Lusaka

Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is one of the fastest-growing cities in southern Africa. Located on a high plateau about 1,279 metres above sea level, Lusaka is a center for both business and government.

The area where Lusaka stands has been home to people since at least the 6th century. The modern city was founded in 1905 when it was part of the British protectorate of Northern Rhodesia. It started as a railway water stop named after a local Lenje chief. Over the years, Lusaka grew from a small settlement into an important regional hub.

In 1964, Lusaka became the capital of the newly independent nation of Zambia. Since then, it has seen major development, including new government buildings, the University of Zambia, and improved transportation links. The city connects to Zambia's four main highways, leading north, south, east, and west. While Lusaka has wealthy neighborhoods, it also has areas without proper housing due to people moving there from other parts of the country.

History

The area around Lusaka has been home to people for many centuries. The first known village appeared around the 11th century near where the Olympia suburb stands today. Over time, different groups such as the Lenje and Soli peoples settled in the region.

Lusaka was founded in 1905 as a stop for trains traveling through the area. It was named after Chief Lusaaka, a leader of a nearby village. As the city grew, it became an important center for both local and colonial governments. In 1935, Lusaka was officially made the capital of what was then Northern Rhodesia.

After gaining independence in 1964, Lusaka became the capital of the new Republic of Zambia. The city saw much building and growth, becoming a key place for leaders from across Africa working toward freedom and change in the region. Despite challenges like economic changes and growth pressures, Lusaka remains a central and developing hub in southern Africa.

Geography

Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It sits on a high flat area called a plateau in the southern part of the country. The city is about 1,280 metres (4,200 feet) above sea level.

The area around Lusaka has different types of rocks and soil. Some parts have limestone, which can create underground spaces where water flows. The city is located where water divides, with some flowing toward the Chongwe River and others toward the Kafue River, both of which eventually join the Zambezi River.

Demographics

Lusaka is the biggest city in Zambia. In 2010, more than one and a half million people lived there. By 2020, the number had grown to nearly three million. People from all parts of Zambia live in Lusaka, making it a mix of many different groups.

Languages

English is the main language used in schools, businesses, and government offices in Lusaka. For a long time, the local language was Nyanja, but now more people speak Bemba too. This mix created a special way of speaking called Town Nyanja, which uses words from Nyanja, English, Bemba, and Nsenga.

Government

Lusaka is the capital city of Zambia, where important government buildings are located. These include the National Assembly, the State House, and the High Court. The city is also the capital of Lusaka Province, the smallest but most crowded province in Zambia. It is managed by the Lusaka City Council, led by the Mayor of Lusaka.

Education

Lusaka is home to Zambia's oldest and largest university, the University of Zambia, founded in 1965 and opened to students in 1966. The city also has many other universities and colleges, such as the University of Lusaka, Zambian Open University, and Cavendish University.

Lusaka has some of the best schools in Zambia, including the American International School of Lusaka, Rhodes Park School, and Baobab College, among others. Many students from different countries attend these schools.

Places of worship

Lusaka has many important places where people gather to practice their faith. The main groups include Christian churches such as the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Lusaka, the Anglican Cathedral of the Holy Cross, and several others like the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) and Assemblies of God. There are also mosques for the Muslim community, but no synagogues are present in the city.

Culture

Lusaka has many interesting places to visit. You can explore the Lusaka National Museum, the Oliver Tambo Heritage House, and the Zintu Community Museum. Other spots include the Freedom Statue, the Zambian National Assembly, and the Agricultural Society Showgrounds, famous for their yearly agricultural show.

You might also enjoy visiting the Moore Pottery Factory, the Lusaka Playhouse theatre, Lusaka Golf Club, National Heroes Stadium, Woodlands Stadium, the Lusaka Central Sports Club, Kalimba Reptile Park, Mulungushi Conference Centre, Monkey Pools, the zoo, Pazuri, and the botanical gardens of the Munda Wanga Environmental Park. There is also a cenotaph to remember important people.

Economy

Lusaka is the main business center of Zambia and helps connect the country to the rest of the world. It has many jobs in areas like finance, insurance, real estate, and shopping. Important buildings such as banks and the Lusaka Stock Exchange are located here.

Lusaka has many big shopping places, including Manda Hill, Levy Junction, and EastPark, along with newer malls like Lewanika and Centro.

Main article: List of shopping centres in Zambia

Transport

Lusaka has Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, which is used for both regular flights and military operations. There is also Lusaka City Airport, used by the Zambian Air Force.

The city is linked by the main railway line that goes to places like Kabwe, Ndola, Kitwe, and Lubumbashi in the north, and Mazabuka, Choma, Livingstone, and Bulawayo in the south. You can also reach the TAZARA railway to Dar es Salaam by changing stations at Kapiri Mposhi, north of Lusaka.

There are no urban commuter trains, and the international airport is not connected by rail.

Lusaka lies on important roads, including Trans-African Highway 9, connecting it to Harare and Lubumbashi, and Trans-African Highway 4, linking it to Dodoma and Bulawayo.

The city centre is where three major roads meet: the T2 road, the Great East Road, and the Mongu Road. The T2 goes north to Kabwe, Mpika, and Tanzania, and south to Kafue, Chirundu, and Zimbabwe. The Great East Road heads east to Petauke, Katete, Chipata, and Malawi, with a branch to Mozambique. The Mongu Road goes west to Kaoma and Mongu, and may become the main route to Angola through the Barotse Floodplain Causeway.

Public transport in Lusaka is mostly by minibuses, with some larger buses and shared taxis on fixed routes. These vehicles travel between different parts of the city and four main terminals in the central business district: Kulima Tower, City Market, Millennium, and Lumumba. There is no official map of the routes, but an effort to create a map using user-generated content started in 2014. All public transport is run by private companies.

Bus services within Lusaka and nearby towns like Siavonga and Chirundu use stations such as Lusaka City Market Bus station, Inter-city Bus Terminus, Millennium Bus Station, and Kulima Tower Station.

Healthcare

Lusaka, the capital of Zambia, has two big hospitals that help many people. The larger one is the University Teaching Hospital, which has many beds and trains doctors and nurses. The second hospital, Chainama Hills, is special for mental health care and also trains health workers.

The city has many health centers, some run by the government and others by private groups. These centers work on important health issues like malaria, child health, and diseases like tuberculosis and HIV. The goal is to make sure everyone in Zambia can get health care when they need it.

Sport

Lusaka's biggest sports place is National Heroes Stadium, built with help from China. It opened in 2014 and can hold 60,000 people. The stadium is named to remember those who died in a plane crash in 1993 Zambia national football team plane crash. It is where the Zambian national football team plays its home games and hosted matches for the 2017 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations.

Six of Zambia’s top football teams are based in Lusaka. The most successful is Zanaco F.C., which has won seven championships, the last in 2016. Another strong team is Green Buffaloes, with six titles. Lusaka also has a basketball team called the UNZA Pacers from the University of Zambia.

Twin towns and sister cities

Lusaka has friendly connections with several cities around the world. These include:

• Dushanbe, Tajikistan, since 1966
• Beirut, Lebanon, since 2018
• Udon Thani, Thailand, since 2015
• Los Angeles, United States, since 1968
• Izhevsk, Russia

Notable people

Lusaka is home to many famous people. Barbra Banda, a skilled footballer, was born there. Two famous rugby players, Corné Krige and George Gregan, who led the South African and Australian teams, were also born in Lusaka. Another notable person is Henry Olonga, a former Zimbabwe cricketer, who was the first black player and the youngest to represent Zimbabwe. The city is also known as the hometown of Joseph and Luka Banda, the first conjoined twins to be successfully separated. Former professional footballer Enock Mwepu, Zambian model Lukundo Nalungwe, Zambian politician Chilufya Tayali, and Vaughan Gething, the First Minister of Wales, were also born in Lusaka.