Fort Jameson
| Chipata | |
|---|---|
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 Chipata
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| Coordinates: 13°39′S 32°38′E / 13.650°S 32.633°E | |
| Country |
 Zambia
|
| Province | Eastern Province |
| District | Chipata District |
| Founded | 1899 |
| City status | 2017 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Local Government |
| • Mayor | Sinoya Mwale |
| Elevation | 3,740 ft (1,140 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 455,783 |
| • Density | 176/sq mi (68.1/km2) |
| Time zone | Central Africa Time (UTC+2) |
| Climate | Aw |
Chipata is the 5th developed City in Zambia, behind Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe and Livingstone. Its population is 455,783. Chipata was declared a city by President Edgar Lungu on 24 February 2017 after growth of the town in the recent years. Chipata is the capital of the Eastern Province of Zambia. Having a town, a modern market, a central hospital, shopping malls, University, Colleges and a number of schools, Chipata is the business and administrative hub of the region. The town boasts a four star hotel, a golf course, an airport, a mosque, and a "welcome arch". Developed areas includes Kalongwezi, Moth, and Bombay.
Chipata is the regional head of the Ngoni of Zambia. As such, Ngoni is the primary language, although Nyanja and English are widely spoken, plus some Indian languages, as a large number of Zambian Indians live in the town. It is located near the border with Malawi, and lies on the Great East Road which connects the capitals Lilongwe (130 km) and Lusaka (550 km). It is a popular access point for the South Luangwa National Park.
Chipata's name comes from the Ngoni word "Chimpata" meaning "large space," in reference to the town's situation in a shallow valley between hills. The name of the central neighbourhood of Kapata, the original centre of town, comes from the Ngoni word meaning "small space."
Chipata was formerly known as Fort Jameson (and informally as "Fort Jimmy"), being named after Leander Starr Jameson, a 19th-century politician and adventurer. Even during the colonial period, few agreed that Jameson, who is mainly known for his part in the unwise Jameson Raid, fully deserved the honour of having any town named after him. Like 'Fort Manning' and 'Fort Rosebery', Fort Jameson was called a "fort" because the local government offices, the "boma", were once fortified.
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Wikipedia