Mpika

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 11 ° 51 ′  S , 31 ° 26 ′  E

Map: Zambia
marker
Mpika​
Magnify-clip.png
Zambia

Mpika (also Chachi Mpika or Cha-Chi ) is a city on the Tanzam Highway at the junction to Mpulungu on Lake Tanganyika via Kasama and Mbala and on the TAZARA in Zambia . Mpika is the largest town in the wider area. Mpika has 29,000 inhabitants (2006 estimate) and is the seat of the administration of the district of the same name with 146,196 inhabitants (2000 census), the park administration of the North Luangwa Conservation Project, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Services and the main administration of TAZARA.

geography

Mpika is 1450 meters above sea level. Geographically, Mpika is located on the Muchinga Mountains between the Luangwa Valley in the west and the Bangweulus Marshes in the east. Both areas are extremely difficult to access and almost undeveloped.

economy

Mpika is located in a Miombo landscape which, with fewer than four people per square kilometer, is one of the most sparsely populated areas in Zambia. The soils are acidic and, despite sufficient rainfall, not very fertile. Agriculture therefore requires expensive artificial fertilizers with higher calcium and potassium contents. Mpika is an important supply point in the surrounding area. It has a significant market. The Dar es Salaam - Kapiri Mposhi passenger train runs twice a week in both directions, and passengers can buy food here at the station. One district is called Tazara Township . A new line to Chipata / Mchinji in Malawi is to be built. The depot in Mpika would have to be enlarged. Likewise, the Tanzam Highway is a source of income for all kinds of services for vehicles, drivers and passengers.

Social

Mpika is a catholic bishopric with a long tradition. In a 2001 study, UNICEF found an average child labor rate in Zambia of 20%, but in Mpika it was 70%. Child sexual abuse is 10% higher than the national average of 72% for girls and 28% for boys.

Infrastructure

Mpika is located on the TAZARA and the Tanzam Highway, which also forms the T2 trunk road here , and is therefore easily accessible. There is an unpaved airstrip at the site that is 1200 meters long.

There are three gas stations, a supermarket, several places to stay like Bayama's Lodge , the Zambia College of Agriculture and a church hospital that offers inexpensive medical care.

tourism

The tourist offer of Mpika is constantly growing. The Mpika Tourism Association operates an information center at Bayama's Lodge . Halfway towards Serenje are the Mutinondo Wilderness Falls with the 10,000 hectare Mutinondo Wilderness Area , a camp on the upper slope of the Luangwa and 100 kilometers away from the 100 km² Shiwa Ng'andu cattle farm ( Lake of the Royal Crocodile ). This is decorated with a few guest rooms in British colonial style, surrounded by hot springs, around 1500 animals, 200 employees. Nearby are the falls of the Mansha River , which are 15 meters high and considerable width. About eleven kilometers away are the cascades of the Chusa Falls on the same river. Both plants live from tourists. Otherwise there is the Lwitikilafälle the river Lwitikila, the hot springs of Kapishya and Nachikufu caves with Neolithic rock paintings.

See also

Web links