Huambo (province)
Encyclopedia
Provinces of Angola
Angola is divided into eighteen provinces:-See also:* ISO 3166-2:AO, the ISO codes for Angola....
of Angola
Angola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. With an area of 34,270 km2 it is one of the geographically smaller provinces, situated in the Central Region approximately 450 km south east of the capital, Luanda.
The Province has an estimated population of 1.9 million people, approximately 15% of the national total of 15.7 million. More than half, 55%, of the population is urbanized, concentrated in Huambo
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa , is the capital of Huambo province in Angola. The city is located about 220 km E from Benguela and 600 km SE from Luanda. The city's last known population count was 225,268...
city (822,000 people) and Caála
Caála
Caála is a town located in Huambo Province in Angola. It was known as Robert Williams town while Angola was a Portuguese colony, after the famous railroad developer and mining magnate, Sir Robert Williams. The town's last known population count was 22,010....
municipality (239,000 people).
Terrain and climate
The foundation of the Central Plateau is a vast slab of primeval crystalline rock that frequently outcrops in the form of isolated rocks or massive peaks. The most prominent peak in the province is Mt. Môco in Londuimbali, with 2,620 metres. The peak is the highest point in AngolaAngola
Angola, officially the Republic of Angola , is a country in south-central Africa bordered by Namibia on the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo on the north, and Zambia on the east; its west coast is on the Atlantic Ocean with Luanda as its capital city...
. Much of the soil in Huambo Province is of poor quality, and has been impoverished in many areas by overuse and erosion. However, it is generally of better quality than in the adjoining regions to the east, north and south.
Striking differences can be observed between the vegetation of the highlands
Angolan montane forest-grassland mosaic
The Angolan montane forest-grassland mosaic ecoregion is located on the east-facing inland side of the belt of mountains that stands parallel to the coast of Angola, 50-100km inland.-Location and description:...
and the lower zone towards the coast. One characteristic feature of the coastal area is the baobab
Baobab
Adansonia is a genus of eight species of tree, six native to Madagascar, one native to mainland Africa and the Arabian Peninsula and one to Australia. The mainland African species also occurs on Madagascar, but it is not a native of that island....
(Adansonia Digitata, or imbondeiro, in Portuguese). Tropical forests can also be found in the areas that receive significant rainfall. Until recently, the highlands were covered with a variety of trees; today, however, except in isolated areas in Bailundo
Bailundo
Bailundo is a municipality and town in Huambo Province in the central highlands of Angola.In the 1990s, Bailundo was the location of the headquarters of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi....
and other regions, grasslands have taken the place of forest and woodland. Traditional methods of agriculture, slash-and-burn techniques (queimadas) and overpopulation by large concentrations of people displaced from their homes during the war (1975–2002) have caused significant deforestation. The use of wood fuel for the Benguela Railway until the 1980s was also responsible for deforestation
Deforestation
Deforestation is the removal of a forest or stand of trees where the land is thereafter converted to a nonforest use. Examples of deforestation include conversion of forestland to farms, ranches, or urban use....
. Large extensions of native forest have been cut down and replaced by rapid-growing and soil-depleting eucalyptus and pine trees.
The Central Plateau is well within the tropical zone, but altitude and the effect of the southwestern Antarctic current combine to produce a moderate climate. The annual variation of temperature is small, with maximum temperatures varying between 17 and 28 °C during much of the year. The average maximum is approximately 22 °C. During the winter months (May-July), temperatures may reach as low as 5 to 8 °C. Mean annual rainfall varies from 800 to 1600 mm, according to region. In the Central Plateau, seasonal rains begin with a few showers during September, increase during October and November, have a break of two to four weeks in December, January or February, and continue until the end of April. The heaviest rainfall is usually in November or December.
Demography
The Province of Huambo has an area of 35,771.15 km2. It is divided into 11 municipalities that are sub-divided into 37 communes. It borders the Province of Kuanza Sul to the northwest, BieBié (province)
Bié is a province of Angola. Located on Bié Plateau in central part of country. Its capital is Kuito and it has an area of 70,314 km² and a population of approximately 800,000. Municipalities in the province include Andulo, Nharea, Cunhinga, Chinguar, Chitembo, Catabola, Camacupa and Cuemba...
to the north and east, Benguela
Benguela
Benguela is a city in western Angola, south of Luanda, and capital of Benguela Province. It lies on a bay of the same name, in 12° 33’ S., 13° 25’ E...
to the west, and Huila to the south. According to the Provincial Department of Statistics and Planning, Huambo is a relatively populated province with 1,948,000 people (approximately 15% of the estimated national of 12.6 million). More than half, 55%, of the population is urbanized, concentrated in Huambo
Huambo
Huambo, formerly Nova Lisboa , is the capital of Huambo province in Angola. The city is located about 220 km E from Benguela and 600 km SE from Luanda. The city's last known population count was 225,268...
city (822,000 people) and Caála municipality (239,000 people).
Recent population movements towards the native rural areas and functional deficiencies of the Civil Administration make difficult to accurately estimate population figures.
The Huambo Provincial Department of Statistics and Planning reports that 419,000, or approximately 22% of the population, are children under five years of age.
- Municipality: Huambo
- Huambo: 164 villages, 668 km2
- Calima: 61 villages, 1,348 km2
- Chipipa: 63 villages, 593 km2
- Municipality: CaalaCaálaCaála is a town located in Huambo Province in Angola. It was known as Robert Williams town while Angola was a Portuguese colony, after the famous railroad developer and mining magnate, Sir Robert Williams. The town's last known population count was 22,010....
- Caala: 90 villages, 729 km2
- Calenga: 52 villages, 389 km2
- Catata: 74 villages, 1,090 km2
- CuimaCuima- Transport :It is the terminus of a branch railway that junctions of the Benguela Railway near Pais....
: 116 villages, 1,472 km2
- Municipality: EkunhaEkunhaEkunha is a town and municipality in Huambo Province in Angola.-External links:*...
- Ekunha: 80 villages, 797 km2
- Chipeio: 67 villages, 880 km2
- Municipality: LongonjoLongonjoLongonjo is a town and municipality in Huambo Province in Angola....
- Longonjo: 60 villages, 790 km2
- CatabolaCatabolaCatabola is a town and municipality in Bié Province in Angola....
: 36 villages, 585 km2 - Chilata: 57 villages, 880 km2
- Lepi: 57 villages 660 km2
- Municipality: UkumaUkumaUkuma or Ucuma is a town and municipality in Huambo Province in Angola....
- Ukuma: 97 villages, 750 km2
- Cacoma: 82 villages, 500 km2
- Mundundo: 55 villages, 350 km2
- Municipality: BailundoBailundoBailundo is a municipality and town in Huambo Province in the central highlands of Angola.In the 1990s, Bailundo was the location of the headquarters of UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi....
- Bailundo: 106 villages, 838 km2
- Bimbe: 194 villages, 1,004 km2
- Hengue: 123 villages, 1,510 km2
- Luvemba: 214 villages, 2,163 km2
- Municipality: TchinjenjeTchinjenjeTchindjenje is a town and municipality in Huambo Province in Angola.-References:...
- Tchinjenje: 54 villages, 500 km2
- Chiaca: 57 villages, 300 km2
- Municipality: MungoMungo- People :* Mungo Scottish Gaelic name* Mungo people of Cameroon* Saint Mungo, also known as Kentigern, patron saint of Glasgow, Scotland* Mungo Lewis , Canadian politician...
- Mungo: 139 villages, 3,500 km2
- Cambuengo: 127 villages, 1,900 km2
- Municipality: KatchiungoKatchiungoKatchiungo or Catchiungo is a town and municipality in Huambo Province in Angola....
- Katchiungo: 66 villages, 645 km2
- Chinama: 51 villages, 1,445 km2
- Chiumbo: 82 villages, 857 km2
- Municipality: Tchicala TcholoangaTchicala TcholoangaTchicala Tcholoanga is a town and municipality in Huambo Province in Angola....
- Tchicala Tcholoanga: 93 villages, 1,025 km2
- SamboSambuSambu was one of the traditional independent Ovimbundu kingdoms in Angola....
: 177 villages, 1,450 km2 - Samboto: 87 villages, 1,300 km2
- Municipality: LonduimbaliLonduimbaliLonduimbali or Londuimbale is a town and municipality in Huambo Province in Angola....
- Londuimbali: 71 villages, 589 km2
- Alto Hama: 69 villages, 781 km2
- Cumbila: 34 villages, 305 km2
- Ngalanga: 66 villages, 608 km2
- Ussoque: 25 villages, 415 km2
Source : Ministry of Planning, 2003
Government
The province is headed by a Governor, currently Faustino Muteka, assisted by two vice-governors (Social and Economical Affairs). The central Government is represented also by 3 Delegates who report to their Ministry and to the Governor: Finance, Justice and Interior. The rest of Ministerial Delegations became Directorates after a reform introduced in June 1998: Health, Education, Energy and Water, Urbanism, Agriculture, Social Assistance, strengthening thus even more the power of the Governor to whom they report.All 11 Municipalities are headed by the civilian Administrators, under whom come 35 Communal Administrators. These have their own politically appointed Regedores (textually, Rulers) and the traditional leaders, the Sobas, who have lost much of their ancestral significance in the decision – making process.
Agriculture and food security
Huambo is the richest agricultural province in Angola. In 1999 the Province produced almost 22% of total national cereal production: 115,000 t out of a total of 530,000 t. As a result of improved security, areas used for cultivation in the Province have increased during the past years to about 500 km2. This represents the largest increase in the country since the end of the war.The principal cereal crop is maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
with 1950 km2 under cultivation. Yields are low, only 40 t/km2, compared with yields of between 50 and 120 t/km2 in other provinces. The second cereal crop is millet/sorghum
Sorghum
Sorghum is a genus of numerous species of grasses, one of which is raised for grain and many of which are used as fodder plants either cultivated or as part of pasture. The plants are cultivated in warmer climates worldwide. Species are native to tropical and subtropical regions of all continents...
with approximately 160 km2 under production. Grain production has increased significantly in recent years. Total output rose to a peak of 159,000 t in the 1997/1998 season compared to only 17,000 t in 1993/1994. Climate and pest conditions forced production back to 115,000 t in 1998/1999 and to an estimated 88,000 t in 1999/2000. Other crops produced in the province include beans (450 km2) and manioc (415 km2), sweet potatoes (95 km2) and Irish potatoes (32 km2).
Coffee (Arabica type) used to be a significant produce of Huambo thanks to the favourable altitude and weather conditions of the Province, and is currently being reintroduced as the main crop in many farms of the region.
Health and nutrition
Approximately 25 basic health facilities are operational within the Province, run by the Government or humanitarian agencies, covering 547,500 people in Huambo city and the municipality of Caála. According to the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
and the Ministry of Health, this represents an average of one facility per 20,778 people, close to the Angolan average of one health unit per 20,000 people. In Huambo, one health unit serves 18,000 people while in Caála, one unit covers 33,000 people. The provincial hospital is based in Huambo city.
Vaccination coverage in Huambo city is higher than in other municipalities. In Huambo city, 16 vaccination posts cover 89,800 children under five years of age (one post per 5,600 children). In Caála, two posts cover 19,700 children (2002).
Education
Approximately 40 primary and three secondary schools operate in Huambo city (2001). Five schools target displaced children. In Caála, seven schools target displaced children.Water and sanitation
In Huambo, the main water treatment plant has not functioned properly since 1975 and the 400 km of water pipes are in poor condition. The population is currently dependent on wells for water access. During recent years, considerable work in the sector was undertaken by the Government and humanitarian agencies, including construction of 550 family latrines and 25 wells in villages and communities.Mines
The number of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the Province is unknown. An average of eight mine accidents per month are reported. Mine accident statistics are gathered by humanitarian agencies through Huambo Central Hospital where all mine-related injuries are referred.Demining activities happen throughout the Province and are currently being implemented by an International NGO. Other humanitarian institutions provide ongoing mine awareness programmes. During the year 2002, 145,000 people participated in these programmes. Mine awareness activities include theatre and puppet shows as well as exhibitions in schools and internally displaced people camps. Additionally, ten-minute radio programmes on the dangers of mines are broadcast two times per week.
Notable natives
Paulo KassomaPaulo Kassoma
António Paulo Kassoma is an Angolan politician. He was Prime Minister of Angola September 2008 until the new constitution replaced his role with a vice president in February 2010.-Biography:...
, Former Governor of province and current Prime Minister of Angola.
José Eduardo Agualusa
José Eduardo Agualusa
José Eduardo Agualusa is an Angolan journalist and writer. He studied agronomy and silviculture in Lisbon, Portugal. He currently spends most of his time in Portugal, Angola and Brazil, working as a writer and journalist. His books have been translated into twenty languages...
, Author