#easternprovince

the name and the renaming: the city was known for its entire colonial existence as fort jameson — named after leander starr jameson, whose most famous act was the botched 1895 jameson raid. at independence in 1964, fort jameson became chipata — from the chewa word "chimpata," meaning "large space," a reference to the town's situation in a shallow valley between hills.

the colonial origins: fort jameson was established in 1899 and served as the administrative capital of north-eastern rhodesia from 1901 until 1911. this makes chipata, alongside livingstone, one of only two cities in zambia that can claim to have been a capital.

the geography of the crossing: chipata sits approximately 570km east of lusaka — and approximately 130km from lilongwe, malawi's capital. closer to malawi's capital than to the nearest major zambian city. the mwami border post, 20km east, is one of zambia's busiest land border crossings.

the railway connection: in august 2011, after three decades of planning, the rail link connecting chipata to mchinji in malawi opened — making chipata the zambian railhead for the nacala corridor, running through malawi to the deep-water port at nacala in mozambique. chipata and the lobito corridor together give zambia access, in principle, to both the atlantic ocean and the indian ocean by rail.

the agricultural economy: eastern province accounts for approximately 19-20% of zambia's total agricultural production. chipata is its administrative hub and primary market. the chipata central market — more than 900 stalls — is the daily commercial centre for one of zambia's most agriculturally productive regions.

the nc'wala ceremony: held at mutenguleni village on the outskirts of chipata each february — a first fruits ceremony of the ngoni people, drawing tens of thousands of attendees. at nc'wala time, chipata is one of the most culturally alive cities in the country.

the cycling city: called the "amsterdam of zambia" — the bicycle is the dominant mode of daily transport, more than any other major zambian city. not a hobby. a working vehicle.

chipata is the series' first city defined not by mining but by its position at the edge of one country and the beginning of another. growing because trade crosses borders. mattering because the land around it feeds people.

the zambian cities series continues. 🇿🇲🏙

the nsenga are a bantu ethnic group found primarily in petauke and nyimba districts of eastern province and in adjacent mozambique. their senior chief is kalindawalo m'ndikula, residing in merwe approximately 10 kilometres from petauke boma. his subjects include chiefs mwape, nyamphande, nyanje, mumbi, sandwe, nyalugwe, ndake, lwembe, and mwanjaw'anthu — a network of chiefdoms covering the territory between the luangwa valley and the eastern edge of the central plateau.

the nsenga language — chinsenga — is closely related to chinyanja and mutually intelligible with it. historical review shows the nsenga were to a large extent influenced by the chewa in language, culture, and way of living.

the tuwimba ceremony — held every 15 october. the founding story: one year, in the distant past, there was a severe drought. the rains did not arrive. the ground did not soften. no planting. no food. the chief led all the nsenga people into the deep bush, where they found a huge special tree. they prayed to the spirits at this tree and made offerings — tuwimba. before the tribe even got back to their homes, it had started to rain.

now every year on 15 october, the nsenga celebrate tuwimba at the precise moment when the ground needs to soften for planting. paramount chief kalindawalo makes an offering at the traditional shrine. groups of choirs and dance troupes from all over the nsenga-speaking areas. the nsongwe dance — the lively, energetic expression of joy and unity. in good years, ten thousand or more people attend.

petauke district is especially known for its kalimba music — the melodic, soulful thumb piano played during ceremonies and social gatherings. the nsenga are well known for their culture and artwork including bead work and basketry. they grow groundnuts as both a consumption crop and a cash crop. and they are warmly teased by their neighbours for their mbewa — the field mice that are a delicacy in eastern province.

the nsenga. petauke. chief kalindawalo. kachilonda village.

soybeans — glycine max — were introduced to zambia in the twentieth century as a commercial crop and have expanded dramatically since the 1990s, driven by growing demand for soybean meal — the protein-rich by-product of oil extraction that is the primary ingredient in commercial animal feed. zambia is now one of the largest soybean producers in southern africa, with production concentrated in eastern province — particularly chipata, lundazi, and petauke districts.

the economics are fundamentally different from maize. maize under the food reserve agency's guaranteed pricing system offers a predictable but relatively low return. soybeans, traded into the commercial animal feed market at prices set by regional supply and demand, can generate significantly higher returns when prices are favourable.

the agronomic advantage: soybeans fix nitrogen in the soil through a symbiotic relationship with bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteria living in nodules on the soybean roots. a field that has grown soybeans carries significantly higher nitrogen levels after harvest — reducing the fertiliser requirement for the next crop. in a country where fertiliser costs are one of the most significant constraints on smallholder profitability, this is not merely an agronomic nicety. it is an economic advantage.

the maize-soybean rotation: alternating maize and soybeans in the same field across seasons, reducing the maize crop's fertiliser requirement while generating soybean income and breaking disease and pest cycles. the eastern province smallholder who has adopted this rotation is producing better maize yields at lower input cost while also earning from soybeans — a double benefit the maize-only farmer cannot access.

market infrastructure: the chipata area has become one of the most commercially active agricultural zones in zambia, with aggregator traders, commodity buyers, and processing facilities creating the market access infrastructure that makes soybean production viable for smallholder farmers at scale.

the challenge: price volatility. soybean prices move with regional and international commodity markets — unlike maize under the FRA system. the farmer who cannot navigate commodity price cycles can find a commercially viable crop becoming a loss-making one in a single season.

the crop that fixes nitrogen in the soil and money in the pocket. quietly transforming the landscape of eastern province.

the zambian agriculture series continues. 🇿🇲🌾

Work has officially started on The Avenues – Khobar, a large-scale mixed-use destination taking shape at the northwest corner of King Saud Road and Prince Sultan Road. Developed by Shomoul Holding, the project is scheduled to open in 2027. It will bring a new urban landmark to the Eastern Province.

Project Profile

The development spans a land area of about 198,000 sqm, with a total built-up area of 696,000 sqm. This includes 167,000 sqm of leasable space. Its design organizes the site into eight distinct districts: The Plaza, Grand Avenue, The Souk, Urban Walk, The Gardens, among others. They offer a mix of retail outlets, over ten cinema halls, dining venues, and landscaped public areas.

Conceptual rendering of the interior spaces of The Avenues – Khobar, expected to open in Q4 2027.

Towers and Hospitality

Two towers will anchor the project: one hosting a Four Seasons Hotel. The other will accommodate a Hilton Canopy Hotel along with office spaces. The development also provides more than 6,000 parking spaces and has achieved LEED Gold pre-Certification, reflecting its sustainability goals.

Execution and Financing

The first phase of the project is valued at around SAR 7.3 billion (USD 1.95 billion). Construction is being led by a consortium of Al Kifah Contracting and Ahmadiah Contracting, with architectural input from Pace. In late 2023, Shomoul Holding secured financing through Saudi banks and the Saudi Tourism Development Fund.

Modern architectural façade of The Avenues – Khobar, part of Saudi Vision 2030 projects

Timeline and Impact

Progress on-site has outpaced initial plans in some phases. Once completed, the development is expected to generate more than 10,000 jobs. This makes it a significant addition to the region’s economic and urban landscape.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight