Zumbo
Encyclopedia
Zumbo is the most western town in Mozambique
, on the Zambezi River. Lying on the north-east bank of the Zambezi-Luangwa River
confluence, it is a border town, with Zambia
(and the town of Luangwa, previously called Feira
,) across the Luangwa River and Zimbabwe
(with its border post at Kanyemba
) diagonally across the Zambezi and 2 km upstream. In 2005 Zumbo had a population of 33,000 and lies in the Zumbo District
of Tete Province
.
Zumbo was established as a trading post in the last part of the 17th century by the Portuguese
. It became prosperous as it traded along the middle Zambezi and into Zimbabwe, and up the lower Luangwa, trading for ivory
as far away as Lake Bangweulu
. It dominated the area, and traders from Zumbo settled in Feira. Zumbo declined after Northern
and Southern Rhodesia
(later Zambia and Zimbabwe) became part of the British Empire
, cutting off its trade with those territories.
In the 1970s the Cahora Bassa Dam and lake
were created downstream. Zumbo is at the farthest upstream extent of the lake.
The town's strategic location meant that in the Mozambican War of Independence
and Mozambican Civil War
, guerrilla warfare was active in and around the town and many landmines were laid. Zumbo was abandoned for a time in the civil war and partially destroyed, and reconstruction is still continuing.
As well as fishing
in the river and lake, economic activity relies on trade with the neighbouring countries, inevitably involving smuggling
as well. There are small coal
mines near the town, and the main crops grown on the fertile banks and floodplain of the rivers are rice, cassava
, and beans.
Road connections with the rest of Mozambique are in very poor condition, and the main means of travel and supply is by boat from Songo
at the Cahora Bassa Dam.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
, on the Zambezi River. Lying on the north-east bank of the Zambezi-Luangwa River
Luangwa River
The Luangwa River is one of the major tributaries of the Zambezi River, and one of the four biggest rivers of Zambia. The river generally floods in the rainy season and then falls considerably in the dry season...
confluence, it is a border town, with 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 the town of Luangwa, previously called Feira
Luangwa, Zambia
Luangwa is a town in Zambia, at the confluence of the Luangwa and Zambezi Rivers, which was previously called Feira. It is headquarters of a district of the same name in Lusaka Province....
,) across the Luangwa River and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
(with its border post at Kanyemba
Kanyemba
Kanyemba is a village in the province of Mashonaland Central, Zimbabwe. It is located on the south bank of the Zambezi river at the extreme northernmost point of Zimbabwe at the meeting point of the Zimbabwean, Mozambican and Zambian borders. The village serves the Dande communal land.Kanyemba is...
) diagonally across the Zambezi and 2 km upstream. In 2005 Zumbo had a population of 33,000 and lies in the Zumbo District
Zumbo District
Zumbo District is a district of Tete Province in westernmost Mozambique. The principal town is Zumbo.-Further reading:*...
of Tete Province
Tete Province
Tete is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 100,724 km² and a population of approximately 1.551.949 .Tete is the capital of the province...
.
Zumbo was established as a trading post in the last part of the 17th century by the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
. It became prosperous as it traded along the middle Zambezi and into Zimbabwe, and up the lower Luangwa, trading for ivory
Ivory trade
The ivory trade is the commercial, often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, mammoth, and most commonly, Asian and African elephants....
as far away as Lake Bangweulu
Lake Bangweulu
Bangweulu — 'where the water sky meets the sky' — is one of the world's great wetland systems, comprising Lake Bangweulu, the Bangweulu Swamps and the Bangweulu Flats or floodplain...
. It dominated the area, and traders from Zumbo settled in Feira. Zumbo declined after Northern
Northern Rhodesia
Northern Rhodesia was a territory in south central Africa, formed in 1911. It became independent in 1964 as Zambia.It was initially administered under charter by the British South Africa Company and formed by it in 1911 by amalgamating North-Western Rhodesia and North-Eastern Rhodesia...
and Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
(later Zambia and Zimbabwe) became part of the British Empire
British Empire
The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...
, cutting off its trade with those territories.
In the 1970s the Cahora Bassa Dam and lake
Cahora Bassa Dam
The Cahora Bassa Dam system is the largest hydroelectric scheme in southern Africa with the powerhouse containing five turbines. It is one of the three major dams on the Zambezi river system, the others being Kariba and Itezhi-Tezhi. However, Itezhi-Tezhi is not on the main stream of the Zambezi,...
were created downstream. Zumbo is at the farthest upstream extent of the lake.
The town's strategic location meant that in the Mozambican War of Independence
Mozambican War of Independence
The Mozambican War of Independence was an armed conflict between the guerrilla forces of the Mozambique Liberation Front or FRELIMO , and Portugal...
and Mozambican Civil War
Mozambican Civil War
The Mozambican Civil War began in 1977, two years after the end of the war of independence. The ruling party, Front for Liberation of Mozambique , was violently opposed from 1977 by the Rhodesian- and South African-funded Mozambique Resistance Movement...
, guerrilla warfare was active in and around the town and many landmines were laid. Zumbo was abandoned for a time in the civil war and partially destroyed, and reconstruction is still continuing.
As well as fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
in the river and lake, economic activity relies on trade with the neighbouring countries, inevitably involving smuggling
Smuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
as well. There are small coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
mines near the town, and the main crops grown on the fertile banks and floodplain of the rivers are rice, cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
, and beans.
Road connections with the rest of Mozambique are in very poor condition, and the main means of travel and supply is by boat from Songo
Songo
Songo may refer to:* Songo music, a type of contemporary Cuban music originating in Havana* Songo people, of northern Angola* Songo-salsa, a style of music that blends Spanish rapping and hip hop beats with salsa music and songo- Places :...
at the Cahora Bassa Dam.