Dondo (Angola)

Province

Dondo is a city in Angola. It is the capital of the circle ( Municipio ) of Cambambe, in the province of Cuanza Norte. The river flows through Cuanza Dondo.

History

Its history dates back to the 14th century. The place was called Mbanza Kabaza ( Kimbundu for: royal residence ) and hosted in 1625 the largest market of Ngola Empire. In the course of progressive Portuguese colonization and this area came later in the 17th century under the control of the Portuguese, who, among other things here the Fortaleza de Cambambe and the Igreja de Nossa Senhora do Rosário ( the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary ) built.

1771 founded the Portuguese Francisco Coutinho Inocêncio in Nova Oeira ( now the town Massangano ) an iron foundry, which is considered here as first metal factory in Africa. Dondo 1857 seat of a separate circuit ( concelho ) and counted about 100 Portuguese among its inhabitants. The town continued to grow, particularly due to the influx of residents of the 17 km from the village of Aldeia do Soba Kambambe. The county was named after Cambambe. 1870 Dondo was raised to the small town ( Vila ) and took particular through agricultural production further upswing. 1941 the railway line from Zenza do Itombe was opened after Dondo, a branch line of the Luandabahn. Arisen in consequence of the improved transport routes here a number of plants ( cotton processing Ambriz, building materials industry, textile factory Satec, wine sales Vinelo ), especially after the opening of built since 1958 hydroelectric power plant of Cambambe Dam in 1960. On May 29, 1973 Dondo was to the city ( Cidade ) levied.

Attractions

The fortress, which was built in her church from the 17th century are the oldest monuments Dondos. In connection with the construction of the power plant and the dam in 1958 created a number of new buildings, such as the futuristic hostel Pousada do Complexo de Hidro - Elétrico Cambambe.

Near the river bank is the resultant in the 1950s, now Grade II listed hotel Marginal. In addition, trees provide riverfront in downtown shadows and invite you to stay by the river.

Economy

The municipality has a 200 -hectare industrial park for about 70 plants. It was created in 2013 as part of a state program for the re-industrialization of the circles Cambambe and Lucala. In earlier times were, inter alia, in Dondo Companies in the textile industry, the wine trade, the cotton processing, and building materials industries. Also, the water power plant of Cambambe and the EKA brewery, both originating from the colonial era, are here today and survived as the only company in the place the Angolan civil war in full operation.

2013 Japanese investments have been known in the start-up of two textile factories in Dondo. On the site of the former textile factory Satec (later Bula Matadi l) by 2015 1,500 new direct jobs. Also, two companies in the food industry of the agricultural undertaking GENios Angola want to settle here.

Next of importance is the river fishing and agriculture, the main crops are bananas, cassava, beans, sweet potatoes and citrus fruits.