Mufulira is a town in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. Mufulira means "Place of Abundance and Peace". The town developed around the Mufulira Copper Mine in the 1930s. The town also serves as the administrative capital of Mufulira District.[1]

Mufulira
Official seal of Mufulira
Mufulira is located in Zambia
Mufulira
Mufulira
Location in Zambia
Coordinates: 12°32′08″S 28°14′31″E / 12.53556°S 28.24194°E / -12.53556; 28.24194
CountryZambia
ProvinceCopperbelt
DistrictMufulira District
Elevation
4,180 ft (1,270 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total151,309
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)
ClimateCwa

Geography

edit

Location

edit

Mufulira is located approximately 19 kilometres (12 mi) southwest of the town of Mokambo, at the international border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.[2] A tarmac highway to the south-west (the M4 road) connects Mufulira to Kitwe, 43 kilometres (27 mi) away.[3]

The city of Ndola, the commercial and transport hub of the Copperbelt, lies approximately 105 kilometres (65 mi), by road, southeast of Mufulira. A shorter, less well-maintained road (the M4 road) exists and measures 70 kilometres (43 mi).[4]

Mufulira is connected to the Mokambo Border and eventually the Luapula Province of Zambia by the Congo Pedicle road. The section from Mufulira to Mokambo is designated as the M5 road while the route through the Congo Pedicle to the Chembe Border is named the Congo Pedicle road.

The geographical coordinates of Mufulira are:12°32'08.0"S, 28°14'31.0"E (Latitude:-12.535556; Longitude:28.241944).[5] Mufulira sits at an average elevation of 4,180 feet (1,274 m) above mean sea level.[6]

Overview

edit

The town of Mufulira developed around the Mufulira Copper Mine in the 1930s. A branch of Zambia Railways, carrying freight only, serves the mine. Mufulira is the south-western end of the Congo Pedicle road connecting the Copperbelt Province to the Luapula Province, making that province Mufulira's commercial hinterland.[1]

Population

edit

In 1990, the population of Mufulira was 123,936 people. In 2000, there were 122,336 people. The 2010 population census and household survey enumerated the population of the town at 151,309 inhabitants.[7] The table below illustrates the same data in tabular format.

Year Population
1990 123,936[7]
2000 122,336[7]
2010 151,309[7]

Economy

edit

The Mufulira Mine is now owned and operated by Mopani Copper Mines, which employs 10,000 permanent workers and produced about 300,000 tonnes (330,693 tons) of copper bars in 2007. The Mufulira Copper Smelter was rehabilitated by SMEC South Africa. Production and employment levels went down from the 1969 peak when the Copperbelt made Zambia the world's 4th largest copper producer.[1][8]

Sports

edit

In Zambia, Mufulira is well known for being the home of the successful Mufulira Wanderers F.C., a professional soccer club.[1][9]

Notable people

edit

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d e f Zambia-Info (2019). "Mufulira Travel Information". Lusaka: Zambia-info.org. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Road Distance Between Mufulira, Zambia And Mokambo, Democratic Republic of the Congo" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 2 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Road Distance Between Mufulira, Zambia And Kitwe, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  4. ^ "Road Distance Between Mufulira, Zambia And Ndola, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  5. ^ "Road Distance Between Mufulira, Zambia And Ndola, Zambia" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  6. ^ Weather Spark (22 May 2020). "Elevation of Mufulira, Zambia". Weatherspark.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d Central Statistical Office Zambia and City Population (14 July 2019). "Population of Zambian Cities and Urban Centres: Mufulira". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  8. ^ Mbendi South Africa (17 November 2000). "Overview of Copper Mining In Zambia". Cape Town: Mbendi South Africa. Archived from the original (Archived from the original on 17 February 2007) on 17 February 2007. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  9. ^ David Isabirye (3 April 2020). "Goalkeeper Bwete quits Mufulira Wanderers over Coronavirus concerns". Kampala: Kawowo.com. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  10. ^ Elias Munshya (17 February 2013). "A Sort Man Who Walked Tall: The Life And Times of Frederick Jacob Titus Chiluba (1943—2011)". Lusaka: Elias Munshya Organization. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  11. ^ Andy DeRoche (2012). Emmanuel K. Akyeampong and Henry Louis Gates Jr (ed.). Dictionary of African Biography: Kapwepwe Simon Mwansa (1922-1980). Vol. 1. New York City: Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780195382075. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
  12. ^ The Gale Group, Inc (2010). "Kenneth David Kaunda Facts". Burlingame, California, United States: Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved 22 May 2020.
edit