Luanshya Town

Luanshya: The Garden Town of Zambia

Explore its history, culture, and scenic beauty

Figure 1- Luanshya town entrance
Figure 1- Luanshya town entrance
Figure 2- William Collier Monument next to a flame tree
Figure 3 - Lake Kashiba

Overview

Luanshya District, P. 212,864, is located on the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. GPS Coordinates -13.13667 28.41661.  The District is 337 kilometers from the capital city, Lusaka, and 35 kilometers from Ndola, the Provincial headquarters of the Copperbelt Province. The town is governed by a Municipal Council. 

Perhaps Luanshya is best known in Zambia as the walled town, which is not entirely accurate. There’s a wall fence on either side of the entrance to the main town with a metal arch linking the two walls welcoming visitors to the Garden Town. Streets in the low density area of the town simply known as Newtown are named after flowers and plants in alphabetical order, hence the Garden town term. Newtown is alive in the summer months with blooming flame and Jacaranda trees. Until the early 2000s the town was anchored by a beautiful public garden reminiscent of a mini Hyde Park. 

Luanshya is beautiful fertile land with abundant water. Rural Luanshya, Ibenga and Mpongwe (KwiLamba – home of the Lamba Tribe) have some of the largest farms in Zambia, the most popular being the Nampamba farms owned by Zambeef. The best mangoes and vegetables come from kwi Lamba.  Lake Kashiba, a collection of picturesque sunken pools is also located there. 

Copper was first discovered in Luanshya in 1902 by colonialist William Collier, at a site which became the Roan Antelope Copper Mine, ode to a roan antelope that William hunted and fell dead on a rock where a visible seam of malachite, a copper ore was exposed. Roan Antelope mine was the first copper mine in Zambia with commercial mining operations beginning in 1927. William’s discovery is marked by a monument at the mine site made up of copper plates with a plaque in his honor. 

Luanshya Facts

  • Luanshya is home to the Dagama Home for Handicapped children. The only such facility in Zambia.
  • Luanshya is home to the legendary Ibenga Girls Secondary School which was founded as St. Theresa Secondary School is 1962 and run by the Dominican sisters. The buildings were constructed by the Franciscan Missionary Fathers
  • Luanshya’s Golf Course, established in 1928 on both sides of the Luanshya River, was the first Golf course in Zambia. 
  • The bicycle rack at Luanshya Library is the original one from 1965. These days its missing bicycles.
  • The Luanshya public swimming pool is the only Olympic size swimming pool in Zambia.
  • The goal poles at Luanshya Rugby Club formerly held the Guinness World Record for the tallest rugby posts in the world at (110) ft (6) inches). The Club was founded in 1928. The record is now held by Wednesbury RUFC in the UK.  
  • Luanshya is home to the Zambia Metal and Fabricating Company (ZAMEFA)
  • In the 1950’s The American stake in the copper belt was large. American Metal Climax, Inc., owned 32.65 per cent of the outstanding stock of Roan Antelope Copper Mines, Ltd. American Metal Climax also owned 50.61 per cent of the Rhodesian Selection Trust Group, but its stock was listed separately. Roan Antelope cast its first copper in October, 1931.