Kasama, Zambia

Overview

Kasama is in the heartland of the Bemba tribe whose Paramount Chief Chitimukulu has his headquarters 9 kilometres (6 miles) from Malole mission which is 50 kilometres (31 miles) from the centre of Kasama town.

In 1898/9 a crisis over the succession of the Chitimukulu led to Bishop Joseph 'Moto Moto' Dupont gaining the agreement of Bemba chiefs to the British colonial Administrator of North-Eastern Rhodesia, Robert Codrington taking control of the area. Codrington established a boma at Kasama and the town's central location as well as its closeness to Chitimukulu's court led to it eventually becoming the largest and dominant town of the north-eastern lobe of what became Northern Rhodesia then Zambia.

Economic activities

The town has a few modern facilities, among them are a Shoprite Checkers branch, budget stores, a local supermarket called PJT and four bakeries. The town has banking services, with banks such as Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO), National Savings and Credit Bank (NATSAVE), Finance Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, Cavmont Bank, Barclays Bank and African Banking Cooperation (Bank A.B.C)and INDO Zambia Bank. The town has VISA and ATM services.

Most people in Kasama are unemployed and they run small businesses to earn a living. Kasama has around six internet cafes where people can access internet services. The hospital is the Kasama General that provides locals with health services. The town has a police station and several police posts.

Suburbs

Kasama has the following residential compounds within the district council boundaries:

The compounds below are out of the council boundary:

Transport

Kasama sits in the middle of four major roads: the Kasama - Mpika road, the Kasama - Mbala road (which are part of Zambia's Great North Road), the Kasama - Luwingu road and the Kasama - Mungwi/Isoka road; all of which are tarred roads.

The 1,067 mm (3 ft 6 in) gauge TAZARA Railway connects Tanzania to the north via Kasama, with Zambia Railways at Kapiri Mposhi in the south.

The town also has an (Kasama Airport|airport under going upgrade to accommodate big aircraft it will be raedy by the end of 2017) that can accommodate small aircraft. The airport was first used by Germany during World War I.

Recreation

Kasama recreational facilities include the Kasama golf club, which also offers tennis, volleyball, badminton, body building, and a small football ground with one stand that can seat less than a thousand people. The town has other football grounds where people can play soccer.

There are resorts at Chishimba Falls and guest houses and lodges such as the Chinchi's Nest and Kings Guest House, and 3 nightclubs.

World War I

At the end of World War I, when it consisted of a handful of government offices and a dozen stores, it was evacuated by its British population of a couple of dozen in the face of a surprise raid from the north-east by German East African forces under General Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck. Not knowing that the armistice had occurred in Europe the day before, the Germans took the abandoned town on November 12, 1918 and continued south-west (there was no battle at Kasama since the British imperial forces were at Abercorn), agreeing a cease-fire at the Chambeshi River on November 14 when they were informed of the German surrender in Europe. For further details, see Von Lettow-Vorbeck Memorial.

Art

It is known for the Stone Age rock art in the surrounding area. The Chishimba Falls also lie near the town.