Menu
Nsama District was created in February 2012 by the late President His Excellence Michael Chilufya Sata. The District is located on latitude 8.9°S and longitude 29.7°E. The District borders Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the North, Kaputa to the Northwest, Mpulungu to the North-east and Mporokoso on the South. Nsama District is situated 245Km west of the Provincial capital Kasama and over 1,260km from Lusaka.
According to Central Statistics Report (CSO,2015), Nsama District has a population of approximately 67,120 people with about 51% female and 49% male and an estimated growth rate of 2.9%.
CONSTITUENCIES AND WARDS: Nsama District comprises fifteen (15) wards distributed across one (1) Constituency – Chimbamilonga which has an area Member of Parliament.
CHIEFDOMS: Nsama Chiefdom is the only main Chiefdom in Nsama District with Itabwa Na Kando traditional ceremony being celebrated by the Tabwa people
Nsama has a seasonal tropical climatic condition. It experiences hot-wet weather from November to April, cool-dry weather from May to July and dry-hot weather from August to October.
Annual rainfall and temperature average approximately 1200mm and 19.65°C respectively.
Nsama District is endowed with:
Education: Nsama District has 39 primary schools, 3 high schools and 1 boarding school under construction. The District also has 9 early childhood centers.
Health: Nsama District has 9 health centres
Water supply: Nsama District has no public water reticulation system. The communities get water from boreholes and other unprotected sources such as unprotected wells, rivers, and the lake. Most of the bore holes that were sunk are no longer being used due to broken down pumps.
Nsama District has abundant water bodies with the main ones being Lake Tanganyika and Lake Mweru-wa-ntipa. Other water bodies include Lake Chishi, Lufubu River, Kapisha hot springs and various rivers and swamps.
Sanitation: Most of the households in the District have traditional pit latrines. The disposal of refuse is mainly done in pits which are usually buried when filled up. The Toilets and rubbish pits are shallow due to the rock formation in the District.
Transportation: Access to the District is by land, air and water, though there is currently no developed public transport servicing the area. However, there are a few privately owned vans and boats operating to and from the District. The harbour at Sumbu settlement is in a dilapidated state. Works on the Kasaba Bay airport which was planned to accommodate larger aircrafts, have stalled. The airport is managed and owned by the Department of Civil Aviation. There are no scheduled flights in the area. The Nkamba airstrip situated in the Nsumbu National Park is the one being used though it is in a dilapidated state. It is usable in its present condition by light aircrafts. The airstrip/airport has no infrastructure of any kind.
Energy: The District has no hydroelectricity infrastructure. The nearest hydroelectricity facilities to the area are the 750 KVA Lunzua Hydro power station located about 120 Km from Nsumbu sub centre in Mpulungu District.
Telecommunication infrastructure: The mobile phone providers in Nsama are MTN, ZAMTEL and AIRTEL) though ZAMTEL is only in Nsumbu settlement.
District Investment and Trade:
Agriculture: The major crops grown are cassava, rice, sweet potatoes, maize, sorghum, finger millet, beans and groundnuts.
Trade: The major economic activities in the District include tourism, fishing, agriculture and trading. The main formal employers are Government Institutions, Mpende Fisheries, Ndole and Nkamba bay Lodges There are limited formal commerce, trade and industrial activities in the project area. The main economic activity is in the fishing industry. However, other economic activities include trading in cosmetics, hardware, groceries, foodstuffs and clothes which take place at the commercial centre in Sumbu settlement.
Financial sector: The nearest financial services are accessed from NATSAVE in Kaputa and Mporokoso. However, Government workers source loans from micro credit institutions such as; Micro Fin and Bay-port who have introduced mobile financial services in the Sumbu area.
Forestry sector: The forests in the District have potential for bee keeping development especially in Tondwa Game Management Area. Fire wood and charcoal are the main source of energy for cooking and heating. Traditional medical practitioners also use the forests as a source of their medical products.
Tourism : The key tourist attractions found in the District include among others, Sumbu National Park, Lake Tanganyika, Lufubu River, Mwepwe and Chika Falls and Kapishya hot springs as well as heritage sites. Lake Tanganyika is also home to various f endemic aquatics species.
The major tourist activities include, walking safaris, fishing competitions, boat cruises, scuba diving, traditional ceremonies, game viewing, bird watching, crocodile/hippo viewing and ornamental fishing.
The project area is rich in both natural and cultural heritage resources which are located in Sumbu, Nkamba Bay and Kasaba Bay.
There are only two operational lodges namely Ndole located outside Sumbu National Park and Nkamba Lodge located within the park. Kasaba Bay lodge is not operational and is under care and maintenance by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife
The Provincial Administration - Northern Province is an extension of Central Government (Cabinet Office) at Provincial level and has a mandate to provide administrative secretariat and coordinate effective implementation of national programmes and policies in the Province.
©2022. SMART Zambia Institute. All Rights Reserved.
