Mazabuka

{{Short description|Town in Zambia}} {{EngvarB|date=May 2020}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}} {{Infobox settlement | official_name = Mazabuka | other_name = | native_name =  | nickname = sweetest town | settlement_type = Town | image_skyline = Mazabuka.jpg | imagesize = | image_caption = | image_flag = | flag_size = | image_seal = Mazabuka Coat of arms.jpg | seal_size = | image_shield = | shield_size = | image_blank_emblem = | blank_emblem_type = | blank_emblem_size = | image_map = | mapsize = | map_caption = | image_map1 = | mapsize1 = | map_caption1 = | image_dot_map = | dot_mapsize = | dot_map_caption = | dot_x = | dot_y = | pushpin_map = Zambia | pushpin_label_position = bottom  | pushpin_map_caption = | pushpin_mapsize = | subdivision_type = Country | subdivision_name = Zambia | subdivision_type1 = Province | subdivision_name1 = Southern Province | subdivision_type2 = District | subdivision_name2 = Mazabuka District | subdivision_type3 = | subdivision_name3 = | government_footnotes = | government_type = | leader_title = | leader_name = | leader_title1 =  | leader_name1 = | leader_title2 = | leader_name2 = | established_title = Established | established_date = | established_title2 =  | established_date2 = | established_title3 =  | established_date3 =  | area_magnitude = | unit_pref =  | area_footnotes = | area_total_km2 =  | area_land_km2 =  | area_water_km2 = | area_total_sq_mi = | area_land_sq_mi = | area_water_sq_mi = | area_water_percent = | area_urban_km2 = | area_urban_sq_mi = | area_metro_km2 = | area_metro_sq_mi = | area_blank1_title = | area_blank1_km2 = | area_blank1_sq_mi =  | population_as_of = 2010 | population_footnotes = | population_note = Census | population_total = 71700 | population_density_km2 = auto | population_density_sq_mi = | population_metro = | population_density_metro_km2 = | population_density_metro_sq_mi = | population_urban = | population_density_urban_km2 = | population_density_urban_sq_mi = | population_blank1_title = | population_blank1 = | population_density_blank1_km2 = | population_density_blank1_sq_mi =  | timezone = CAT | utc_offset = +2 | timezone_DST = | utc_offset_DST = | coordinates = {{coord|15|50|48|S|27|44|51|E|region:ZW|display=it}} | elevation_footnotes =  | elevation_m = 1067 | elevation_ft =  | postal_code_type =  | postal_code = | area_code = | blank_name = Climate | blank_info = Cwa | blank1_name = | blank1_info = | website = | footnotes = }}

'''Mazabuka''' is a town in the Southern Province of Zambia. It is the capital of Mazabuka District, one of the thirteen administrative units in the Southern Province.

==Etymology== The name Mazabuka originates from a Tonga local language word "kuzabuka" which means "To cross over the river". The name should have been "mwazabuka" which translates to "you have crossed". However, due assimilation, the name became "Mazabuka" which nonetheless translates to "you have crossed". It is believed that the name was coined after the Tonga people crossed the ''Kafue River'' near a place called Nanga during their migrations.<ref name="1R">{{cite journal|date=April 2010 |title=Migratory patterns in small towns: The cases of Mazabuka and Kalomo in Zambia |publisher=Sage Publications |volume=22 | pages=91–105 |journal=Environment & Urbanization |doi=10.1177/0956247810362846 |author=Wilma S. Nchito|issue=1 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

==Location== The town is located in Mazabuka District, in Zambia's Southern Province. The town lies on the south east edge of the Kafue Flats wetland, along the Lusaka–Livingstone Road. It is approximately {{convert|135|km|0}}, by road, southwest of Lusaka, the national capital and largest city.<ref name="2R">{{google maps| url=https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Lusaka,+Zambia/Mazabuka,+Zambia/@-15.7082606,27.7587945,10z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x1940f37d3cbcaa49:0xd0d093c1462013eb!2m2!1d28.3228165!2d-15.3875259!1m5!1m1!1s0x194124e086a3539b:0xc77fe8e247ac5865!2m2!1d27.7490656!2d-15.861252!3e0 |title=Road Distance Between Lusaka And Mazabuka |access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> The geographical coordinates of Mazabuka are:15°50'48.0"S, 27°44'51.0"E (Latitude:-15.846667; Longitude:27.747500).<ref name="3R">{{google maps|title=Location of Mazabuka, Zambia | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/15%C2%B050'48.0%22S+27%C2%B044'51.0%22E/@-15.8466667,27.7475,378m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-15.8466667!4d27.7475 |access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref> Mazabuka sits at an average elevation of {{convert|1067|m|0}} above mean sea level.<ref name="4R">{{cite web|url=https://www.floodmap.net/Elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=907111 |title=Elevation of Mazabuka, Zambia |date=25 May 2020 |publisher=Floodmap.net |author=Flood Map |access-date=25 May 2020}}</ref>

==Overview== The town has grown around sugar cane plantations, and currently it hosts the headquarters of Zambia Sugar, the largest sugar-manufacturing company in Zambia, with annual output in excess of {{convert|318,467|tonne|0}} of crystalline sugar annually.<ref name="5R">{{cite web|date=12 November 2018 | url=https://africanfinancials.com/zambia-sugars-operating-profits-up-to-k388-million-for-fy18/ |access-date=25 May 2020 | title=Zambia Sugar averages 120 tons cane per hectare in FY'18 | publisher=Africanfinancials.com |author=African Financials}}</ref>

==History== During World War II, 50 Polish refugees escaping from German- and Soviet-occupied Poland, were admitted in Mazabuka in 1941.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wróbel|first=Janusz|title=Uchodźcy polscy ze Związku Sowieckiego 1942–1950|year=2003|language=pl|publisher=Instytut Pamięci Narodowej|location=Łódź|page=137|isbn=978-83-7629-522-0}}</ref>

==Population== In 1990, the city had 24,596 people. In 2000, the town's population was 47,148 people. During the 2010 national census and household population survey, the city had 71,700 inhabitants.<ref name="6R">{{cite web|title=Population of Zambian Cities and Urban Centres: Mazabuka |publisher=Citypopulation.de |date=14 July 2019 |url=https://www.citypopulation.de/en/zambia/cities/?cityid=21535 |author=Central Statistical Office Zambia and City Population | access-date=28 May 2020}}</ref> The table below illustrates the same data in tabular format.

{| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Population |- | 1990 | 24,596<ref name="6R"/> |- | 2000 | 47,148<ref name="6R"/> |- | 2010 | 71,700<ref name="6R"/> |}

==Transport== While being on the Lusaka–Livingstone Road, Mazabuka is also connected to Lusaka in the north-east and Livingstone in the south-west by the Zambia Railways line.<ref name="7R">{{cite web| title=Mazabuka–Lusaka By Rail |publisher=Romeo2rio.com | url=https://www.rome2rio.com/s/Mazabuka/Lusaka |date=25 May 2020 | access-date=25 May 2020 |author=Romeo2Rio}}</ref><ref name="8R">{{cite web| url=https://zrl.com.zm/travel/ |title=Zambia Railways Limited |date=25 May 2020 |publisher=Zambia Railways | author=Zambia Railways |access-date=25 May 2020 |location=Lusaka}}</ref>

==Education== Mazabuka is home to two well known day schools, among others, in the province. Both are grant aided schools run by the Roman Catholic missionaries. These are St Edmunds Secondary School and Mazabuka Girls Secondary School. The two have the highest enrollment of grade eights(G8) from all the primary schools. Musikili Primary School is a private boarding school for children between 5 and 13 years old. ''Flamboyant School'', is a school for children with disabilities and is located on the outskirts of the town. It is operated by the Mazabuka Association for the Disabled.<ref name="9R">{{cite web|date=25 May 2020 | url=https://www.disabledmazabuka.com/ |title=About Mazabuka Association for the Disabled |publisher=Mazabuka Association for the Disabled |author=Mazabuka Association for the Disabled | access-date=25 May 2020 |location=Mazabuka, Zambia}}</ref>

==Healthcare== Mazabuka is home to (a) Mazabuka Sugar Hospital for the management and staff of Zambia Sugar Plc<ref name="10R">{{cite web|url=https://www.illovosugarafrica.com/Announcements/Archived/Archived-Article?newsid=66 |publisher=Illovo Sugar Archives | date=17 June 2014 |title=Njomona Clinic Becomes 'Zambia Sugar Hospital' |author=Illovo Sugar |access-date=25 May 2020 | location=Durban, South Africa}}</ref> and (b) Mazabuka General Hospital for the general public.<ref name="11R">{{cite web| url=http://www.cidrz.org/cidrz-building-capacities-of-local-laboratories-for-quality-laboratory-services/ |title=CIDRZ Renovates Mazabuka General Hospital & Chongwe Urban Clinic Laboratories |publisher=Centre for Infectious Diseases Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) |date=21 February 2018 |author=Daniel Banda | access-date=25 May 2020 |location=Lusaka}}</ref>

==Notable people== * Mizinga Melu, the Zambian businesswoman and bank chief executive who serves as the managing director and CEO of Absa Bank Zambia Plc, was born in Mazabuka.

* Stanley Fischer, an economist who served as Governor of the Central Bank of Israel, among others, was born on October 15, 1943, in Mazabuka.

== Munali Nickel Mine == In September 2006 following a positive feasibility study, Albidon Limited of Australia obtained permits and approvals to mine Nickel in Mazabuka.<ref>{{Cite web |last=bloomberg |date=7 May 2022 |title=Company Profile |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/company/DF7:GR |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=bloomberg.com}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=mining-technology |date=12 October 2020 |title=projects-munali_nickel |url=https://www.mining-technology.com/projects/munali_nickel/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=mining-technology.com}}</ref> The initial project development required more than U$180 million, which was funded by debt financing from Barclays Capital and the European Investment Bank and equity from Albidon Limited, [http://www.jinchuan-intl.com/en/business_overview/mining_operations.php JINCHUAN mining group] of China and ZCCM Investment Holdings .<ref name=":0" />

In April 2007, then Zambian President, Levy Mwanawasa launched the Munali Nickel Project at a ground breaking ceremony. The mine would be built and operated under the venture's special purpose vehicle Albidon Zambia Limited (AZL).<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=18 April 2008 |title=albidon-nickel-mining-to-start-production-this-month |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2008/04/18/albidon-nickel-mining-to-start-production-this-month/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref>

AZL commenced mining and production of nickel concentrates in April 2008.<ref name=":1" /> Operations were suspended in 2009 because of poor market conditions.<ref name=":0" /> After the 2008 financial crisis the mine struggled for many years.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=26 March 2010 |title=RB re-opens Munali Nickel Mine |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2010/03/26/25001/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref>

It was briefly owned and run by [http://www.jinchuan-intl.com/en/business_overview/mining_operations.php JINCHUAN mining group] of China from 2010. JINCHUAN would invest U$ 37 million and employ about 350 workers.<ref name=":2" /> However, the mine was shut down again in 2011 due to cashflow problems.<ref>{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=27 February 2012 |title=2-investors-show-interest-nickel-simuusa |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/02/27/2-investors-show-interest-nickel-simuusa/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=24 November 2011 |title=sata-promises-restore-operations-munali-questions-source-hh-wealth |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2011/11/24/sata-promises-restore-operations-munali-questions-source-hh-wealth/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref>

A joint venture Mabiza Resources between [https://www.cnmplc.co.uk/ Consolidated Nickel Mines Plc] of the United kingdom and [http://www.pliniancapital.com/ce-mining CE Mining] took ownership in 2014 but delayed capital injection which led the government of Zambia at the time to threaten repossession of the asset.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=1 September 2015 |title=well-repossess-munali-nickle-mine-yaluma |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2015/09/01/well-repossess-munali-nickle-mine-yaluma/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=globalminingreview |date=18 April 2019 |title=mabiza-resources-resumes-operations-at-the-munali-nickel-mine |url=https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/18042019/mabiza-resources-resumes-operations-at-the-munali-nickel-mine/ |access-date=7 May 2022 |website=globalminingreview.com}}</ref> From 2015 the JV has placed in U$ 50 million investment to reboot operations at the Munali Nickel Mine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=lusakatimes |date=26 April 2017 |title=munali-nickel-mine-re-open |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/04/26/munali-nickel-mine-re-open/ |access-date=7 April 2022 |website=lusakatimes.com}}</ref><ref name=":3" /> The Mine recommenced operations in 2019.<ref name=":4" />

The mine is managed by an all-Zambian management team and currently has a workforce of 380 people, of which 10% are women.<ref name=":4" /> Munali currently exports over 10% high quality Nickel concentrate. The mine is expected to generate 3,300t of Ni in 2020, which is anticipated to reach 4,000t in 2021. Although it is billed as a nickel project, Munali also contains commercial quantities of copper, cobalt and platinum group metals (PGMs).<ref name=":0" />

''See Also'': Mining in Zambia

== References == {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20071020043714/http://www.mazabuka.org/ Website of Assumption Parish Mazabuka] * [http://www.musikili.com Website of Musikili Primary School] * [https://allafrica.com/stories/199802020053.html/ Zambia: Mazabuka has more sugar cane than people] As at 2 February 1998.

Category:Mazabuka Category:Mazabuka District Category:Populated places in Southern Province, Zambia Category:Kafue River