Katete

Katete is a town with 12,500 inhabitants ( 2006 estimate ) on the Great East Road in the Eastern Province in Zambia. It is located 1,276 meters above sea level and is the seat of the administration of the district of the same with 3989 km ² and 223 947 people ( 2005).

Economy

Katete is like the neighboring district Chadiza a cotton -growing region. Both had a 2005 tax revenue from cotton of 600,000 U.S. dollars. Furthermore, it is agrarian in nature with livestock. Cattle, goats, pigs and chickens are kept. The soils are poor in nitrogen leached by maize cultivation without fertilization. To plant trees for soil improvement, was in 1994 one of the objectives in this region and shows good results, so that " Agroforestry " is now a self-runner among the peasants. In the meantime, can be achieved with irrigation two harvests a year, as a deep well was drilled.

The district Katete is better known for his malnutrition, of which half of the people are affected. Cotton farmers who grow on a contractual basis, could reach 2005 years of income of 1,000 euros. Main problems are the low rainfall and erosion due to the timber causes for soil extraction and charcoal production. In addition, the soils are different in Petauke sandy and therefore can hardly save water. The road network in the district is considered adequate, but inadequately maintained. Many compounds are impassable in the rainy season.

In the area between Katete and Petauke Aquamarine is found, obtain the U.S. $ 800 per carat.

Infrastructure

The St. Francis Hospital just before the village Katete with 350 beds is the main facility and the largest of its kind in Zambia. It has, church institutions, and is free in this densely populated area, of which 50 % are under 15 years old. 20 % of the population are infected with the HIV virus, the life expectancy is 33 years, infant mortality at 180 per 1,000 births ( national average: 87 of 1000). This hospital has evolved into a center for treatment in Zambia - with a corresponding presence in medical and developmental journals.

There are shops, a supermarket, a cotton mill, primary and secondary schools ( the Humboldt -Gymnasium in Berlin- Tegel collects money since 2004 for buildings, benches and tables ) and an unpaved, 1,000 -meter-long airstrip.