UPND Alliance New Dawn eyes Kasaba Bay, to build Northern ‘Tourism’ Circuit

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UPND Alliance New Dawn eyes Kasaba Bay, to build Northern ‘Tourism’ Circuit 

By DERRICK SINJELA and Citizen Journalist Saeed Simon Banda

CHITIMBWA Community Resources Trust (CCRT) a local based organization with the mandate to sustainably develop manage and conserve all the natural resources available in Chitimbwa Chiefdom of Mpulungu district in the Northern Province is delighted with a pronouncement by Tourism Minister Rodney Malindi Sikumba targeting revival of Kasaba Bay as an anchor to Zambia’s Northern Circuit.

CCRT Coordinator Given Mung’omba showered praise on the United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance News Dawn Administration for securing a US$100 million funding from the World Bank to develop Kasaba Bay and every hospitality facility surrounding it.

Currently serving as Livingstone Central Member of Parliament (MP) in the Southern Province, Mr. Sikumba says the restoration of Kasaba Bay is a travel incentive meant to attract tourists to
to sample iconic hospitality situated in Nsumbu National Park on the shores of Lake Tanganyika in Northern Province.

Nsumbu National Park is shared by two Chiefdoms namely; Senior Chief Nsama at 60 per cent and Chief Chitimbwa at 40 per cent.

“Kasaba Bay used to be a retreat facility for the former first Republican President Dr Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda, who time without number met international guests their.

“As CCRT, we agree with the Minister of Tourism that the Northern Circuit has a rich and diverse tourism product base which includes waterfalls, lakes, wildlife, traditional ceremonies and unspoilt white sandy beaches, cultural heritage and natural heritage sites,” said Mung’omba, once Mpulungu Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) and a former Science Technology and Vocational Training Deputy Minister.

Chitimbwa Community Resources Trust (CCRT) members Susan Mulambya, Given Mung’omba, Mr. Rhidah Mung’omba and legal Adviser, Duncan M. Mutumiya met Mr. Sikumba in early 2022, while Senior Chief Nsama and Chief Chitimbwa continue promoting natural resource conservation in the two chiefdoms.

The conservationists enjoy rapport with Senior Chief Tafuna of Lungu Speaking People of Mpulungu, Mbala District and Mayor of Mpulungu

Chitimbwa is a chiefdom under Chief Chitimbwa of Lungu Speaking People in Mpulungu District in Northern Province, within Mpulungu Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Leonard Mbao, currently serving as Northern Province Minister.

Location

Mpulungu is a town in the Northern Province of Zambia, at the southern tip of Lake Tanganyika.

From Mpulungu, boats reach DR Congo, Tanzania and Burundi. The MV Liemba ferry sails from Mpulungu to Kasanga and Kigoma in western Tanzania, with connections from there to Bujumbura.

Mpulungu is also a fishing port and lies at the end of the old Great North Road.

Transport

In 2007, that is five years ago, it was proposed to give Mpulungu rail access with a junction off the TAZARA line at Nseluka.[2] This link plus another between Mpika and Mchinji would greater shorten the rail distance to a deepwater port at Nacala in Mozambique.

History

In the period up to the First World War and for about a decade afterwards, all vessels at the southern end of Lake Tanganyika had to lie offshore at Katuta Bay and unload by lighter or local canoe. This was thought highly unsatisfactory as the SS Liemba was then exposed on a lee shore to storms from the Northerly trade winds which could cause a dangerous sharp swell in the shallow waters of the bay.

Also the ship’s derricks could not be used efficiently to unload heavier or bulk cargoes like bags of cement or large oil drums.

J.H. Venning, the British South Africa Company Provincial Commissioner in Abercorn – then the Provincial Headquarters – had imported an ex Union Castle Line lifeboat that he used for fishing on the lake. During the course of these expeditions he had come to regard the channel between Kumbula Island and the shore line at Mpulungu as a safe haven. One evening he was discussing the Katuta Bay problem with the Captain of the SS Liemba and mentioned the protected channel. Between them they then formed a plan to take the Governor, who was to visit shortly, on a fishing trip.

The fishing expedition duly took place in 1925. Venning took his boat into the channel and they landed and had a splendid picnic provided by the cook of the SS Liemba. When everyone was comfortable and excellent fishing and a good lunch and Champagne been enjoyed, Venning turned to the Captain of SS Liemba and said in as casual a tone of voice “Wouldn’t this make a good place for a harbour?”

The Captain then replied with enthusiasm pointing out its many advantages.

The Governor, at his ease and relaxed, then asked how much Venning thought it would cost.

He probably thought that the cost would be so great that he could rule it out immediately. But Venning said “ Well I think I could fix it up for about £50” While £50 was a considerable sum in those far off days it was still far below a realistic cost. Venning knew that the Governor had discretion to spend £50 on his own say-so without having to go through estimates, budget and treasury procedures.

The Governor, maybe by then Sir Herbert Stanley, told Venning to go ahead. Venning knew that, with a little judicious juggling of funds and the use of the prisoners from Abercorn jail, he could construct the 27 mile road on a route he had already surveyed. He later obtain a grant of a further £150 to improve the road bridges, and build a jetty and a Customs warehouse. A Wharf was constructed by Tanganyika Railways in the 1930.

This was all completed on “budget” and Mpulungu was founded as the southern Transport Terminus of Lake Tanganyika.

Sport

Mpulungu Harbour Football Club, who play at the Muzabwela Grounds, gained promotion in 2019 to the Zambian Division One League, sponsored by Eden University.