Mufulira


Mufulira, is a town in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. Mufulira means "Place of Abundance and Peace". The town developed around the Mufulira Copper Mine in the 1930s. The town also serves as the administrative capital of Mufulira District.

Location

Mufulira is located approximately southwest of the town of Mokambo, at the international border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A tarmacked highway to the south-west connects Mufulira to Kitwe, away.
The city of Ndola, the commercial and transport hub of the Copperbelt, lies approximately, by road, southeast of Mufulira. A shorter, less well-maintained road exists and measures.
The geographical coordinates of Mufulira are:12°32'08.0"S, 28°14'31.0"E. Mufulira sits at an average elevation of above mean sea level.

Overview

The town of Mufulira developed around the Mufulira Copper Mine in the 1930s. A branch of Zambia Railways, carrying freight only, serves the mine. Mufulira is the western end of the Congo Pedicle road connecting the Copperbelt to the Luapula Province, making that province Mufulira's commercial hinterland.

Population

In 1990, the population of Mufulira was 123,936 people. In 2000, there were 122,336 people. The 2010 population census and household survey enumerated the population of the town at 151,309 inhabitants. The table below illustrates the same data in tabular format.
YearPopulation
1990123,936
2000122,336
2010151,309

Economy

The Mufulira Mine is now owned and operated by Mopani Copper Mines, which employs 10,000 permanent workers and produced about of copper bars in 2007. The Mufulira Copper Smelter was rehabilitated by SMEC South Africa. Production and employment levels went down from the 1969 peak when the Copperbelt made Zambia the world's 4th largest copper producer.

Sports

In Zambia, Mufulira is well known for being the home of the successful Mufulira Wanderers F.C., a professional soccer club.

Notable people