Chipata is a city and administrative centre of the Eastern Province of Zambia and Chipata District. It was declared the 5th city of the country, after Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone, by President Edgar Lungu on 24 February 2017. The city has undergone rapid economic and infrastructure growth in the years, leading up to city status.

Location

Chipata is located on the Great East Road, approximately east of Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. This is about west of Lilongwe, the capital city of Malawi. The geographical coordinates of Chipata are 13°38′43.0″S, 32°38′47.0″E. The average elevation of Chipata is , above sea level.

Overview

Having a modern market, a central hospital, shopping malls, a university, some colleges and a number of schools, Chipata is the business and administrative hub of the region. The town boasts a four star hotel, a golf course, an airport, and a "welcome arch". Developed areas includes Kalongwezi, Moth, and Little Bombay.

Chipata is the regional head of the Ngoni of Zambia. The Ngoni adopted the languages of the tribes they conquered, so Chewa and Nsenga are the principal languages, although Tumbuka and English are widely spoken, plus some Indian languages, as a large number of Zambian Indians live in the town. It is located near the border with Malawi, and lies on the Great East Road which connects the capitals Lilongwe to the east,

Government

The mayor of the city of Chipata is the head of the city government.

Population

With a population of about 327,059 in 2022, Chipata District is believed to be the 8th largest district of the country. The city of Chipata had 193,288 inhabitants in 2022. The predominant ethnic groups in the city are the Chewa, Tumbuka, Ngoni and Nsenga.

Economy

thumb|right|Saturday Market in Chipata

Chipata is the primary transport hub for trade between Zambia and Malawi. "Down Shops" is Chipata's bustling down-town area, most shops and other businesses having proprietors of Indian origin.

Tourism

thumb|Ngoni Worriers During the Nc'wala Ceremony.

The Nc'wala ceremony of the Ngoni people takes place at Mutenguleni on the outskirts of Chipata. The ceremony celebrates the first fruits harvest and is usually held at the end of February. Since then, Chipata acts as the Zambian railhead and entry point from Malawi and beyond. In the pipeline since 1982, the short link, about , provides a through-route for rail traffic from Zambia via Malawi to the Indian Ocean deep-water port at Nacala in Mozambique. The route and alignment of the line has been laid out, including the site of Chipata station and the basic station building.

The route provides an alternative to two existing rail routes to the Indian Ocean, at Dar es Salaam and Beira. In 2015 it was proposed to build a rail link from Chipata through Petauke to Serenje, a town on the TAZARA Railway line.

Road

The T4 road (Great East Road) connects Chipata with Lusaka to the west (570 kilometres away) and the Mwami border with Malawi to the east (20 kilometres away).

The M12 road connects Chipata with Lundazi to the north (180 kilometres away). The water from the streams and the Luangwa river is used for farming by the inhabitants around the district.

Soil and vegetation

There are three main soil types: acrisols, fersiallitic soils, and lithosols. There are four vegetation types, the main one being the brachystegia (miombo) woodland and munga vegetation types.

Climate

Chipata features a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw) with wet and dry seasons. Summers are characterized by warm to hot temperatures, reaching peak values in October and November. Winters are milder, with July being the coolest month. The wet season, from November to March, experiences high humidity and significant rainfall. The dry season, from May to October, is marked by minimal precipitation.

Suburbs

  • Kalongwezi
  • Kalongwezi Extension
  • Kapata
  • Umodzi
  • Moth
  • Muchini
  • Nabvutika
  • Little Bombay
  • Mchenga
  • Damview
  • Old Gym
  • New Gym
  • Chimwemwe
  • Magazine
  • Eastrise
  • Walela
  • Chawama
  • Munga
  • Chipata Motel
  • Nadalitsika
  • Katopola
  • Maferendum
  • Rose
  • Hillview
  • Gash
  • Msekera
  • Messengers
  • David Kaunda area
  • Hollywood
  • Kalongola site and service
  • Hillview
  • Chimzere
  • Gondar Barracks
  • Highlands
  • Aslot

See also

  • Railway stations in Zambia
  • Railway stations in Malawi
  • Transport in Zambia
  • Transport in Malawi

References

  • UN Map
  • Largest cities of Zambia