Zumbo

Province

Zumbo (including Vila do Zumbo ) is a Mozambican border town with Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Geography

Zumbo is on 347 m above sea level at the confluence of the Luangwa in the Zambezi. On the opposite bank of the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe is Kanyemba, on the opposite bank of the Luangwa the village Luangwa in Zambia. Zumbo is the seat of the administrative district of the same name ( Tete province ).

Population

Zumbo has 33,000 inhabitants ( 2005).

History

Zumbos history dates back to the Munhumutapa Empire, supposed to have belonged to the Zumbo. In the 17th century, the Portuguese established a trading post for ivory from the Bangweulusümpfen that they acted on Petauke. Played an important role in this case Indians from Goa, which made considerable fortune in mines or as a dealer. Zumbo experienced a long period of prosperity, even as a tourist and hunting center. The city was the far inland economically and politically dominant city until the Treaty of 1890 between Great Britain and Portugal. In the Mozambican Civil War, the city was due to its key position at the upper end of the reservoir of the Cahora Bassa Dam and at the borders is highly competitive, which resulted in widespread destruction. The population fled during this period to Zambia and Zimbabwe. When she returned after the war, lived wild animals in the ruins of the houses. The area is heavily infested with landmines, although now many have been cleared.

Economy and infrastructure

Today Zumbo builds on the former tourist tradition again. There is a functioning tourist office, also a number of operators for safaris on water and on land and hunts.

The possibilities of the industry are not fully understood. Portuguese geologists called the rock here ultrabasic dykes. Earlier gold was mined here. Diamonds are suspected. Coal is already degraded.

In the region of rice, cassava and beans are grown.

In the district, there is an increased smuggling activity. People are brought to Zimbabwe, from where they try in the Republic of South Africa to travel further. For the way to Zimbabwe they pay 300 U.S. dollars ( 2005).

2006 is one of a study of the Institute of Agricultural Research of Mozambique Zumbo district in 2002 and 2003 to those with high incomes in Mozambique.

The road to Tete since the flood in 2001 in poor condition or impassable. The way by boat across the lake is the most secure connection with Tete, unless you want to take the streets about Zambia or Zimbabwe. The ship Kuza runs every two weeks from Songo to the Cahora Bassa dam and is notoriously overcrowded. Zumbo has a power supply, but that only works if the Kuza has brought diesel. The drinking water supply in 2006 was still broke.