Katanda Territory
| Katanda | |
|---|---|
| Territory | |
_-_Kasa%C3%AF-Oriental.svg) |
|
| Coordinates: 06°15′30″S 23°55′37″W / 6.25833°S 23.92694°W | |
| Country |
 Democratic Republic of the Congo
|
| Province | Kasai-Oriental |
| Founded | 1962 |
| Created | 18 January 1978 |
| Headquarters | Katanda Town |
| Largest river | Lubilanji lulua Tshilemba |
| Government | |
| • AT | Jean |
| • Parliamentary1 | Kasongo Munganga |
| • Parliamentary2 | Mukuna Madimba |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1,836 km2 (709 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 666 m (2,185 ft) |
| Population (2015) | |
| • Total | 556,676 |
| • Density | 300/km2 (790/sq mi) |
| Languages | |
| • Official | French |
| • National | Tshiluba |
| Time zone | Congo eastern time (UTC+02:00) |
Katanda is one of those five territories which, along with the city of Mbuji-Mayi, constitute the current Congolese province of Kasai-Oriental.The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is made up of 192 territories and 20 cities which are grouped in 26 provinces including Kinshasa, the capital city. Katanda Territory is sectioned into four sectors: Baluba-Lubilanji, Mutwayi, Nsangu, and Tshitolo. The territory is also endowed with three towns (Katanda, Tshala and Tshitenge). Katanda Town is the headquarters of both Katanda Territory and Baluba-Lubilanji Sector as well; this town is located on the top of the hill in the Bena Nshimba Grouping. Tshala town, in the Bakwa Ndaba Grouping, is also famous because of its power station on the Tshala River that supplies power to Mbuji-Mayi city and its neighborhoods. So, Tshitenge Town which is well known for its diamond businesses is in the Bena Nshimba Grouping.
What does mean Katanda? Katanda simply means "small hangar".
Once happen the time somewhere on the hill, there was a single mother who used to sell her goods in her small hangar. With time, this small hangar became a meeting place for youth from everywhere and some travelers as well. So, when the Belgian settlers arrived to implant the Colo-Cotton (the colonial cotton industry), they asked to autochthons for the name of that place and they all replied "Katanda", by reference to that single woman's small hangar. Katanda then became the name of the state post of settlers installed in 1924, comprising only a part of the Bena Nshimba Grouping which is located on the hill of the town of Katanda.
The territory of Katanda originated from a colonial native constituency. During the precolonial period, this territory was ignored. On 1962, under the Provincial Governor Joseph Ngalula Mpanda-Njila, Katanda became a borough, which was made up of the actual territory of Katanda, including Bena Kalambayi Chiefdom and Bena Nomba Grouping. At that time, this borough was partitioned into rural communes. Katanda Territory was created on 1978, by Ordinance Law n 78/18 of 18 January 1978. Further on 1982, Katanda Territory was divided into four sectors and one town (Katanda Town).
Katanda is located at 60 km southwest of Mbuji Mayi City, the capital of East Kasai Province, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Katanda Territory is bounded to the north by Lusambo Territory (currently the town of the new province of Sankuru); to the northwest by Lupatapata Territory; to the south by Ngandajika Territory (Lomami); to the east by Kabinda Territory (Lomami); and to the west by both Tshilenge Territory and Mbuji Mayi City. Katanda lies approximately between 23 °42' 5” and 24 ° East longitudes, then 6° 17' 5” and 6 ° 25'3” South latitude.
...
Wikipedia