Central Province

We welcome you to Central Province, a food basket for Zambia.

Central Province lies at the heart of Zambia and shares borders with eight of the nine other Provinces of the country. The Province which occupies a total surface area of 108,460 square kilometers also borders the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in the north. It is divided into 11 Districts with a total population of 2,252,483 people drawn from 448,490 households with a population density of 23.9 per square meter, according to the 2022 National Census. The districts includes Chibombo which is the country’s fourth largest in terms of population as well as Kabwe the Provincial Capital and first mining town in Zambia. Other districts are Shibuyunji, Kapiri Mposhi, Chitambo, Luano, Mkushi, Mumbwa, Ngabwe, Chisamba and Serenje.

Agriculture is the main economic activity in the Province and the region is home to most commercial farmers in Zambia. Central Province is one of the major producers of all country’s major cash crops including wheat where more than 50 percent of the national produce comes from the region. Other crops include maize, soya Beans, Cotton, Groundnuts, Wheat, Sweet potatoes, Irish Potatoes, Pop Corn, Sun flower, Millet, Mixed Beans and Virginia Tobacco as well as Cassava. Additionally, Central Province is endowed with abundant natural resources which present a huge investment opportunities in different sectors of the economy such as agriculture and agro-processing, mining, tourism as well as energy and manufacturing.

Administratively, the Provincial Minister, appointed by the President, is the political head of the Province while the Permanent Secretary who is also appointed by the Head of State heads the administrative aspect. The Province has 16 constituencies which are headed by elected Members of Parliament (MPs) and are divided into 153 wards headed by elected councilors. The Province has 39 Chiefs with Lenje, Bemba, Lala, Tonga and Chinyanja being the main local languages spoken in the region.

Central Province offers leisure and comfort to those seeking a peaceful place for holidays, conferences as well as investment opportunities in various sectors of the country’s economy.

Once again, welcome to Central Province, the Zambia’s food basket!