Mufumbwe has been seen to be one of the fastest-growing and developing districts in the province. Mufumbwe District is situated in the central part of Northwestern Province and Northwest of Zambia. The district is about 800+ kilometres away from the capital city of Zambia-Lusaka. The district has an area of 20, 756 km². It is located at 13°41’0S 24°48’0E with an altitude of 1069 metres (3510 feet).

Mufumbwe district shares district boundaries with Manyinga in the West side, Mwinilunga, Kasempa and Kalumbila in the East side, Kasempa, Kaoma, Lukulu, Mumbwa in the South side. The central position of the district has made it to be one of the most important economic and business hub of the province as it provides the market for the absorption of various be it Mining, Aquaculture, Livestock, Agriculture to mention a few.

Mufumbwe also constitutes the centre of Local and social amenities such as the District Hospital, a Bible Teaching College, Youth and Skills Development Centre and government ministries.

The main economic activity of the town is Agriculture with most of the population being involved in small scale farming. The main crop grown in the area is maize. Most households in Mufumbwe maintain a year-round stock of maize which they use to make maize meal. The maize meal “Bunga” in Kikaonde [the main Language of the Town] is the staple food in Mufumbwe. The district is famously known for its Mukwa, Rosewood Timber which is abundant and one of the main business activities in the district and those moving from one place to another in search of opportunities to bring up a business can be a start-up point. The district is also rich in various minerals such as Gold, Copper, Mercury and others to mention a few.

WARDS, CHIEFDOMS AND THEIR COUNCILLORS

Mufumbwe constituency consists of 18 wards which are very active in the decision process and development. Not only that, the district also has 3 active chiefs but only two [2] sit and represent as councillors as seen below;

CHIEFDOMS

POPULATION OF MUFUMBWE

According to the recent Census Report that was conducted last year – 2022, the population density of Mufumbwe District was below 100.1 persons per square kilo- metre. The population density of the district has slightly increased of about 110, 000 plus people.

CLIMATE

In climate, the average temperature in the district can range between 7.60C from the last Two [2] weeks of April to July, and 27.90C in September to November. Most of the times, Mufumbwe has a dry climate for the majority of the year, but has a rainy climate that lasts for six months from October to March of the following year. The average rainfall for Mufumbwe can be about 800mm per year, with the highest rainfall being in December at an average of 300mm. The summer is characterised with periods of thunderstorm activity that often lasts for weeks. Further, Humidity rises to about 87% in December, but averages a monthly 70% during the remainder of the year. The annual average evapotranspiration is 3000mm.

HYDROLOGY

A few of some rivers and streams flow through and around the district. Yet, surface water is most of the times little with no large water bodies present in Mufumbwe. The Kabompo River flows more than 50km North of Mufumbwe, of which it is within the district boundaries. As a district, we have no water that is obtained from the Kabompo River and no extractions are done in any day or given time. The district’s water supply that is seen, its water supply from underground water and the pumping rate is below 100, 000 m3 /day.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS

The streams in the district do not formally form part of the district’s water supply, although they provide water for domestic use in the densely populated areas like that of Kalambu ward in the Central District.

THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION

District Administration supervises, co-ordinates and monitors the operations of Government departments’ parastatals and co-operating Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and collaborates with the Local Authority [Mufumbwe town Council], which includes the formulation and implementation of development projects and programmes in developing the district. This is done to promote integrated development planning through structure like District Development Coordinating Committee (DDCC).

TOWN COUNCIL

The District Council or the Town council to say is the elected representatives’ Local Authority body comprising of Civic Leaders [Council Chairman and Councilors] who translate government developmental vision to communities and demands from the communities back to government in a transparent manner. It is also responsible for policy formulation as well as delivery of service in a given geographical area. The ultimate power remains in the hands of the governed. It is through this exercise of governing power that Mufumbwe districts’ good or bad governance can be realized.

POLITICAL SYSTEM, GOVERNANCE AND TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP

Mufumbwe District has One [1] Constituency and a total of Eighteen [18] Wards. The district consists of Three [3] Chiefdoms namely; Chizela, mushima and Munyambala which has Three [3] indigenous tribes, Kaondes, Luvales and the Chokwes. Some of the Wards might be seen to be smaller or bigger in geographical demarcations in the constituency as they constitute the broader boundary jurisdiction of the district. One political leader is elected by popular vote as a Member of Parliament representing the Constituency in National Assembly, one councilor is elected in each ward and Two (2) chief’s representatives are nominated to sit on the Council.

HOSPITALS

Mufumbwe has one Government Hospital [Mufumbwe District Hospital] and the rest are all rural health posts owned by the government and are situated in strategic positions of the district.

There are no private health facilities yet in the district but it is promising that soon one will surely be created.

ATTRACTIONS

Mufumbwe district has a lot of attraction sites ranging from Game parks, Game reserves, and man-made dam which have brought in a few tourists.

The district also keeps the records of Mushala and his family as they lived in Mufumbwe before and after the independence of Zambia.

POLICE STATIONS

There is one police station and two [2] police posts located in strategic places of the district. If one has anything to tell to the police, you can visit the following police station and posts;