Mufulira
Encyclopedia
Mufulira is a town (population 125,336) in the Copperbelt Province
of Zambia
. It grew up in the 1930s around the site of the Mufulira Copper Mine
on its north-western edge. The city is 16 km from the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
and is the start of the Congo Pedicle road
connecting the Copperbelt to the Luapula Province
, making that province Mufulira's commercial hinterland
. A tarred highway to the south-west connects Mufulira to Kitwe
(40 km) and Chingola
(55 km), and another to the south-east connects to Ndola
(60 km), the commercial and transport hub of the Copperbelt. A branch of Zambia Railways
, carrying freight only, serves the mine.
The Mufulira Mine is now owned and operated by Mopani Copper Mines which employs 10,000 permanent workers and produced about 300,000 tonnes of copper bars in 2007 after the rehabilitation of the Mufulira copper smelter by Vela VKE. Production and employment levels are down from the 1969 peak when the Copperbelt made Zambia the world's 4th largest copper producer.
In Zambia, Mufulira is well-known for being the home of the successful Mufulira Wanderers
football
team. Zambia's third President (2002–2008), Levy Mwanawasa
, was born in Mufulira, as well as top African footballer, Kalusha Bwalya
. Also notable are Welsh international sportsmen Robert Earnshaw
(football) and Dafydd James
(Rugby Union).
Copperbelt Province
Copperbelt Province in Zambia covers the mineral-rich Copperbelt, and farming and bush areas to the south. It was the backbone of the Northern Rhodesian economy during British colonial rule and fuelled the hopes of the immediate post-independence period, but its economic importance was severely...
of Zambia
Zambia
Zambia , officially the Republic of Zambia, is a landlocked country in Southern Africa. The neighbouring countries are the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the north, Tanzania to the north-east, Malawi to the east, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia to the south, and Angola to the west....
. It grew up in the 1930s around the site of the Mufulira Copper Mine
Copper extraction
Copper extraction techniques refers to the methods for obtaining copper from its ores. This conversion consists of a series of chemical, physical, and electrochemical processes. Methods have evolved and vary with country depending on the ore source, local environmental regulations, and other...
on its north-western edge. The city is 16 km from the border of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
and is the start of the Congo Pedicle road
Congo Pedicle road
The Congo Pedicle road crosses the Congolese territory of the Congo Pedicle and was constructed by and is maintained by Zambia to connect its Copperbelt and Luapula Provinces...
connecting the Copperbelt to the Luapula Province
Luapula Province
Luapula Province is one of Zambia's nine provinces, and is located in the north of the country. The provincial capital is Mansa. Luapula Province was named after the Luapula River....
, making that province Mufulira's commercial hinterland
Hinterland
The hinterland is the land or district behind a coast or the shoreline of a river. Specifically, by the doctrine of the hinterland, the word is applied to the inland region lying behind a port, claimed by the state that owns the coast. The area from which products are delivered to a port for...
. A tarred highway to the south-west connects Mufulira to Kitwe
Kitwe
Kitwe is the second largest city in terms of size and population in Zambia. With a population of 547,700 Kitwe is one of the most developed commercial and industrial areas in the nation, alongside Ndola and Lusaka...
(40 km) and Chingola
Chingola
Chingola is a city in Zambia's Copperbelt Province, the country's copper-mining region, with a population of 157,340 . It is the home of Nchanga Copper Mine, a deep-shaft high-grade content copper mining operation, which subsequently led to the development of two open pit operations, Chingola...
(55 km), and another to the south-east connects to Ndola
Ndola
Ndola is the third largest city in Zambia, with a population of 495,000 . It is the industrial, commercial, on the Copperbelt, Zambia's copper-mining region, and capital of Copperbelt Province. It is also the commercial capital city of Zambia and has one of the three international airports, others...
(60 km), the commercial and transport hub of the Copperbelt. A branch of Zambia Railways
Zambia Railways
Zambia Railways is the national railway of Zambia, one of the two major railroad organizations in Zambia, which may also be referred to as Railway Systems of Zambia...
, carrying freight only, serves the mine.
The Mufulira Mine is now owned and operated by Mopani Copper Mines which employs 10,000 permanent workers and produced about 300,000 tonnes of copper bars in 2007 after the rehabilitation of the Mufulira copper smelter by Vela VKE. Production and employment levels are down from the 1969 peak when the Copperbelt made Zambia the world's 4th largest copper producer.
In Zambia, Mufulira is well-known for being the home of the successful Mufulira Wanderers
Mufulira Wanderers
Mufulira Wanderers are Zambia’s most successful football club and are based in the Copperbelt town of Mufulira. Popularly known as Mighty Mufulira Wanderers, the club has won over 40 major trophies and has also produced some of the country’s greatest players...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
team. Zambia's third President (2002–2008), Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Mwanawasa
Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption...
, was born in Mufulira, as well as top African footballer, Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya
Kalusha Bwalya , known as simply Kalusha, is a Zambian footballer and coach. He is Zambia's most capped player, all-time top goalscorer, and is regarded as the greatest Zambian player to play the game...
. Also notable are Welsh international sportsmen Robert Earnshaw
Robert Earnshaw
Robert Earnshaw is a Welsh footballer who plays for Cardiff City and Wales. He is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the English Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two , the League Cup, the FA Cup and for his country at International level.Earnshaw was born in Mufulira,...
(football) and Dafydd James
Dafydd James
Dafydd Rhys James is a former Welsh international rugby union footballer who plays on the wing or at centre. He toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2001. He has earned 45 caps for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions...
(Rugby Union).
People Born in Mufulira
- Kalusha BwalyaKalusha BwalyaKalusha Bwalya , known as simply Kalusha, is a Zambian footballer and coach. He is Zambia's most capped player, all-time top goalscorer, and is regarded as the greatest Zambian player to play the game...
(Zambia's top footballer and African Footballer of the YearAfrican Footballer of the YearThe African Footballer of the Year award, presented to the best African football player each year, has been conferred by the Confederation of African Football since 1992. An earlier African Footballer of the Year Golden Ball award was given out between 1970 and 1994 by France Football magazine...
winner, 1988) - Samuel "Zoom" Ndhlovu (Zambia Soccer Team coach and player)
- Levy MwanawasaLevy MwanawasaLevy Patrick Mwanawasa was the third President of Zambia. He ruled the country from January 2002 until his death in August 2008. He is credited for having initiated a campaign to rid the country of corruption...
(President of Zambia 2001 - 2008) - Robert EarnshawRobert EarnshawRobert Earnshaw is a Welsh footballer who plays for Cardiff City and Wales. He is the only player to have scored a hat-trick in the English Premier League, Championship, League One, League Two , the League Cup, the FA Cup and for his country at International level.Earnshaw was born in Mufulira,...
(footballer) - Dafydd JamesDafydd JamesDafydd Rhys James is a former Welsh international rugby union footballer who plays on the wing or at centre. He toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2001. He has earned 45 caps for Wales and three for the British & Irish Lions...
(International Rugby Union player) - Robert John "Mutt" LangeRobert LangeRobert John "Mutt" Lange is a Zambian-born British record producer and songwriter, usually known by his nickname "Mutt". Lange is one of the most successful producers in rock history. He has produced albums for artists such as AC/DC, Nickelback, Def Leppard, Outlaws, Foreigner, The Cars, Bryan...
(Record producer, songwriter, ex-husband of Shania Twain) - David S Flinn (Rugby Union - West of Scotland)
Former Residents of Mufulira
- Kenneth KaundaKenneth KaundaKenneth David Kaunda, known as KK, served as the first President of Zambia, from 1964 to 1991.-Early life:Kaunda was the youngest of eight children. He was born at Lubwa Mission in Chinsali, Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia, now Zambia...
(First President of Zambia 1964 - 1991. In 1948 - Was a teacher/Boarding Master of a Mine School, Assitant at a Welfare Centre for Africans. Zambia's 3rd President, Levy Mwanawasa, was born in Mufulira in that year). - Frederick ChilubaFrederick ChilubaFrederick Jacob Titus Chiluba was a Zambian politician who was the second President of Zambia from 1991 to 2002. Chiluba, a trade union leader, won the country's multi-party presidential election in 1991 as the candidate of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy , defeating long-time President...
(Second President of Zambia 1991 - 2001. Lived in Mufulira in the 1960s) - Simon KapwepweSimon KapwepweSimon Mwansa Kapwepwe was the first vice-president of Zambia from 1967 to 1970.- Early life :Simon Kapwepwe was born on 12 April 1922 in the Chinsali district of the Northern Province of Northern Rhodesia...
(First Vice-President of Zambia. In 1948 - was a teacher and won a famous victory against the ruling party's candidate, Alexander Kamalondo)
See also
- Mopani Copper Mines
- Copperbelt ProvinceCopperbelt ProvinceCopperbelt Province in Zambia covers the mineral-rich Copperbelt, and farming and bush areas to the south. It was the backbone of the Northern Rhodesian economy during British colonial rule and fuelled the hopes of the immediate post-independence period, but its economic importance was severely...
including the history of copper mining in Zambia