Kaoma, Zambia
Encyclopedia
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 is the headquarters of Kaoma District
Kaoma District
Kaoma District with headquarters at Kaoma, Zambia is located in the north-east corner of Western Province. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 162,568 people.The population lives mainly around Kaoma town and the northern parts of the district along the Luena and Luampa...
in the Western Province
Western Province, Zambia
Western Province, encompasses the area formerly known as Barotseland in the colonial era.-Districts:Western Province is divided into 7 districts:*Kalabo District*Kaoma District*Lukulu District*Mongu District*Senanga District*Sesheke District...
.
Location
Kaoma is located approximately 460 kilometres (285.8 mi), by road, west of LusakaLusaka
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. It is located in the southern part of the central plateau, at an elevation of about 1,300 metres . It has a population of about 1.7 million . It is a commercial centre as well as the centre of government, and the four main highways of Zambia head...
, the capital of Zambia and its largest city. At Kaoma, the Great West Road
Great West Road, Zambia
The Great West Road of Zambia runs 610 km from the capital, Lusaka, to Mongu, capital of the Western Province. It connects that province to the rest of the country, as well as being one of two routes to the south-west extremity of North-Western Province...
(M9), meets the Kaoma-Kasempa Road (D301). This location lies west of Kafue National Park
Kafue National Park
Kafue National Park is the largest national park in Zambia, covering an area of about 22,400 km² . It is the second largest park in Africa and is home to over 55 different species of animals....
. The coordinates of the town are:14 48 00S, 24 48 00E (Latitude:-14.8000; Longitude:24.8000).
History
Kaoma has previously been known by other names including: Nkoya, Mankoya, Mankoye, Nankoya, Nunkoya. The official name of the town was changed to Kaoma in 1964. The name Nkoya came from the first ZambiaZambia
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....
n ethnic group to settle in the area around the 6th Century. The Nkoya people can be found in Kaoma and the surrounding areas such as Mumbwa
Mumbwa
Mumbwa is a town in the Central Province of Zambia, lying on the Great West Road. Its district covers the western part of the Central Province bordering Kaoma and Western Province to the west, Namwala and Southern Province to the south, Lusaka and Lusaka Province to the east, Kasempa and...
, Mulobezi
Mulobezi
Mulobezi is a small town in the Southern Province of Zambia, and the centre of its timber industry. Timber extends into Southern Province with which the town is economically linked....
, Kazungula
Kazungula
Kazungula is a small border town in the Southern Province of Zambia, lying on the north bank of the Zambezi River about 70 km west of Livingstone, at an almost quadripoint where four countries nearly meet...
, Mungulula (Mongu
Mongu
Mongu is the capital of Western Province in Zambia and was the capital of the formerly-named province and historic state, Barotseland. Its population is 44,310 , and it is also headquarters of Mongu District.-Geography:...
), Kalabo
Kalabo
Kalabo is a small town and administrative district in the Western Province of Zambia, on the plains west of the Zambezi River and the Barotse Floodplain, about 70 km from the border with Angola.-Location:...
, Lukulu
Lukulu
Lukulu is a market town in the Western Province of Zambia, on the Zambezi River, and headquarters of a district of the same name. Access to the town is limited to only a few unsealed roads which do not see much traffic...
amongst other districts. The Nkoya people celebrate an annual traditional ceremony called the Kazanga Ceremony, which is held between April and August in Kaoma District
Kaoma District
Kaoma District with headquarters at Kaoma, Zambia is located in the north-east corner of Western Province. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 162,568 people.The population lives mainly around Kaoma town and the northern parts of the district along the Luena and Luampa...
, under Chief Mwene Mutondo
Mutondo
-References:* *...
and Chief Kahare
Kahare
-References:* *...
of the Nkoya people.
Landmarks
The landmarks within the town of Kaoma or close to its borders include the following:- The headquarters of Kaoma District AdministrationKaoma DistrictKaoma District with headquarters at Kaoma, Zambia is located in the north-east corner of Western Province. As of the 2000 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 162,568 people.The population lives mainly around Kaoma town and the northern parts of the district along the Luena and Luampa...
- The offices of Kaoma Town Council
- A branch of Finance Bank Zambia LimitedFinance Bank Zambia LimitedFinance Bank Zambia Limited , commonly referred to as Finance Bank, is a commercial bank in Zambia. It is one of the eighteen licensed commercial banks in the country, as of October 2010...
(FBZ) - Kaoma Airport - A public, civilian airport, with one runwayRunwayAccording to ICAO a runway is a "defined rectangular area on a land aerodrome prepared for the landing and take-off of aircraft." Runways may be a man-made surface or a natural surface .- Orientation and dimensions :Runways are named by a number between 01 and 36, which is generally one tenth...
. - Kaoma Farmers Market - The largest source of fresh produce in the town.
- Kaoma District Hospital - A public 100-bed hospital.
- Kaoma Cheshire Orphanage - An orphanage administered by the IrishIrelandIreland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
charity, Touch Ireland. The orphanage takes care of an estimated 70 AIDSAIDSAcquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
orphans, from birth to 4 years of age. - Murals by Kozhi Kawina - This local artist has painted the murals on the walls of the district hospital, the doctors' residences and the Cheshire orphanage.
New district hospital
A new district hospital is under construction, to replace the old buildings of the old hospital, which was constructed in the 1950s. Funding for the new hospital is through donations from overseas charitable organizations including:- Foundation Medical Committee Kaoma, an initiative by donors from the NetherlandsNetherlandsThe Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
. - TOUCH Ireland, a charitable organization based in the Republic of IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
. - They will build the children's wing of the new hospital. - Orange Babies, another charity based in the Netherlands - They will construct the women's wingMaternityMaternity or motherhood is the social and legal acknowledgment of the parental relationship between a mother and her child.It is specially related with the protection of the baby and the mother within and after the childbirth.-See also:...
of the new hospital. - The hospital is still seeking new donors to complete the project.
