Katembe is situated on Maputo Bay, on the Indian Ocean, south of where the rivers Tembe, Mbuluzi, Matola and Infulene converge. It is approximately, by road, south of the central business district of Maputo. Prior to the construction of the Maputo–Katembe bridge, the circuitous road route was long. The geographical coordinates of Katembe are 26°00'18.0"S, 32°33'35.0"E.
Overview
Katembe is connected to the rest of Maputo, by the Maputo-Katembe Bridge, a infrastructure development, constructed between June 6, 2014 and 10 November 2018. The bridge cost US$785 million to construct, 90 percent funded by a loan from the Export-Import Bank of China, with the Mozambican government founding the remaining 10 percent.
Geography
Katembe is located on the south-western side of Maputo Bay, near the Estuário do Espírito Santo where the rivers Tembe, Umbeluzi, Matola and Infulene drain. The bay is long and wide. At the extreme east of Katembe and the bay is the island of Inhaca. Katembe is north of Ponta do Ouro, at the border with South Africa.
Administrative subdivisions
Maputo, is divided into seven main administrative divisions. Each of these consists of several smaller city quarters or bairros. Katembe is an urban district and is a component of the city of Maputo. Its administrative divisions include Gwachene, Chale, Inguice, Xamissava, and Inkassane.
Population
In 2018, the population of Katembe urban district was estimated at approximately 25,000 people, mainly of the Tembe ethnic lineage, who are closely related to the Swazi royal lineage and the Tsonga people of Maputaland, in South Africa.
Transport
;Maputo-Katembe Bridge The iconic twin-tower bridge and connecting roads was constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation. It is the longest suspension bridge on the African continent. It is part of a, highway that will directly link the capital city Maputo to the border with South Africa. The bridge is a four-lane dual carriageway with maximum speed design of. Over 20,000 jobs, both full-time and part-time, were created during its construction. As of May 2018, 3,788 Mozambicans were still employed along with 467 Chinese nationals. ;Ferries Ferry boats departing from Maputo to the district of Katembe are available during the week. A ferry can carry approximately 20 vehicles per trip. Some ferries are privately owned, while others are government-owned.
