Chingola

Chingola
Chingola Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 12°32′S 27°51′E / 12.533°S 27.85°E / -12.533; 27.85
Country	Zambia
Admin. division	Copperbelt Province
Elevation	4,472 ft (1,363 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	147,448

Chingola is a city in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, the country's copper-mining region, with a population of 147,448 (2000 census). It is the home of Nchanga Open Pit Mine, the second largest open cast mine in the world.

History

Chingola was founded somewhat later than the cities in the south-eastern half of the Copperbelt, in 1943, when the Nchanga Open Pit was started up. It was, at one point, known to be the cleanest town in Zambia.

Mines at Chingola

Nchanga Mines Open Pit workings lie in an arc 11 km long around the west and north of the town, covering nearly 30 km². The deepest part of the pit is 400 m lower than the surrounding plateau.

As well as the Nchanga Open Pit, Chingola has an underground mine. A mine tailings dam about 7 km south of the city covers 24 km².

See Copperbelt Province for the history of the copper-mining industry.

Communications

A freight-only branch of Zambian Railways services the town from Kitwe.

In Chingola, the main road to Lubumbashi in DR Congo via Chililabombwe and Konkola branches off the main Copperbelt highway running south-east from Kitwe going north-west to Solwezi.

Health Facilities

The town has two hospitals: Nchanga North General Hospital (Government-owned, bed capacity 283) and Nchanga South Hospital (privately-owned by the mines, bed capacity about 100).

Features of Chingola

National Monuments

• Hippo Pool on the Kafue River, 10 km north

Other features

• Chimfunshi Wildlife Orphanage, a sanctuary for orphaned chimpanzees lies 60 km north-west of Chingola.

Maps

• [1]

Statistics

• Elevation = 1363m
• Population = 16,332

Born in Chingola

• Samuel Matete (born 1968), Zambian athlete
• Felix Bwalya (born 1970), Zambian boxer (d. 1997)
• Fighton Simukonda (born 1961, Zambian Soccer Coach)
• Chrissy Zebby Tembo (Zambian Musician)
• Brian Chibeza Lundwe(Zambian IT consultant based in South Africa)
• Jacoline B. Loewen[2](Zambian entrepreneur, writer based in Canada)
• Ross Shiel(Zambian motorcross rider)
• Ross Shiel(Zambian Swimmer)

Coordinates: 12°32′S 27°51′E / 12.533°S 27.85°E / -12.533; 27.85

References