LUNTE DISTRICT

Location

Lunte District was established on 17^th March 2017 under Statutory Instrument No. 24 of 2017 of the Local Government Act, Volume 161 Cap 281 of the Laws of Zambia.

Lunte district is 160 kilometres from Kasama, the provincial headquarters of Northern Province and 1050 kilometres from Lusaka the capital city of Zambia. The district shares boundaries with Mpulungu in the North, Kasama to the west, Mbala to the East, Luwingu to the South and Mporokoso to the Northwest. It covers an area of approximately 8, 028 square kilometres

Lunte district lies between longitudes 29^o 20’ and 31^o08’ East of Universal Meridian 0^o or Greenwich Meridian or Longitude Zero degree, and between latitudes 09^o08’ and 10^o16’ South of Latitude 0^o or Equator. It lies between altitude 1300 meters and 1500 meters above sea level. The district receives an average annual rainfall of 1500mm with maximum temperatures varying between 30^o C and 35^oC. The rainy season extends from October to April/May the following year.

Hydrological and Water Resources

The District has several rivers and streams that are perennial in nature. Notable big rivers are Luangwa, Kalungwishi, Lukulu, Lupansa and Lufubu.

The district also has a number of waterfalls namely Chilambwe, Pule Walupansa, Pule Waluangwa, Chitende and Chisulwa waterfalls. The waterfalls have great potential in tourism.

Demography

Lunte District has a total population of 57, 839 of which 49.9% are males and 50.1% female. The annual population growth is 2.9% with the population density of 8.2 people per square kilometre.

Governance System

The district has only one (1) constituency divided into twelve (12) wards.

Economic sectors

Agriculture

Lunte is predominantly an agricultural district and the main crops grown are maize, beans, cassava and finger millet.

Livestock

Lunte District also has great potential in ranching due to availability of vast grazing land. The district has a breeding centre (Kalungwishi Breeding Centre) which has been stocked with Boran breed of cattle. The ranch is still multiplying and in the foreseeable future will provide good quality breeds to farmers in the Province and Nationwide. The ministry has intensions of introducing goats to the centre for multiplication in efforts to meet the export demands good quality breeds to farmers in the Province and Nationwide.