Mwinilunga
Mwinilunga is a town in the North-Western Province of Zambia. It is the headquarters of Mwinilunga District, one of the province's eleven districts.
Geography
Location
The town lies on the west bank of the West Lunga River, along the Chingola–Solwezi–Mwinilunga Road, which continues north-westwards to Caianda, in Angola. Mwinilunga is located approximately, by road, west of Solwezi, the provincial capital. Another tarmacked state road, leads south to Kabompo, the capital of Kabompo District. Kabompo town is approximately south of Mwinilunga.Mwinilunga sits in the extreme north-western corner of the country, close to the international borders with Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The geographical coordinates of Mwinilunga, Zambia are:11°43'02.0"S, 24°25'44.0"E
. The average elevation of the town is above mean sea level.
Climate
This is one of the wettest places in Zambia with annual rainfall of about falling in the rainy season from October to May.Overview
Due to its proximity with Angola and DR Congo, Mwinilunga would have benefited from trade with the two neighboring countries. Poor roads, human conflict and lack of collective political will in the three countries, have so far prevented any meaningful trade policy from developing. The Zambezi River originates in Ikelenge District, in a community called Kalene Hill, approximately north of Mwinilunga town.Population
The town had a population estimated at 14,500 in 2006. The Chilunda-speaking Kanongesha-Lunda people are the largest ethnic group, and are related to the Chibemba-speaking Kazembe-Lunda of Luapula Province. In 1990, the census carried out that year, put the town's population at 6,342 people. In 2000, the population was 10,745 inhabitants. During the 2010 national census, the population of Mwinilunga was enumerated at 15,704 people. The table below illustrates the same data in tabular format.| Year | Population |
| 1990 | 6,342 |
| 2000 | 10,745 |
| 2006 | 14,500 |
| 2010 | 15,704 |
Education
Mwinilunga Secondary School is the largest school to date in town. Government and community schools are scattered in the neighborhoods surrounding the metropolitan area, and provide education for children from nursery through high school. Mwinilunga is also home to The Sakeji School, a primary boarding school.Economy
Forest Fruits Limited has been operating in Mwinilunga since 1998, successfully working with over 7,000 beekeepers in the region to export organic honey to the European market. The company also employs about 100 staff.Kasenseli Gold Mine
See: Mining in Zambia Kasenseli Gold MineIn early August 2019 gold deposits were discovered and confirmed by experts from the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development. The Government, through its subsidiary, ZCCM Investments Holdings, intends to set up a gold mine in Chief Chibwika's area where the gold deposits have been discovered.
Kalene Hills Fruit Factory
Commissioned: July 2022Construction Cost: ZMW 130.0 million
Ownership:, a 100% Zambian-owned business set up with support from the .
Operations: Processing fruits as well as other products such as beans, groundnuts and tomatoes supplied by over 1,500 small-scale farmers.
Direct Jobs: 150
In-Direct Jobs: 780