WELCOME TO MONZE DISTRICT

Monze The Heartbeat of Tonga Heritage and Agricultural Vitality

Monze District, nestled in the Southern Province of Zambia, lies along the Great North Road, approximately 180 kilometers south of Lusaka. The District is a cultural stronghold of the Tonga people and one of Zambia’s cornerstone of  agricultural economy.

The District shares boundaries with Gwembe, Pemba, Namwala and Mazabuka.

Monze became a District in 1970 and covers an area of around 4,770.7 square kilometres with a total population of 268,432 out of which 130,412 are males and 138,020 are females as per 2022 Census Report, (CSO 2022).  The District is governed under two types of land tenure systems namely Customary and Leasehold Land Tenure.

It can distinctly be divided into three main physiographic regions. The first is the Southeastern part which has steep slopes and most of the rivers and storm water flows into Lake Kariba. The second region is the Central High Plateau area which consists of soft undulating old plain (ideal for maize growing) and thirdly the Northwest low flat plain where the Kafue flats and Lochinvar National Park fall.

AGRICULTURE

Agricultural Powerhouse: Monze is renowned as the “home of cattle,” with a thriving livestock sector and expansive maize, groundnut, and vegetable farming. The district’s fertile plains and favorable climate make it a breadbasket for the nation.

TOURIST AND CULTURE

Lochinvar National Park: Located on the southern edge of the Kafue Flats, this park is a biodiversity haven famous for its large herds of Kafue lechwe, over 400 bird species, and hot springs. It offers eco-tourism potential and is a key conservation area in the region. As a gateway between Lusaka and Livingstone, Monze connects trade, tourism, and cultural exchange across Southern Zambia.

Monze District is a custodian of rich cultural traditions, celebrated through vibrant annual ceremonies:

-Lwiindi Gonde Ceremony: Held at the sacred Gonde shrine near Chief Monze’s palace, this is a spiritual thanksgiving for rain and harvest. It draws thousands of pilgrims and dignitaries, featuring traditional dances, drumming, and ancestral rituals.

-Lwanza Ceremony: Celebrated by the Lundwe-speaking people of Bweengwa under Senior Chief Hamusonde, this event honors ancestral spirits and showcases the district’s cattle heritage and communal unity.

-Samulyamoomba Ceremony: A lesser-known but culturally significant event celebrated by the Subiya-speaking community in the parts of Monze. It emphasizes ancestral reverence, traditional governance, and the preservation of indigenous customs through music, dance, and storytelling.

A transparent municpal council anchored on effective and efficient delivery of services to the public.

To provide quality and equitable services to the public in a transparent,accountable and sustainable manner

  • Quality of service
  • Equitable of service
  • Transparency
  • Accountable
  • Sustainability

 

©2022. SMART Zambia Institute. All Rights Reserved.