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 THE
COPPERBELT
History
Early European prospectors were shocked at the extent of
tribal diggings found on the Copperbelt and the Katanga pedicle. Even before the Lunda and
Mwata Kazembe Empires of last century, copper was in circulation in the form of ingots or
crosses. Used as currency in central African trade it was somewhat eclipsed in value with
the increase in slave trade. In keeping with the attitudes of the time, many prospectors
refused to believe that the local tribes people were in fact responsible for the digging.
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The early European discoveries by prospectors like William
Collier (reputed to have made his discovery on the site where he had shot a roan antelope)
in 1902, had to await economic viability before any serious mining attempts were
undertaken. It was only in the 1920’s that a technical breakthrough was achieved that
made the mining of the then Northern Rhodesia’s ‘red gold’ highly
profitable. And the fortunes of the country were irrevocably changed.
The claims that
made up the Copperbelt were divided between two conglomerates - the Anglo American
Corporation of South Africa and the U.K. Selection Trust. (Later the Roan Selection Trust
- RST) An initial boom in the industry was affected by the Great Depression of the
1930’s. International gearing up for the hostilities that resulted in World War 2
created the next boom which lasted until the early seventies. This broad outline does not
even begin to illustrate the enormous impact that copper has had on the country which is
Zambia today.
It was copper that motivated infrastructural development in
a country low on the priority list in the Colonial repertoire. It was copper that shaped
colonial policies towards a federation with the then Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and
Nyasaland (Malawi). It was copper that created the social realities that fomented trade
unions and the birth of Zambian Nationalism. Zambia was born with a ‘copper spoon in
its mouth’. A newly independent Zambia based political and socio-economic policies
and strategies on the fortunes of copper.
With the collapse of copper prices, Zambia has become a
nation foundering, struggling to find a replacement for foreign exchange earnings. Copper,
once the country’s saving grace, has become its albatross.
Getting there
Zambian
Airways, has scheduled flights from Lusaka to Kitwe or Ndola
Inter Air flies directly to Ndola
from Johannesburg.
By road, the Copperbelt is easily reached from Lusaka. Take the Great North
Road to Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, then Ndola.
NDOLA
Map
of Ndola
An important commercial centre in Zambia, Ndola lies some 320
kilometers north of Lusaka. It is the gateway to the mineral producing region of the
country. Like Lusaka, the development of Ndola has been rapid and extensive.
There are many manufacturing industries here, including a
major copper refinery. Although copper is still Zambia’s largest foreign exchange
earner and the mainstay of the national economy, the city of Ndola has established itself
as a commercial and light industrial centre of considerable importance, as well as being
the junction and distribution centre for the Copperbelt complex. The oil pipeline from
Dar-es-Salaam in Tanzania ends its 1700 km journey at the Ndola refinery.
Modern factories, offices and shops line the Central
Business District A big attraction in Ndola is the annual
Zambia International Trade Fair
in July. A
number of newspapers and journals are printed in the city, two of which serve the country
- the Times of Zambia and the Sunday Times.
Where to stay
The
New Savoy
and the Mukuba Hotels
are the first choices for businessmen. The New Savoy is in the Town Centre and the Makuba
is alongside the Showgrounds in the industrial area of the town. Naaznina Hotel
and
Chikumbi Motel are other cheaper options.
Sightseeing
Ndola is not big on sightseeing options. If you do have
time to kill in the city, try the Copperbelt Museum in Buteko Ave, diagonally
opposite the New Savoy Hotel. It has many interesting samples of the minerals found here
as well as cultural arts and crafts. It is unfortunate that the exhibits are squashed into
a small shop, but it’s still worth a visit. It also sells local curios and copper
items. Lake Chilengwa, lying about sixteen kilometres southeast of Ndola is one of
two sunken lakes found on the Copperbelt. The other being the 100 meter deep
Lake
Kashiba, Further south on the Kapiri Mposhi road. Both lakes have local cultural
significance. The lakes are formed by the collapse of surface rock into the underlying
limestone. Lake Kashiba offers basic camping facilities, safe swimming and good
birdwatching. Lake Chilengwa right on the Zairean border is considered to be a security
risk. Armed policemen found at the roadblock at Chiwala school will accompany any visitors
to the lake. The Dag Hammerskjold Memorial ten kilometres along the
Ndola/Kitwe road commemorates the sight where the United Nations Secretary General died in
a plane crash during the Katanga crisis in Zaire in 1961. Again, due to proximity to
Zaire, caution must be exercised when visiting the memorial.
KITWE
Map
of Kitwe
Sixty four kilometres west of Ndola is Kitwe, the
hub of the Copperbelt and the principle industrial and commercial centre of the area. The
city owes its existence to the copper mining industry but a considerable number of
secondary industries have been established. Planned on modern lines, Kitwe has a large
shopping area with hotels, a cinema and theatre.
With the upsurge of copper prices in the 1950’s Kitwe
developed from a small township to the second largest city in Zambia, obtaining city
status in 1966. It then developed as an industrial and commercial area and later an
important agricultural area. The good central position of the city in the Copperbelt area
made it the most popular choice for industrial developers. Other industries include
furniture manufacturing, batteries, clothing, asbestos and cement production, consumer
goods manufacturing among others. Kitwe also has three well equipped hospitals.
Where
to
stay
Kitwe has a number of Guest Houses that provide a good
alternative to hotel accommodation:
Eagle Guest
House -
Homely,
reasonably priced, private accommodation, B&B or Dinner B&B, self
contained single & double rooms, budget twin & single rooms.
residents bar, swimming pool. satellite TV and phone in all rooms. Good
food.
Mukwa Guest House
is situated just two minutes drive from the centre of Kitwe and 45 minutes
from Ndola International Airport. It offers boutique style luxury
accommodation and fully licensed restaurant for visitors or business
executive.
Other are
Blue Gates Guest House ,
The House of Jasmin,
Town House Lodge and Sherbourne Farm Lodge.
The
Edinburgh Hotel in Obote Ave is fairly
old but clean and comfortable and has two restaurants, a casino and conference facilities.
Another cheaper option with corresponding
standards is the Buchi Hotel on
Independence Ave. There are no campsites in town but a very pleasant option nearby is the
Chembe Bird Sanctuary (see below)
Try
Copperfields Executive Guest Accommodation in the Parklands area opposite Kitwe Zoo. The Guest house is a
favourite for business travellers and offers a pick up / drop off service from either
Ndola or Kitwe Southdowns airport by arrangement. The Copperpot
restaurant is a new restaurant serving modern french cuisine. The restaurant offers
anything from Steak au poivre to chicken
Sightseeing
Kitwe is largely undeveloped as a tourist town, due to the
focus on mining and industry, but nonetheless is blessed with beautiful scenery and has
two big rivers within its boundaries. Mindolo dam, about seven kilometres
to the Southwest of the city centre along Kalulushi rd, has a boating club, swimming pool
and bar. If you travel down Obote Ave, you’ll find the market
place
where there is a fairly large curio stall selling a wide variety of copper items and other
Zambian arts and crafts. Definitely worth a visit if you’re passing through.
Makwera Falls and Lake is about 9 kilometres off the Kitwe-Ndola dual
carriageway. The lake is a centre for fish farming. The falls are small but quite
picturesque as they tumble from a small river over a wider rocky outcrop before settling
in a shimmering pool on the rock basement. If one has an interest in mining it is possible
to visit the mines and take a tour down one of the shafts. Enquire at the
ZCCM head office.
 Thirty kilometres from Kitwe on the
Kalalushi/Kasempa Road is a very charming Bird Sanctuary run by the Wildlife Society.
Thick woodlands surround a small lake and there are shady campsites at the waters edge.
There are communal ablutions, lots of trees, plenty of firewood and well water. One can
walk or drive around the lake and into the surrounding woodlands. Boats can be hired for
fishing or birdwatching from the lake.
Getting there: Take the Kalalushi road from Kitwe.
Just before the ‘Welcome to Kalalushi’ sign turn left towards Southdowns airport
and travel for nineteen kilometres. On the right is a rather worn out sign to
Chembe.
CHINGOLA
Chingola is the most picturesque of the Copperbelt towns
with a profusion of trees and flowers. The higher rainfall that this part of the country
gets is very evident in the greenery throughout the suburbs. Chingola is home to the
biggest open-cast mine in Africa.
Where to stay: There are three hotels with basic
facilities but all are clean and comfortable, catering mainly for businessmen. Lima Hotel,
Nchanga Hotel and Musunshya Hotel. (See listings for hotels)
Protea
Hotels have just opened a prestigious new 40 room hotel in Chingola
located in a residential area with a good restaurant and a lively bar. It
has a swimming pool, internet cafe, shops and an ATM machine and all rooms
are airconditioned. An excellent choice for wedding parties, banqueting and
conference facilities. The Hotel is
only 1 km from the Championship Golf Course, Nchanga and an easy drive to
the other excellent Copperbelt Golf courses - Mufulira, Konkola and
Chubuluma. Protea also has a
Safari
Lodge just outside Lusaka.
Sightseeing: It is possible to visit the open cast
mine. One needs to get a permit from the mine office at the end of Fern Ave. If
you’re a golfing enthusiast, it said that Nchanga Golf course in Chingola is one of
the most beautiful and well kept courses in Africa. A must if you're this far north is a
visit to
Chimfunshi
Chimpanzee Sanctuary.
LUANSHYA
Luanshya, to the left of Ndola is the site of the oldest
copper mine in Zambia. There is little of interest to the tourist here but
it makes for a good stopover on the way to the copperbelt or alternatively a
relaxing weekend away can be had at Lowden
Lodge or Baluba River Motel or
Cholwa Guesthouse
There are a fair number of shops, a market, clinics and petrol.
The collier monument here commemorates
the site where William Collier discovered copper while hunting a roan antelope in 1902.
MUFULIRA
If in Mufulira for business, there are three hotels with
basic facilities and a Motel. Mufulira Hotel, Kamuchanga Hotel, La Samu and
Masiye Motel
all easy enough to find from the centre of town.
MAP
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