The Best of Zambia out in the provinces: Part 1
To everyone in Zambia who doesn’t live in Lusaka or Livingstone and doesn’t necessarily visit game parks, this one’s for you! Because the Best of Zambia is doing its er … best … to provide you with relevant information.
Here’s a brief guide to four towns in Northern, Eastern, Western and Central provinces where you’ll find some of our Best of Zambia clients with outlets or services.
1. Kasama
If you live in say Lusaka, Kasama is way up in Northern Province. But if you stay in Mbala it’s about 100 km or so south. The TAZARA railway line passes through this provincial capital on its way to Dar es Salaam. It is a crossroads between Luapula Province in the west, Mporokoso and Lake Mweru in the north-west, Isoka in the east and Sumbawanga in Tanzania to the north-east.
Kasama outlets and services
You can reach Kasama on a luxury Power Tools coach. Once there, the Strong Zambia Kasama outlet can provide satellite hardware and all the items required for Pay TV and Free-to-Air systems. Mercury Express Logistics offers a 48 hour mailroom service and you’ll find the Bulletin and Record available at reputable outlets.
Active in this part of Northern Zambia is Project OSCAR, a grassroots community organisation promoting good farming practices, the development of livelihoods and the sustainable use of trees and agriculture.
2. Chipata
Capital of Eastern Province, Chipata lies on the Lusaka — Malawi road route, popular with tourists heading east. It’s also noted for its proximity to the famous North and South Luangwa Game Parks. There is talk of a railway line to link up Chipata with the Mozambican port of Nacala via Lilongwe in Malawi.
Chipata outlets and services
Coach services that cover Chipata include Kobs Coach Services and Roadscan Bus Services. Mercury Express Logistics provides a 48 hour postal and courier mailroom service in Chipata, and the Strong Zambia Chipata outlet offers satellite hardware and all the items required for Pay TV and Free-to-Air systems. Strong Zambia is also the official wireless installation agent for Africonnect services.
Lexka Fire Equipment has offices in Chipata, for the supply and installation of all types of fire equipment, including first aid boxes, for domestic, industrial or construction requirements. For your vehicle needs, Chipata boasts an Autoworld fitment centre, with stocks of parts, tyres and accessories. BUK Truck Parts also have a branch here for genuine truck parts from Europe and America’s leading brands.
You’ll find a beautiful Protea Hotel in Chipata, and a Petrotech Oil Corporation branch too. And, for relaxation and entertainment, you can pick up a copy of the Bulletin and Record or head off to East Point Discotheque.
3. Mongu
Famous for the annual Kuomboka Ceremony of the Lozi tribe, a major tourist attraction, Mongu is a quiet provincial capital for the rest of the year. Western Province has a rural economy and is a good source of mangos, fish and cashew nuts.
Mongu outlets and services
Both Mazhandu Family Bus Services and Shalom Bus Services can take you to Mongu. Nalumba Lodges offer a choice of three different locations within Mongu, each providing affordable and comfortable accommodation in landscaped surroundings, together with restaurant and conferencing facilities. The monthly Bulletin and Record is available in the town.
Lexka Fire Equipment has an outlet in Mongu, with different types of fire equipment. Mercury Express Logistics provides a 48 hour postal and courier mailroom service in Mongu. Strong Zambia also has an outlet there, providing satellite hardware for Pay TV and Free-to-Air systems. Strong Zambia is the wireless installation agent for Africonnect’s internet services.
Village Water is a local and international charity providing hygiene, education and sustainable water for villages in Western Zambia. This charity installs protected shallow wells with manual water pumps.
4. Kabwe
Called Broken Hill before independence, Kabwe is a small mining town, now the capital of Central Province. Lead, zinc, silver, manganese, cadmium, vanadium and titanium are still extracted. Kabwe is the headquarters of Zambia Railways and lies along the Great North Road between Lusaka and the Copperbelt.
Kabwe outlets and services
Three coach companies service Kabwe — CR Holdings, Euro-Africa Bus Services and Power Tools Coach Services. If you’re travelling by car from the south, drop in at Fig Tree Café for one of the best cups of coffee around. This travel break is well-signed, on the left, a couple of kilometres before you enter the town.
Several nationwide businesses have branches in Kabwe, including Autoworld and Handyman’s Paradise. And Maheer Auto Ltd, with branches in both Kabwe and Lusaka, specialise in all types of engine reconditioning including re-boring, grinding, honing, line bore block machining, cutting and drilling. Mercury Express Logistics provides a 24 hour postal and courier mailroom service, and Strong Zambia has an outlet here, providing satellite hardware for Pay TV and Free-to-Air systems.
Chankwakwa, the natural food company, has its base close to Kabwe. It’s a good direct source of delicious jams, sauces, soya products and sun-dried fruit. Barefeet Theatre is also active in Kabwe. This theatre company uses theatre, art, dance, music and creative writing to educate and support the development of children at risk. You can find the Bulletin and Record monthly magazine at Kabwe’s Shoprite and other reputable outlets.
If you live in any of these towns, or have anything to add to or comment on the above, we really want to hear from you. Let’s get good at recognising what’s newsworthy and communicating it to each other and the world out there :)
This post is part of a ‘Best of Zambia out in the provinces’ series:
- Part 1: Northern, Eastern, Western and Central Provinces
- Part 2: Copperbelt and North-Western Provinces