Solwezi

Coordinates: 12°11′00″S 26°24′00″E / 12.18333°S 26.40000°E / -12.18333; 26.40000

Solwezi is the capital of the North-Western Province of Zambia. Solwezi has approximately 65,000 inhabitants at an elevation of 1235 m above sea level. Kaonde is the largest tribe represented in Solwezi, in addition to large numbers of Lunda and Luvale speaking people.

Economy

The main industry of Solwezi is copper mining at Kansanshi Mine (located about 10 km north) and Lumwana Mine (located about 65 km West), out of the town centre, run by First Quantum Minerals and Equinox Minerals, respectively. Kansanshi Mine exploits copper-gold ore from Kansanshi Anticlinal. The mining site has been running since the 19th century for copper and gold successively. Lumwana, on the other hand, was discovered in 1961, but no serious work was carried out there until Equinox Minerals Ltd became involved in 1999. Uranium is also mined in Solwezi at the Lumwana mine north of Solwezi town.

Three miles from city centre lies the "Kifubwa Rock Stream Shelter" located next to the Kifubwa River. There are inscriptions to be found from the late Stone Age people.