Misplaced Pages

#181818

37-670: Chipata , the capital of the Eastern Province was an early outpost of the British colonial administration as Fort Jameson when Zambia was Northern Rhodesia . Like most of the Eastern Province, it had much easier access to Malawi, then the British protectorate of Nyasaland , and to the Mozambique ports of Quelimane and Beira than to the rest of Northern Rhodesia, and so most trade and communication in early colonial days

74-498: A tropical savanna climate ( Köppen : Aw ) with wet and dry seasons. Summers are characterized by warm to hot temperatures, reaching peak values in October and November. Winters are milder, with July being the coolest month. The wet season, from November to March, experiences high humidity and significant rainfall. The dry season, from May to October, is marked by minimal precipitation. Rufunsa District Rufunsa District

111-530: A huge variation according to season. Crossing the steep terrain of the lower Luangwa valley was a major challenge. The 1929 track was usually closed in the rainy season, and so the first Luangwa Bridge was built in 1932 with funding from the Beit Trust . On the eastern side, once the road had climbed up the difficult terrain onto the Luangwa-Zambezi watershed at Nyimba , Petauke , and Katete ,

148-462: A modern market, a central hospital, shopping malls, a university, some colleges and a number of schools, Chipata is the business and administrative hub of the region. The town boasts a four star hotel, a golf course , an airport , and a "welcome arch" . Developed areas includes Kalongwezi, Moth, and Little Bombay. Chipata is the regional head of the Ngoni of Zambia. The Ngoni adopted the languages of

185-727: A population of about 327,059 in 2022, the Chipata District is believed to be the 8th largest city of the country. The city of Chipata had 193,288 inhabitants in 2022. The predominant ethnic groups in the city are the Chewa , Tumbuka , Ngoni and Nsenga . Chipata is the primary transport hub for trade between Zambia and Malawi. "Down Shops" is Chipata's bustling down-town area, most shops and other businesses having proprietors of Indian origin. Two notable shops are Kavulamungu Bargain Centre, and Ally & Sons. The Nc'wala ceremony of

222-874: A roundabout junction with the T2 road ( Great North Road ; Cairo Road ) and the M9 road . It begins by going eastwards as the Great East Road to form the main road of the central-eastern suburbs, passing the Manda Hill Mall, Arcades Mall and East Park Mall before passing by the University of Zambia main campus. Immediately after the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport turn-off in the Chelstone suburb (the last suburb of Lusaka),

259-677: Is a district in Zambia , located in Lusaka Province . The district capital is Rufunsa. The district was established by President Michael Sata in 2012 by splitting Chongwe District . As of the 2022 Zambian census, it has a population of 81,733. The main economic activity of the local people is subsistence farming. Rufunsa holds gold, copper, and other minerals, although mining is not well-developed. Five decades after Zambia's independence, Rufunsa district now has twelve public secondary schools and three private secondary school s. However

296-546: Is the road that connects Chipata with Lundazi and Chama . Together with the Great East Road (T4) to Lusaka, it is the main route connecting Chama and Lundazi with the rest of the country. The M12 is a road in a poor condition. It starts at a junction with the T4 (Great East Road) just north-west of Chipata City Centre and goes northwards for 7 kilometres to reach a t-junction with the D104 (Chipata-Mfuwe Road), which goes north-west to

333-597: Is the road that provides access to the town of Luangwa . It is the only road used to enter and exit Luangwa. It starts at a junction with the T4 (Great East Road) just west of the Luangwa Bridge in Luangwa District , going southwards. It heads for 85 kilometres, following the Luangwa River (which forms Zambia's boundary with Mozambique in this area), to reach the town of Luangwa adjacent to

370-732: The Chipata Airport (2 kilometres away) and extends further through Mambwe District to the tourist settlement of Mfuwe and its International Airport south of the South Luangwa National Park and the Luangwa River . At this junction, the M12 makes a right turn and goes northwards for 173 kilometres, following the Malawi borderline, through the Chipangali and Lumezi Districts, to reach its northern terminus in

407-567: The Mwami Border with Malawi , where it crosses the national boundary and becomes the M12 road of Malawi , which connects to the city of Lilongwe (Capital of Malawi; 120 kilometres away). The border settlement on the Malawian side is named Mchinji . In addition to its east-west Lusaka-Malawi axis, the Great East Road links north to Lundazi (using the M12 road from Chipata), north-west to

SECTION 10

#1732775624182

444-808: The South Luangwa National Park (using the D104 road from Chipata), south-east to Mozambique (using the T6 road from Katete), and, in Lusaka Province , south to the Lower Zambezi National Park and the town of Luangwa at the Luangwa-Zambezi river confluence (using the D145 road from the Luangwa Bridge). In the 1960s the Great East road was paved, opening up the Luangwa Valley (and to some extent, Lake Malawi ) to tourism. At times

481-547: The South Luangwa National Park to the north-west (100 kilometres away). The D128 road connects Chipata with Chadiza to the south-west (65 kilometres away). The D804 road connects Chipata with Vubwi to the south-east (60 kilometres away). Chipata has four major streams pouring into the Luangwa river. The Luangwa river rises in the Lilonda and Mafinga Hills in north-east Zambia at an elevation of around 1500 meters near

518-404: The anti-apartheid and independence sides in these conflicts, armed incursions cut the road at the Luangwa Bridge , with it being rebuilt and reopened in 1968. As of 2022, there are plans to rehabilitate the bridge. The T6 road is the road that links Zambia with Northern Mozambique . At the town of Katete , 80 kilometres west of Chipata , 490 kilometres east of Lusaka , at a junction with

555-525: The 'Great Roads' together with the main north–south railway contributed to the decision to site the capital in Lusaka in 1935). The Eastern Province is a narrow slice of land sandwiched between Mozambique and Malawi to its south and east, and the Luangwa Valley , world-famous for its wildlife , to the north-west, which no highways cross. Apart from a bush track over the highlands in the far north of

592-641: The Alexander Grey Zulu Toll Plaza, to bypass Petauke to the south (where the D138 provides access to the town centre). From the Petauke turn-off, the T4 heads east-north-east for 87 kilometres, through the town of Sinda, to the town of Katete , where it meets the northern terminus of the T6 road , which goes southwards to the border with Mozambique . The T6 is the main route used by motorists to access Mozambique from Zambia. From Katete,

629-872: The Literacy levels are still low. The Catholic Church has given hope by building a nursing school. Rufunsa is on the Great East Road , approximately 150 km east of the capital, Lusaka . The indigenous people there are the remnants of the Soli people . They had to relinquish much of Lusaka land to the central government. Three chiefs live in this district; Chief Bunda Bunda, Chieftainess Mpanshya, and Chieftainess Shikabeta. Before 1997, Rufunsa District along with Chongwe District and Kafue District , were known as "Lusaka Rural". 15°04′S 29°40′E  /  15.067°S 29.667°E  / -15.067; 29.667 This Zambia location article

666-556: The Luangwa River and Zambezi River confluence, where it ends in the town centre. Chipata Chipata is a city and administrative centre of the Eastern Province of Zambia and Chipata District . It was declared the 5th city of the country, after Lusaka , Ndola , Kitwe and Livingstone , by President Edgar Lungu on 24 February 2017. The city has undergone rapid economic and infrastructure growth in

703-631: The Ngoni people takes place at Mutenguleni on the outskirts of Chipata. The ceremony celebrates the first fruits harvest and is usually held at the end of February. An extension of the Sena railway , connecting the city of Chipata to the territory of Malawi (via Mchinji) was opened in August 2011. Since then, Chipata acts as the Zambian railhead and entry point from Malawi and beyond. In the pipeline since 1982,

740-543: The T4 (Great East Road), begins the road going south-east towards the border with Mozambique. The T6 road is 55 km in length from Katete, passing through Chilembwe and Mlolo (through the western side of Chadiza District ), to the Chanida Border with Mozambique. The long road ahead through Mozambique (the N9 route) provides access to the city of Tete . The border on the Mozambique side is named Chimefusa. The M12 road

777-474: The T4 crosses into Chongwe District . From the airport turn-off, the T4 heads eastwards for 30 kilometres, though the Chongwe Toll Plaza, to the town of Chongwe, where it passes through the town centre as the main road. From Chongwe, the T4 continues eastwards for 115 kilometres to the town of Rufunsa in the district of the same name . From Rufunsa, the T4 goes eastwards for 70 kilometres to meet

SECTION 20

#1732775624182

814-676: The T4 heads east-north-east for 80 kilometres, though the Reuben C Kamanga Toll Plaza, to enter the city of Chipata , where it meets the southern terminus of the M12 road (which goes north to Lundazi and the South Luangwa National Park ) before passing through the city centre in a south-easterly direction. Immediately after the Chipata City Centre, the T4 meets the northern terminus of the D128, which goes southwards to Chadiza . The T4 continues east-south-east for 18 kilometres to reach

851-427: The border with Tanzania and Malawi , and flows in a southwesterly direction through a broad valley. The water from the streams and the Luangwa river is used for farming by the inhabitants around the district. There are three main soil types: acrisols, fersiallitic soils, and lithosols. There are four vegetation types, the main one being the brachystegia (miombo) woodland and munga vegetation types. Chipata features

888-465: The going is easier. Chipata is reached 570 km from Lusaka and the road goes on to the Malawian border 20 km further on, where it connects via Mchinji to the Malawian capital of Lilongwe , just 120 km from the border. The Great East Road has 3 tollgates (one just east of Lusaka; one between Nyimba and Petauke ; one just west of Chipata). The T4 begins north of Lusaka Central, at

925-536: The northern terminus of the D145 , which goes southwards to the town of Luangwa (85 kilometres away). Immediately after the Luangwa turn-off, the T4 leaves Lusaka Province and crosses the Luangwa River into the Eastern Province as the Luangwa Bridge . From the Luangwa Bridge, the T4 heads east-north-east for 165 kilometres, following the near borderline with Mozambique , through the town of Nyimba, through

962-624: The present road, and which crossed both the Lunsemfwa River and the Luangwa by pontoons made from dugout canoes roped together. Eventually the Northern Rhodesian authorities needed a better road to assert their control over the Eastern Province, and the first Great East Road was built in 1932 from the Great North Road at the small railway town of Lusaka (Livingstone was still the capital, and this junction of

999-510: The province, a narrow neck of land in the west became the only way in from or out to the rest of Zambia, and as the only highway to cross it, the Great East road is strategically vulnerable. This neck is cut by the lower Luangwa River making a turn due south to the Zambezi , in a narrow and deep valley with steep slopes and thick vegetation, amounting in some sections to a gorge. The river is 250 to 400 m wide in this area, and flows quite fast, with

1036-553: The short link, about 35 kilometres (22 mi), provides a through-route for rail traffic from Zambia via Malawi to the Indian Ocean deep-water port at Nacala in Mozambique . The route and alignment of the line has been laid out, including the site of Chipata station and the basic station building. The route provides an alternative to two existing rail routes to the Indian Ocean, at Dar es Salaam and Beira . In 2015 it

1073-415: The surface has deteriorated considerably. The section between Katete and the Luangwa Bridge was repaired and reconstructed around 2002/3. As well as being strategically vulnerable as described above, the Great East Road is within a few kilometres of Mozambique and a few tens of kilometres of Zimbabwe, where there were wars of independence in the 1960s and 1970s. As a result of Zambia's political support for

1110-415: The tribes they conquered, so Chewa and Nsenga are the principal languages, although Tumbuka and English are widely spoken, plus some Indian languages, as a large number of Zambian Indians live in the town. It is located near the border with Malawi , and lies on the Great East Road which connects the capitals Lilongwe 150 kilometres (93 mi) to the east, and Lusaka 570 kilometres (354 mi) to

1147-684: The vicinity of the town of Lundazi , where it ends at another junction with the D104 road coming from the South Luangwa National Park and the Luambe National Park in the west. The road continuing northwards from this junction is the D103 road, which provides access to the town of Chama . The D109 connects eastwards from the D103 in Lundazi to the Lusuntha border with Malawi . The Luangwa Road (designated as D145 on Zambia's road network)

Great East Road - Misplaced Pages Continue

1184-472: The west. It is a popular access point for the South Luangwa National Park , which is 100 kilometres (62 mi) to the north-west. Chipata's name comes from the Chewa word "Chimpata" meaning "large space", in reference to the town's situation in a shallow valley between hills. The name of the central neighbourhood of Kapata, the original centre of town, comes from the Chewa word meaning "small space." Chipata

1221-440: The years, leading up to city status. Chipata is located on the Great East Road , approximately 570 kilometres (354 mi) east of Lusaka , the capital city of Zambia. This is about 150 kilometres (93 mi) west of Lilongwe , the capital city of Malawi . The geographical coordinates of Chipata are 13°38′43.0″S, 32°38′47.0″E. The average elevation of Chipata is 1,181 metres (3,875 ft), above sea level. Having

1258-482: Was called a "fort" because the local government offices, or "Boma" , were once fortified. Fort Jameson was the capital of the British protectorate of North-Eastern Rhodesia between 1900 and 1911. During World War II , 80 Polish refugees escaping from German- and Soviet-occupied Poland , were admitted in Fort Jameson in 1941. The mayor of the city of Chipata is the head of the city government. With

1295-412: Was eastwards. Until the mid-1920s mail, goods and passengers went between the capital of the territory at Livingstone and Fort Jameson by train through neighbouring countries — via Bulawayo and Beira to Blantyre and then by road. Before the Great East Road, the first direct vehicle access to the east of any kind was a track made in 1929 by transport companies following a more northerly route than

1332-415: Was formerly known as Fort Jameson (and informally as "Fort Jimmy"), being named after Sir Leander Starr Jameson , the 19th-century British politician and adventurer. Even during the colonial period, few supported that Jameson, who is mainly known for his part in the infamous Jameson Raid , fully deserved the honour of having any town named after him. Like 'Fort Manning' and ' Fort Rosebery ', Fort Jameson

1369-584: Was proposed to build a rail link from Chipata through Petauke to Serenje , a town on the TAZARA Railway line. The T4 road ( Great East Road ) connects Chipata with Lusaka to the west (570 kilometres away) and the Mwami border with Malawi to the east (20 kilometres away). The M12 road connects Chipata with Lundazi to the north (180 kilometres away). The D104 road connects Chipata with its airport (12 kilometers away) as well as to Mfuwe and

#181818