Western Province, Zambia

Last updated
Western
Province
Western in Zambia.svg
Western Province, Zambia
Zambia districts in Western Provice 2022.png
Map of Western Province showing its districts
Country Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia
Capital Mongu
Government
 • TypeProvincial Administration
 • Provincial MinisterKapelwa Mbangweta (UPND)
Area
 • Total126,386 km2 (48,798 sq mi)
Population
 • Total991,500
 • Density7.8/km2 (20/sq mi)
 2015
Time zone UTC+2
HDI (2018)0.542 [1]
low · 7th
Website www.wes.gov.zm

Western Province is one of the 10 provinces in Zambia and encompasses most of the area formerly known as Barotseland. The capital is Mongu, and together with the neighbouring town of Limulunga, Mongu is treated as the capital of Barotseland.

Contents

Geography

The geography of the province is dominated by the Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi river, extending from the confluence of the Zambezi with the Lungwebungu and Kabompo Rivers at the northern border of the province, to a point below Senanga and above the Ngonye Falls in the south. This floodplain is inundated from December to June, and is fed by other rivers with their own floodplains, and serves as a vast reservoir storing the waters of the Zambezi. The seasonal flooding is very important to agriculture in the province, providing natural irrigation for the grasslands on which huge herds of cattle depend, and bringing water to the settlements along the edges of the plain. Away from the Zambezi and its tributaries, much of the landscape is a gently undulating series of fossil sand dunes from a previous extension of the Kalahari Desert, with numerous lagoons, pans and seasonal swamps in hollows between the dunes. Dry grassland plains, teak forest, miombo woodlands and patches of evergreen Cryptosepalum forest cover the land.

Climate data for Western (Zambia)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)28.9
(84.0)		28.6
(83.5)		29.1
(84.4)		29.6
(85.3)		28.4
(83.1)		26.5
(79.7)		27
(81)		29.8
(85.6)		33.4
(92.1)		33.8
(92.8)		31.3
(88.3)		29.3
(84.7)		33.8
(92.8)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)22.8
(73.0)		22.8
(73.0)		22.8
(73.0)		22.3
(72.1)		19.9
(67.8)		17.3
(63.1)		17.8
(64.0)		20.7
(69.3)		24.6
(76.3)		25.4
(77.7)		23.7
(74.7)		22.9
(73.2)		25.4
(77.7)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)18.6
(65.5)		18.7
(65.7)		18.4
(65.1)		16.5
(61.7)		12.7
(54.9)		9.5
(49.1)		9.7
(49.5)		12.4
(54.3)		16.4
(61.5)		18.1
(64.6)		18.2
(64.8)		18.6
(65.5)		9.5
(49.1)
Average precipitation mm (inches)255
(10.0)		205
(8.1)		150
(5.9)		34
(1.3)		1
(0.0)		0
(0)		0
(0)		0
(0)		3
(0.1)		23
(0.9)		124
(4.9)		208
(8.2)		1,003
(39.5)
Source 1: [2]
Source 2: [3]

Transport

Mongu is now well supplied with paved roads and drainage . The main one and the chief access for the province is the 590-kilometre Lusaka–Mongu Road from Central Province, through Kaoma to Mongu. There is a plan to link Zambia to its neighbouring Angola and as of 2016, the Barotse Floodplain Causeway, which extends the Lusaka-Mongu Road and connects Mongu with the other side of the Zambezi River (Kalabo) has been completed. [4]

The M10 Road is the other main road in the province, connecting Mongu with Livingstone via Senanga, Sioma (where it crosses the Zambezi) and Sesheke (where it bypasses the Katima Mulilo Border Post and crosses the Zambezi again as the Katima Mulilo Bridge)

The other roads in the province vary from a few good dry-season gravel roads such as Kaoma to Lukulu, to sandy or muddy tracks passable only by trucks and four-wheel drive vehicles.

Demographics

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1964363,000—    
1969410,000+12.9%
1980730,280+78.1%
1990751,316+2.9%
2000765,088+1.8%
2010902,974+18.0%
Sources:

As per the 2010 Zambian census, Western Province had a population of 902,974, (though the current population (2021) is estimated to be 1,076,683.) accounting to 6.72% of the total Zambian population of 13,092,666. There were 433,505 males and 469,469 females, making the sex ratio 1,083 females for every 1,000 males, compared to the national ratio of 1,028 females for every 1000 males. [7] The literacy rate stood at 61.60% against a national average of 70.2%. [8] The rural population constituted 86.73%, while the urban population was 13.27%. The total area of the province was 126,386 sq. km and the population density was 7.10 per sq. km. The population density during 2000 Zambian census stood at 7.10. [9] The decadal population growth of the province was 1.70%. The median age in the province at the time of marriage was 20.5. [10] The average household size was 5.0, with the families headed by females being 4.3 and 5.4 for families headed by men. [11] The total eligible voters in the province was 68.90%. [12] The unemployment rate of the province was 7.70%. The total fertility rate was 6.0, complete birth rate was 5.5, crude birth rate was 36.0, child women population at birth was 802, general fertility rate was 152, gross reproduction rate was 2.3 and net reproduction rate was 1.7. [13] The total labour force constituted 63.80% of the total population. Out of the labour force, 67.1% were men and 61.1% women. The annual growth rate of labour force was 0.5%. [14] Lozi was the most spoken language with 69.6% speaking it. [15] Albinism is a condition where the victims do not have any pigment in their skin, hair or eyes. The total population in the province with the condition stood at 1,747. [16] The life expectancy at birth stood at 53 compared to the national average of 51. [17]

Ethnicity

The Lozi are the major ethnic group in the province. The Lozi are traditionally cattle-keepers. They are a collection of 24 subgroups, with a well-established system of traditional rulers headed by the Litunga. The Litunga is assisted by subchiefs in Sesheke Senanga and Kalabo. The seasonal migrations of the Litunga and his court from the dry-season capital of Lealui, on the Zambezi flood-plain, to Limulunga, is an important cultural and now tourist event called the Kuomboka ceremony. There is an ethnic Nkoya minority centered on Kaoma (previously called Mankoya) district with their own chieftainship. The main traditional leaders of the Nkoya are Mwene (Chief) Mutondo and his equal counterpart, Mwene (Chief) Kahare all of Kaoma District and the surrounding areas. The Nkoya celebrate their annual traditional ceremony called the Kazanga or Kathanga between June and August in Kaoma District.

Economy and education

HIV infected & AIDS deaths [18]
YearHIV infectedAIDS deaths
19851,067107
19909,171314
199535,2081,684
200054,1234,097
200558,2245,971
201056,3086,044

As of 2004, the province had 648 basic schools, 26 high schools and the number of school children out of school in ages between 7 and 15 stood at 36,984. [19] The unemployment rate was 10 per cent and the general unemployment rate for youth stood at 18 per cent as of 2008. The province had 46 doctors as of 2005. There were 430 Malaria incidence for every 1,000 people in the province as of 2005 and there were 6,044 AIDS death as of 2010. [19]

Cattle are the mainstay of the traditional economy, and are sold in the population centres further east when money is required for cash goods or school or medical expenses. Crops are grown on the fertile Barotse floodplains and along the margin of the flood plain, in particular maize, rice, millet and vegetables. The sandy soils of the province are good for Cashew nuts plantations which are not being exploited this day. The province has a huge forest a high potential for timber cutting and finishing investment. The locals exploit the timber at a small scale for curios and canoe making.

The total area of crops planted during the year 2014 in the province was 112,153.47 hectares which constituted 5.91% of the total area cultivated in Zambia. The net production stood at 103,127 metric tonnes, which formed 2.53% of the total agricultural production in the country. Rice was the major crop in the province with 20,862 metric tonnes, constituting 42.03% of the national output. [20]

Industry

Logging for Zambian Teak, which grows wild in the south of the province, was important, and resulted in the construction of the longest private railway in southern Africa from Livingstone to Mulobezi, but this industry has declined due to the very slow rates of re-growth and the reduced demand for railway sleepers. There is no mining within the province, although there have been extensive exploration campaigns for diamonds and petroleum.

Tourism

The main tourist attractions are water sports and fishing on the Zambezi river, the annual Kuomboka ceremony and the annual Kazanga ceremony held in Kaoma District.

National Parks and wildlife areas

Administration

Profession [21] % of working population
Agriculture, Forestry & Fishing (by Industry)9.50
Community, Social and Personnel4.50
Construction4.50
Electricity, Gas, and water3.10
Financial & Insurance2.40
Hotels and Restaurants1.50
Manufacturing14.10
Mining & Quarrying0.70
Transportation and Storage2.90
Wholesale & Retail Trade3.80

Central Government Provincial administration is set up purely for administrative purposes. The province is headed by a Provincial Minister appointed by the President and there are ministries of central government for each province. The administrative head of the province is the Permanent Secretary, appointed by the President. There are Deputy Permanent Secretaries, District Commissioners, heads of government departments and civil servants at the provincial level. Western Province is divided into sixteen districts, namely, Kalabo District, Kaoma District, Limulunga District, Luampa District, Lukulu District, Mitete District, Mongu District, Mulobezi District, Mwandi District, Nalolo District, Nkeyema District, Senanga District, Sesheke District, Shangombo District, Sikongo District and Sioma District. All the district headquarters are the same as the district names. There are sixteen councils in the province for each district with political heads who are the Mayor in the case of Mongu District and Council Chairpersons for the other districts. the administrative heads of the councils are the Town Clerk in the case of Mongu District and Council Secretaries for the other districts. Each Mayor/ Council Chairperson holds office for a term of five years in accordance with the Zambian electoral cycle. [22] The administrative staff of the council is selected based on Local Government Service Commission from within or outside the district. The office of the provincial government is located in each of the district headquarters and has provincial local government officers and auditors. Each council is responsible for raising and collecting local taxes and the budgets of the council are audited and submitted every year after the annual budget. The elected members of the council do not draw salaries, but are paid allowances from the council. Western is a predominantly rural province and hence there are no city or municipal councils. The government stipulates 63 different functions for the councils with the majority of them being infrastructure management and local administration. Councils are mandated to maintain each of their community centres, zoos, local parks, drainage system, playgrounds, cemeteries, caravan sites, libraries, museums and art galleries. They also work along with specific government departments for helping in agriculture, conservation of natural resources, postal service, establishing and maintaining hospitals, schools and colleges. The councils prepare schemes that encourage community participation. [23]

Notes

  1. ↑ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  2. ↑ "Weather statistics for Western (Zambia)". Norway: Norwegian Meteorological Institute and Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation. 2007. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  3. ↑ Clima Data.org - Clima Data for Kalabo from 1991 to 2021
  4. ↑ "Zambia : The Mongu-Kalabo road has been completed". 8 April 2016.
  5. ↑ Census of population and housing, 1969 (PDF) (Report). Lusaka: Central Statistical Office, Republic of Zambia. 1970. pp. A6-7. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-10-26.
  6. ↑ Summary report for the 2000 Census of population (Report). Lusaka: Central Statistical Office, Republic of Zambia. 2003. p. 6. Archived from the original on 2016-10-14.
  7. 1 2 Census 2012, p. 7
  8. ↑ Census 2012, p. 24
  9. ↑ Census 2012, p. 17
  10. ↑ Census 2012, pp. 12-13
  11. ↑ Census 2012, p. 19
  12. ↑ Census 2012, p. 21
  13. ↑ Census 2012, p. 44
  14. ↑ Census 2012, p. 93
  15. ↑ Census 2012, p. 99
  16. ↑ Census 2012, p. 78
  17. ↑ Census 2012, p. 74
  18. ↑ "AIDS and HIV statistics". Central Statistical Office of Zambia. 2011. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  19. 1 2 "Atlas Home". Zambia data portal, Central statistical Office of Zambia. 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  20. ↑ "Agriculture statistics of Zambia 2014". Central Statistical Office of Zambia. 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "Labour force survey". Central Statistical Office of Zambia. 2008. Retrieved 17 October 2016.
  22. ↑ Zambi Public administration Country profile (PDF) (Report). Division for Public Administration and Development Management (DPADM), Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), United Nations. 2004. p. 7. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
  23. ↑ The local government system in Zambia (PDF) (Report). Common Wealth Local Government Forum. pp. 218–220. Retrieved 16 October 2016.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zambezi</span> Major river in southern Africa

The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, the longest east-flowing river in Africa and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. Its drainage basin covers 1,390,000 km2 (540,000 sq mi), slightly less than half of the Nile's. The 2,574 km (1,599 mi) river rises in Zambia and flows through eastern Angola, along the north-eastern border of Namibia and the northern border of Botswana, then along the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe to Mozambique, where it crosses the country to empty into the Indian Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barotseland</span> Place in southern Africa

Barotseland is a region between Namibia, Angola, Botswana, Zimbabwe including half of north-western province, southern province, and parts of Lusaka, Central, and Copperbelt provinces of Zambia and the whole of Democratic Republic of Congo's Katanga Province. It is the homeland of the Lozi people or Barotse, or Malozi, who are a unified group of over 46 individual formerly diverse tribes related through kinship, whose original branch are the Luyi (Maluyi), and also assimilated Southern Sotho tribe of South Africa known as the Makololo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kuomboka</span> Traditional annual ceremony in Zambia

Kuomboka is a word in the Lozi language; it literally means ‘to get out of water’. In today's Zambia it is applied to a traditional ceremony that takes place at the end of the rain season, when the upper Zambezi River floods the plains of the Western Province. The festival celebrates the move of the Litunga, king of the Lozi people, from his compound at Lealui in the Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi River to Limulunga on higher ground. The return trip is usually held in August with a less publicized journey called the Kufuluhela.

Lealui or Lialui is the dry season residence on the Barotse Floodplain of the Litunga, king of the Lozi people of western Zambia. It is located about 14 km west of the town of Mongu and about 10 km east of the river's main channel. At the end of the rainy season, generally in March as the Upper Zambezi flood waters encroach on the compound, the Litunga moves to Limulunga on higher ground. The move is celebrated in the Kuomboka festival, one of Zambia's most important and popular.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mongu</span> City in Western Province, Zambia

Mongu is the capital of Western Province in Zambia and was the capital of the formerly-named province and historic state of Barotseland. Its population is 179,585, and it is also the headquarters of Mongu District. Mongu is the home of the Litunga, King of the Lozi people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sesheke</span> Town in Western Province, Zambia

Sesheke is a border town in the Western Province of Zambia, in a district of the same name. It lies on the northern bank of the Zambezi River which forms the border with Namibia's Caprivi Strip at that point.

Limulunga is one of the two compounds of the Litunga, king of the Lozi people of western Zambia. It lies on high ground at the edge of the Barotse Floodplain of the Zambezi river, about 15 km north of the town of Mongu and 21 km east of the main channel of the river. The Litunga's other compound at Lealui is used during the dry season, with Limulunga being used during the rainy season. The annual move between the two compounds is celebrated in the Kuomboka festival.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalabo</span> Town in Zambia

Kalabo is an urban centre and the seat of Kalabo District, in the Western Province of Zambia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Senanga</span> Town in Western Province, Zambia

Senanga is the capital of the Senanga District, which is located in the Western Province of Zambia. The town is situated on the eastern bank of the Zambezi River, at the southern end of the Barotse Floodplain. It lies on the main road running parallel to the river from Livingstone and Sesheke to Mongu. Recently the Kaunga Lyeti Bridge was completed to cross the Kaunga Lyeti River near the junction to Sioma, traveling from Sesheke and Katima Mulilo. On top of the bridgework, recent road projects have improved travel conditions and inspired economic confidence and growth.

Kaoma is a town in Zambia. It is the headquarters of Kaoma District in the Western Province and is located on the M9 Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Districts of Zambia</span>

The ten provinces of Zambia are divided into a total of 116 districts as of 2018.

The Litunga of Barotseland is the King of the Barotse people. The Litunga resides near the Zambezi River and the town of Mongu, at Lealui on the floodplain in the dry season, and on higher ground at Limulunga on the edge of the floodplain in the wet season. The Litunga moves between these locations in what is known as the Kuomboka ceremony.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luena River (Zambia)</span> River in western Zambia

The Luena River of Zambia's Western Province rises just west of the Kafue National Park and flows west through Kaoma to become a tributary of the Zambezi. In the dry season, just below its confluence with its seasonal tributary the Luampa River, it ends in swamps or marshes on the Luena Flats east of Lukulu. In the wet season the Luena Flats flood and overflow into the Ndandu channel or floodplain which leads south-west to the Barotse Floodplain of Zambezi north of Limulunga and Mongu. It is the widest 'tributary' floodplain of the Barotse Floodplain, reaching 20 kilometres (12 mi) wide at its mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barotse Floodplain</span> Major floodplain in Central Africa

The Barotse Floodplain, also known as the Bulozi Plain, Lyondo or the Zambezi Floodplain, is one of Africa's great wetlands, on the Zambezi River in the Western Province of Zambia. It is a designated Ramsar site, regarded as being of high conservation value.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lusaka–Mongu Road</span> Road in Zambia

The Lusaka–Mongu Road of Zambia runs 580 km from the capital, Lusaka, to Mongu, capital of the Western Province. It connects that province to the rest of the country, as well as being one of two routes to the south-west extremity of North-Western Province. It also serves as the main highway of the western half of Central Province. The entire route from Lusaka to Mongu is designated as the M9 road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shangombo District</span> District in Western Province, Zambia

Shangombo District with headquarters at Shangombo is located in Zambia. As of the 2010 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 84,070 people. This population is a combined figure with the newly created district of Sioma which was created by halving the primary district. The western part of the half retains the name Shangombo while the eastern part is called Sioma District.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sesheke District</span> District in Western Province, Zambia

Sesheke District is one of the sixteen (16) districts in Western Province of Zambia. Lying 300km south of the provincial capital, Mongu and 190km from Livingstone, the nations tourist capital, the district shares borders with Sioma in the west, Senanga and Mulobezi in the north-east and Mwandi in the east. The district also shares international border with Namibia south and Angola in south-west. The capital lies at Sesheke. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 78,169 people. It contains Sioma Ngwezi National Park and contains part of the Zambezi River, which forms Zambia's border with Namibia.

Sioma is a town on the west bank of the Zambezi River in the Western Province of Zambia. Since 2012 it has been the capital of the Sioma District.

The M10 road is a road in Zambia. It goes from Livingstone, through Sesheke and Senanga, to Mongu. The road is approximately 508 kilometres and follows the Zambezi River for its entire length.

References

16°3′22″S23°45′8″E / 16.05611°S 23.75222°E / -16.05611; 23.75222

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.