Kitwe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Kitwe
City
View towards the City of Kitwe, Zambia
Flag
Motto(s):  Lets Build Us A City
Kitwe Location in Zambia
Country	Zambia
Province	Copperbelt
District	Kitwe
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Population  (2022 census)
• Total	661,901
Demonym(s)	Kitwean
Time zone	UTC+2 (CAT)
Area code(s)	0212
HDI (2019)	0.658 Medium
Website	Kitwe City Council

Kitwe is a major city in Zambia. It is the second largest city in terms of size and population, after Lusaka. Kitwe is also known for its good buildings and roads. In 2022, about 661,901 people lived there.

Kitwe is an important place for business and industry. It has many mines on its edges. The city is located in the Copperbelt Province. It includes many different areas like Parklands, Riverside, and Nkana East. Sometimes, people call the city Kitwe-Nkana. This name comes from Senior Chief Nkana, who was a leader of the Lamba people in the Copperbelt.

Kitwe has many schools, both private and public. Some of these are Lechwe School and Mpelembe Secondary School. The city is also home to The Copperbelt University, which is one of Zambia's top universities.

History of Kitwe City

Kitwe was started in 1936 in north-central Zambia. This happened when a railway was being built by Cecil Rhodes' company. At first, Kitwe was a small town that supported the growing copper mining area of Nkana. Over time, Kitwe grew bigger and more important than Nkana.

The main railway line reached Kitwe in 1937. This allowed people to travel south to places like Bulawayo in Zimbabwe. The railway also connected to the DR Congo. From there, it linked to the Benguela Railway in Angola, which helped transport Zambia's copper to the Atlantic Ocean.

In the 1950s, copper prices went up. This helped Kitwe grow from a small town into Zambia's second-largest city. It officially became a city in 1966. Kitwe then became a key area for industry, business, and farming. Its central location in the Copperbelt region made it a popular choice for new businesses.

Mining in Kitwe

Kitwe is a big center for mining. It has many important minerals like copper, cobalt, and emeralds. One of the largest mines in Africa, the Nkana Cobalt Plant, is located here. This plant is part of Mopani Copper Mines.

The Nkana cobalt mine is very deep. It has shafts that go down more than 1,300 meters. The mine also has open pits where they dig for minerals. At Nkana, copper and cobalt are found in five different places. These include four underground mines and several open pits. The plant processes cobalt to make pure cobalt metal.

Getting Around Kitwe

Railway Travel

Kitwe is the last stop for passenger trains from cities like Livingstone, Lusaka, and Ndola. However, freight trains continue from Kitwe to other mining towns. These include Chingola, Chililabombwe, and Mufulira to the north.

Road Connections

The main highway in the Copperbelt, the T3 highway, goes through Kitwe. It connects the city to Ndola in the south-east. It also links to Chingola and Chililabombwe in the north-west. Another road, the M7 road, goes west to Kalulushi. The M4 road connects Kitwe to Mufulira.

Airport Access

Southdowns Airport is about 12 kilometers south-west of Kitwe. However, it does not have regular flights. The Zambian government plans to turn this airport into a military base.

The main airport for the region is Ndola Airport. It is about 50 kilometers south-east of Kitwe. This airport has regular flights to cities like Lusaka, Addis Ababa, and Johannesburg.

Education in Kitwe

Kitwe is a hub for learning, with many schools and universities.

Schools in Kitwe

Many schools in Kitwe have partnerships with schools in the United Kingdom. This started in 1999 with Kingsmead Community School in England. Students and teachers visit each other to share knowledge.

Here are some of the private schools in Kitwe:

• Kitwe International School is a private school that teaches science and arts. It also helps students with degree programs. The school started in 2012.
• Lechwe School is a large international school. It teaches children from pre-school to advanced levels. It follows the Cambridge curriculum. The school is known for its good sports programs and has produced many talented athletes.
• Mpelembe Secondary School is one of the biggest and best secondary schools in Zambia. It offers both Zambian and Cambridge curriculums. Many students from Mpelembe go on to study at top universities around the world.
• Nkana Trust School teaches pre-school, primary, and secondary students. It follows the Zambian syllabus. The school is known for its excellent sports and education facilities.
• Elim Primary School is a smaller school that teaches pre-school and primary students. It uses the Zambian syllabus. Despite its size, it helps students achieve high results in exams.

St John's Convent Catholic School in Kitwe.

• St. Johns Convent School is a large Catholic school. It offers pre-school, primary, and secondary education. The school has many sports and activities like swimming and basketball.
• Kawama Pentecostal Holiness School is a newer school in the Kawama area. It was built with help from a UK charity. The school provides meals and uniforms for its students. This is very important for the children's health and learning.

Kitwe also has a mining school called Konkola Trust School. It trains miners for the copper industry. There is also a flying club that trains pilots.

Universities and Colleges

Kitwe is home to several universities and colleges:

• CBU (Copperbelt University) is a public university. It is one of the largest universities in Zambia, with over 11,000 students. It has many different schools, including engineering, business, and medicine.
• Copperstone University is a private university. It is located near Kitwe, on the road to Ndola.
• Zambia Catholic University is a private university run by the Zambia Episcopal Conference. It is located in Kalulushi, a short drive from Kitwe.
• Mukuba University used to be called Copperbelt Secondary Teachers' College. It trains teachers for science, math, and home economics in secondary schools.

The city also has other colleges and institutes:

• KCE (Kitwe College of Education) is the largest primary teachers' college in Zambia. It offers training for primary and pre-school teachers.
• ZIBSIP (Zambia Institute of Business Studies and Industrial Practice) provides business courses.
• Kitwe Community Development Staff Training College trains people in community development.

Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation

The Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation started in 1958. It is a place for worship, study, and peace. It has several important centers:

• DMI-St. Eugene University, Kitwe center.
• Young Women's Christian Association.
• United Church of Zambia Theological College.
• St. John's Anglican Seminary.

The Foundation also runs a "Dag Hammarskjöld 'Messengers of Peace' Training Programme." This program teaches people how to solve conflicts peacefully. It helps spread knowledge about resolving problems in Africa and around the world.

People of Kitwe

Population Details

Kitwe is a very populated city. In 2021, about 710,000 people lived in the wider Kitwe area. The city has more than a quarter of all the people in the Copperbelt province.

Religious Beliefs

St Margaret's church of United Church in Zambia (right) and Catholic parish of Sacred Heart (left) in Kitwe.

Most people in Kitwe are Christians, making up about 98.5% of the population. There are also smaller groups of Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, and Jews.

Fun Things to See and Do in Kitwe

• Obote Avenue Market: Here you can find local arts and crafts, including items made from copper.
• Mindolo Ecumenical Foundation Campus: A place for learning and peace.
• Kitwe Central Hospital: An important hospital in the city.
• Sports Clubs: Kitwe is home to popular football clubs like Nkana FC and Power Dynamos FC.
• Arthur Davies Stadium: A major sports stadium.
• Chisokone Market: A busy local market.
• Nkana Mine: A significant mining operation.
• Ek Park: A cricket ground that has hosted important matches.

Exploring Around Kitwe

The area around Kitwe is beautiful, with forests, farmlands, and rivers like the Kafue River.

Sightseeing Spots

• Mindolo Dam: About 7 kilometers west of the city. It has a boating club, a swimming pool, and places for picnics.
• Mwekwera Falls: About 9 kilometers south-east of Kitwe. These are small but pretty waterfalls with a nice pool below.
• Chembe Bird Sanctuary: About 20 kilometers west. It's a great place for watching birds, fishing, and camping. You can also rent boats there.
• Kumasamba Lodge: This lodge has a swimming pool and offers activities like fishing and boating. You might see animals like crocodiles and monitor lizards.

Shopping Centers

Kitwe has three main shopping malls:

• Copper Hill: Located on the T3 road.
• Mukuba Mall: Opened in 2015, it cost $50 million to build.
• ECL Business Park: This mall opened in 2018 and was named after President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Famous People from Kitwe

Many well-known people have connections to Kitwe:

• Denise Scott Brown: A famous American architect and writer.
• Jane Ohlmeyer: An Irish historian.
• Richie Boucher: Former Chief Executive of the Bank of Ireland.
• Rainford Kalaba: A footballer.
• Blaaze: A hip-hop rap singer.
• Frederick Chiluba: The 2nd President of Zambia.
• Jacob Mulenga: A footballer.
• Kennedy Mweene: A goalkeeper for the Zambian football team.
• Zeddy Saileti: An ex-footballer and coach.
• Edgar Chagwa Lungu: The 6th President of Zambia.
• Ronald Kampamba: A striker for Nkana Football Club.
• Christopher P Kang'ombe: A former Mayor of Kitwe.

Sister Cities

Kitwe has six sister cities around the world:

• – Baia Mare, Romania
• – Bor, Serbia
• – Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
• – Detroit, Michigan, United States
• – Ponta Grossa, Paraná, Brasil
• – Almalyk, Uzbekistan