Chiengi District
Encyclopedia
Chiengi District with headquarters at Chiengi
is the smallest and most northerly district in the Luapula Province
of Zambia
and was carved out of Nchelenge District
after Zambia's independence
. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 83,824 people.Most of its population live in fishing villages along the 70 km (approx.) of the north-east shore of Lake Mweru which lies within the district. The largest settlement is Puta
, 5 km south of Chiengi town, named after Chief Puta. The district is bounded by the DR Congo border in the north, Kaputa District
in the east and the Kalungwishi River
in the south.
The eastern edge of the district is a hilly wilderness, partly in the Mweru Wantipa National Park
. The hills have always been known for their wildlife, early colonial officers sustained themselves through hunting. The district commissioner
's residence had wooden bars on the verandah
so that the officer could sit there in the evening while lions roamed through the settlement. Elephants used to be seen on the dambo below the boma, but most of the population in the district have been killed by poachers.
Chiengi District today is undeveloped and suffers from a lack of infrastructure
. The main road is of gravel construction and is frequently cut by rains and collapsing bridges; there is no telephone or television service although plans are in hand for a satellite link, subject to securing adequate funding.
Chiengi
Chiengi or Chienge was a historic colonial boma of the British Empire in central Africa and today is a settlement in the Luapula Province of Zambia, and headquarters of Chiengi District...
is the smallest and most northerly district in the Luapula Province
Luapula Province
Luapula Province is one of Zambia's nine provinces, and is located in the north of the country. The provincial capital is Mansa. Luapula Province was named after the Luapula River....
of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
and was carved out of Nchelenge District
Nchelenge District
Nchelenge District is a district of Zambia, located in Luapula Province. The capital lies at Nchelenge. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 111,119 people.-References:...
after Zambia's independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 83,824 people.Most of its population live in fishing villages along the 70 km (approx.) of the north-east shore of Lake Mweru which lies within the district. The largest settlement is Puta
Puta
In Roman mythology, according to Arnobius, Puta presided over the pruning of trees and was a minor goddess of agriculture.According to one version, the etymology of its name comes from Latin and its literal meaning is pruning...
, 5 km south of Chiengi town, named after Chief Puta. The district is bounded by the DR Congo border in the north, Kaputa District
Kaputa District
Kaputa District is a district of Zambia, located in Northern Province. The capital lies at Kaputa. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 87,233 people.-References:...
in the east and the Kalungwishi River
Kalungwishi River
The Kalungwishi River flows west in northern Zambia into Lake Mweru. It is known for its waterfalls, including the Lumangwe Falls, Kabweluma Falls, Kundabwiku Falls and Mumbuluma Falls....
in the south.
The eastern edge of the district is a hilly wilderness, partly in the Mweru Wantipa National Park
Mweru Wantipa National Park
Mweru Wantipa National Park is named after Lake Mweru Wantipa in the Northern Province of Zambia. Once hosting abundant wildlife including lion, elephant, and black rhinoceros, it has had no management and protection for several decades, and lacks visitor facilities...
. The hills have always been known for their wildlife, early colonial officers sustained themselves through hunting. The district commissioner
Commissioner
Commissioner is in principle the title given to a member of a commission or to an individual who has been given a commission ....
's residence had wooden bars on the verandah
Verandah
A veranda or verandah is a roofed opened gallery or porch. It is also described as an open pillared gallery, generally roofed, built around a central structure...
so that the officer could sit there in the evening while lions roamed through the settlement. Elephants used to be seen on the dambo below the boma, but most of the population in the district have been killed by poachers.
Chiengi District today is undeveloped and suffers from a lack of infrastructure
Infrastructure
Infrastructure is basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise, or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function...
. The main road is of gravel construction and is frequently cut by rains and collapsing bridges; there is no telephone or television service although plans are in hand for a satellite link, subject to securing adequate funding.