hosted performances from Zambian artists including Macky 2,^[5] Petersen^[8] and Mampi.^[9]

Food

There is a variety of restaurants, food stalls and street food in Choma, including Wonderbake,^[10] Rachael's Lodge^[11] and PMB Snacklite (in the gardens of Choma Museum).^[12] The main market, Makalanguzu also sells ingredients and traditional street food, including fish, grains, tobacco leaves and roasted corn.^[13]

International Volunteering

Since 2012,^[14] Choma has hosted successive teams of VSO youth volunteers working in the areas of health, education and the environment.^{[15][16][17][18]}

Namesakes

There are a number of other towns in Zambia with the same name.

Notable residents

• Malilwe Malilwe - Entrepreneur/Change maker/ Political builder, notably a successful man who has made contribution to the nation in social change, health policy and political change. Having worked in the public sector, international non organisations and revamped recreational and social activities in Kafue and Ndola districts through his Future Tomorrow project under Mallz Entertainment (Facebook page: Future Tomorrow/Mallz Entertainment); he has always left a name remember and prints to see where his foot steps. His focus to hard work, dedication to service, social character and religious values has earned him a good reputation. In 2011 when he revamped and brought The Kafue swimming pool to life after years of dilapidation and vandalism, political players (then MMD, UPND, PF, FDD, NAREP) saw an opportunity to partner with him. His declining to form partnerships and get actively in politics and the booming activities and ventures at the swimming pool brought a temporal spell and big names popped out to get the business from him. The first attempt was when NAPSA was used to sued Malilwe Malilwe in the Kafue Magistrate Court (Malilwe Malilwe vs the People:2011-2012) through the NAPSA prosecutor in Lusaka. However, as a law student then and without a lawyer, Malilwe managed to stand for himself and was found innocent and the case was dismissed but the appellant had a choice of suing to the High Court. The second attempt came in less than 2 months and this time the local council instructed him to close the swimming pool (holding more than 500,000 litres of water) owing to the pool not having heaters and this followed a raid by unknown people at his house in Kafue Estate C5 when he out of town. After several threats he stopped the operation at the swimming pool and in no time two big Lusaka names got the swimming pool and later sought for a partnership with him but declined. In Ndola his project focused on youth involvement and participation. His remarked activities included but not limited to visiting vulnerable homes and assisted with aid in Nkwazi and Chipulukusu Compounds of Ndola.

In political circles notably in the Ndola, Lusaka and Kafue, politicians have his names in their testimonies as being a builder and positive changer.

• Gilbert Choombe - Olympic boxer

• Emmanuel Zulu - Over spill C37, stUdying at NORTEC

• Spencer Sautu - football player

See also

• Zambia
• Climate of Zambia
• Railway stations in Zambia

References

External links

• Orphanage Children's Nest in Choma

Coordinates: 16°49′00″S 26°58′30″E / 16.81667°S 26.97500°E / -16.81667; 26.97500