Mbala, Zambia

Coordinates: 8°50′S 31°23′E / 8.833°S 31.383°E / -8.833; 31.383
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Mbala
UTC+2 (CAT)
ClimateCwb

Mbala is

better source needed] occupying a strategic location close to the border with Tanzania and controlling the southern approaches to Lake Tanganyika, 40 km by road to the north-west, where the port of Mpulungu is located. It had a population of about 20,000 in 2006. Under the name Abercorn, Mbala was a key outpost in British colonial control of this part of south-central Africa.[2]

History

A number of

archaeological sites in the area (such as at Kalambo Falls) provides a record of human activity in the Mbala area over the past 300,000 years.[3]

Before colonial times, Mbala was the village of Chief Zombe on the Lucheche River. It became the focus of British interest as a result of travels by the explorer David Livingstone, the first European to visit the area, in the 1860s. He was followed some years later by

British Government in the region, Harry Johnston in Nyasaland, and decisions were taken to strengthen the imperial presence south of the lake and prevent other colonial powers establishing a foothold there.[2]

The Mbala War Memorial, where von Lettow-Vorbeck formally surrendered at the end of the First World War, designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens

As a result, the

ceasefire at the Chambeshi River 250 km south nine days earlier. The Mbala War Memorial marks the spot of the formal surrender about 2 km south-west of the centre of town. Following the surrender ceremony, the German troops were ordered to throw their weapons into Lake Chila.[2]

Polish refugees from General Anders' army arrived there during World War 2 and were housed in a camp. A cemetery with Polish tombstones testifies to their past presence.[5]

After Zambia's independence in 1964, the name of the town was changed back to Mbala.[6]

Since its heyday as a colonial town in the 1950s and early 60s, Mbala has suffered some decline, and has lost out in development terms to the provincial capital, Kasama, and Mpika, which have better road and rail connections. Although the Mbala area has fertile soils and plenty of water, it is far from urban markets and transport costs limited the viability of most agricultural crops. Similarly, while it has

resorts in the immediate area, the nearest being those in Nsumbu National Park such as Kasaba Bay, 100 km away, but there is no road link there − in fact the lack of a road serving the south-western side of the lake, which is mountainous, is a serious barrier to tourism or to any development there. Kalambo Falls is an attraction, but is not accessible throughout the rainy season. Wars and unrest on the eastern and northern shores of Lake Tanganyika have also hindered trade and tourism on the lake, which has not given Mbala and Mpulungu the advantages of their location. With recent steps towards resolution of those conflicts, the future may be brighter.[7] The population was 16,963 in the 2000 census.[8]

Geography and transport

The town is at the edge of the plateau covering most of Zambia, at an elevation of 1670 m, about 900 m higher than Lake Tanganyika, which comes within 22 km (straight-line distance). The escarpment above the lake is the end of the

East Africa Rift, and the Mbala area experiences occasional earth tremors. It is also said that the tiny but picturesque Lake Chila within the town experiences inexplicable drying out, and sudden flooding from underground springs, but this may be just a legend.[7]

The second highest waterfall in Africa, Kalambo Falls lies about 40 km (by road) north west, and is formed where the Kalambo River comes over the Rift Valley escarpment.[9]

Mbala is on the old

Great North Road (M1 road) 165 km north of Kasama, and at one time was the end of that road.[10] It has been paved and as of late 2008[needs update] is in poor condition, with large patches of pavement missing, and stretches have reverted to a dirt road. However, work crews were patching the road in late 2008,[needs update] with one crew starting in Kasama, and the other starting from Mbala. Since it is the only paved highway access to the town and district, as well as to the port of Mpulungu, its poor condition is a major barrier to development in the area. Buses run daily from Mbala to Kasama and Lusaka, the capital.[citation needed
]

Mbala is 25 km from the border with Tanzania and connected by a dry-season road to one of only two road border crossings between the two countries. It is not much used, the road beyond the border is a dirt track impassable in the rainy season.[11]

The paved road which winds down the escarpment to

M2 road) affords scenic views and passes close to Lunzua Falls. From Mpulungu the MV Liemba provides a boat service to other ports and countries on the lake. In the 19th century the lake was an important entry point to the territory of northern Zambia, by boat from Ujiji, which was reached by an overland trade route from the Indian Ocean coast near the island of Zanzibar
.

Mbala has an airport but does not currently receive scheduled services, though it has a 2.6 km runway and was once a Zambian Air Force Base.

Climate

Mbala features a climate (Köppen: Aw/Cwa)[12] with consistently mild temperatures and clear wet and dry seasons. The wet season, from November to April, experiences high humidity and significant rainfall, whereas the dry season, from May to October, is marked by minimal precipitation.

Climate data for Mbala (Mbala Airport) (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 30.0
(86.0) 		31.6
(88.9) 		32.5
(90.5) 		33.4
(92.1) 		31.4
(88.5) 		31.6
(88.9) 		31.5
(88.7) 		33.4
(92.1) 		34.5
(94.1) 		37.0
(98.6) 		33.4
(92.1) 		33.3
(91.9) 		37.0
(98.6)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 24.6
(76.3) 		25.1
(77.2) 		25.9
(78.6) 		26.0
(78.8) 		26.5
(79.7) 		25.9
(78.6) 		25.5
(77.9) 		27.1
(80.8) 		29.0
(84.2) 		29.2
(84.6) 		27.0
(80.6) 		25.3
(77.5) 		26.4
(79.5)
Daily mean °C (°F) 19.8
(67.6) 		20.1
(68.2) 		20.6
(69.1) 		20.5
(68.9) 		19.9
(67.8) 		18.6
(65.5) 		18.1
(64.6) 		19.7
(67.5) 		21.6
(70.9) 		22.3
(72.1) 		21.3
(70.3) 		20.2
(68.4) 		20.2
(68.4)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 15.0
(59.0) 		15.0
(59.0) 		15.3
(59.5) 		15.0
(59.0) 		13.3
(55.9) 		11.2
(52.2) 		10.6
(51.1) 		12.2
(54.0) 		14.1
(57.4) 		15.3
(59.5) 		15.5
(59.9) 		15.1
(59.2) 		14.0
(57.2)
Record low °C (°F) 8.8
(47.8) 		10.4
(50.7) 		9.6
(49.3) 		7.8
(46.0) 		8.4
(47.1) 		5.6
(42.1) 		5.2
(41.4) 		5.5
(41.9) 		9.5
(49.1) 		10.0
(50.0) 		6.6
(43.9) 		7.8
(46.0) 		5.2
(41.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 268.2
(10.56) 		238.0
(9.37) 		186.4
(7.34) 		81.0
(3.19) 		11.1
(0.44) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.0
(0.0) 		0.1
(0.00) 		1.8
(0.07) 		27.9
(1.10) 		99.8
(3.93) 		228.2
(8.98) 		1,142.5
(44.98)
Average
relative humidity
(%) 		83 82 80 76 71 64 53 50 49 54 69 80 68
Mean monthly sunshine hours 130.2 134.4 170.5 213.0 285.2 300.0 306.9 303.8 273.0 235.6 189.0 142.6 2,684.2
Percent possible sunshine 34 39 46 60 79 87 86 84 76 62 51 37 61
Source 1: NOAA (sun 1961–1990)[13][14]
Source 2: DWD (humidity 1950-1980)[15]

Attractions

References

  1. ^ "Afrique Centre et Sud", Carte Routiere et Touristique Michelin, Paris (1996).
  2. ^ a b c The Northern Rhodesia Journal, Vol 4 No 6 (1961) pp. 515–527. Hope and Marion Gamwell: ”The History of Abercorn”. Accessed 7 March 2007.
  3. ^ Article by Prof. Desmond Clarke who led the major excavation at Kalambo Falls
  4. ^ "Mbala's link to World War I". Zambia Daily Mail Limited. 18 March 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  5. ^ Polskie cmentarze w Afryce Wschodniej
  6. ^ "Mbala's link to World War I". Zambia Daily Mail Limited. 18 March 2015. Retrieved May 24, 2020.
  7. ^ a b The Times of Zambia: “The sleeping tourism giant in Zambia”, Ndola, Friday, May 23, 2003.
  8. ISBN 978-0-8108-5305-8
    .
  9. ^ Camerapix: "Spectrum Guide to Zambia." Camerapix International Publishing, Nairobi, 1996.
  10. Great North Road
    — see that article for details.
  11. ^ Terracarta/International Travel Maps, Vancouver Canada: "Zambia, 2nd edition", 2000
  12. ^ "Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria". Nature: Scientific Data. 23 October 2023.
  13. ^ "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Mbala". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved January 24, 2024.
  14. ^ "Mbala Met Climate Normals 1961–1990". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  15. ^ "Klimatafel von Mbala (Abercorn) / Sambia" (PDF). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved January 30, 2023.

8°50′S 31°23′E / 8.833°S 31.383°E / -8.833; 31.383

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