Siavonga
Coordinates: 16 ° 31 ′ S , 28 ° 45 ′ E
Siavonga , also Chapvonga , is a place on the Lusitu River with 18,000 inhabitants (2006 estimate) and a district on the reservoir of the Kariba Dam with 72,000 inhabitants (IRINnews 2006) in Zambia right on the border with Zimbabwe , only a few kilometers west of Chirundu . Siavonga is 528 meters above sea level. It is 180 kilometers to Lusaka .
history
At Siavonga, but flooded by the reservoir, is the archaeological site of Ingombe Ilede , where settlements from the 7th century and later were found that are assigned to the Munhumutapa empire .
economy
Siavonga is initially a more recent tourist and safari location. His oldest house was built in 1960, after the dam was completed. Its buildings consist mainly of lodges of all categories - mostly with a swimming pool, as numerous crocodiles live in the lake. The place stretches from the lake up the slope. In the area there is Miombo forest with very thin soil, steep slopes and a lot of rocks. The tourist attractions are the dam, the Zambezi and the reservoir, where fishing, rafting and paddling are possible. The Zimbabwean Kariba is seven kilometers to the east and was once the main tourist destination.
The informal settlements in the outskirts of Siavonga such as Kanyelele, which consist of houses and huts, as they can be found everywhere in Zambia and where people mainly from fishing and collecting Masau ( Ziziphus mauritiana ), a small, very good for sale, sour, green berries, a delicacy preferred by elephants, which often kills. But this arid and very eroded area hardly allows more. The fertile fields in the valley floor are flooded by the reservoir and people have been relocated. Up here they produce seven tons of millet a year, but the city uses 16 tons. The same goes for corn. So hunger is a constant issue. There is a lack of irrigation equipment, artificial fertilizers and storage facilities. The soil is poor and elephants trample many fields.
Infrastructure
Siavonga has an unpaved, 1000 meter long flight runway, Kariba has an asphalt runway that is much better developed overall. There is a district hospital and elementary and secondary schools.
Social
The dominant ethnic group in the district and town is Tonga .
See also
- For a map with all districts and provinces see: Administrative division of Zambia