THE UNKNOWN WORLD CLASS TOURISM SIDE OF THE COPPER "BELT" UNBUCKLED.

By Masauso Mkwayaya.

The Copper Belt or Copperbelt Province of Zambia has been strapped in “copper strips” since its existence in the 1900s .Its towns and Cities are said to be wholly  built and paved by copper  .

It is also worth noting that Zambia’s economic spine is  largely strengthened  by copper sales on the international market .Copper sales contribute about 70% to Zambia's GDP.

But the Zambian Youthful Thought will unfasten these “copper belts” that have strapped the province for so many years.

This article will seek to  unpack the Province’s vast tourism resources and amenities that have the potential to contribute to Zambia's economic status if fully utilized.
.

When on the copper belt, detaining yourself for about 30 minutes at the small but informative Copperbelt   Museum , to learn about the province’s history is a great way to kick start your Copperbelt tour.

The Museum is  located in the Province's Capital City Ndola, laying about 320 kilometers North of Zambia’s capital , Lusaka.

On your way to other copper belt towns, 10 kilometers West of Ndola on the Ndola-Kitwe dual carriage way, you can branch off and visit the Memorial Burial Site of United Nations (UN’s),second ,youngest and  one of its greatest Secretary Generals,   Dag Hammarskjold.

 He died in a plane crash in 1961 en-route to DR  Congo for peace talks. Circumstances of the plane crash still remain an enduring and unsolved mystery to the UN and African History.

South West of Luanshya near Mpongwe and ST Anthony’s Catholic Mission in Chief Ndubeni’s area, is a breath taking awe inspiring Lake Kashiba whose center depth is not known . With its crisp clear blue water, especially in the dry seasons, Lake Kashiba is best suited for Scuba diving challenges.

 To date, no scuba diver has established the center depth of the Lake. Thus unverified records suggest that Lake Kashiba may be one of the deepest natural still, Lakes in the world.   

Locals also attach some mysterious beliefs to the lake’s existence. Among their many beliefs, the locals believe that any object that floats on top of the lake is sucked in to its depths, thus its clearness.

Further North –West of Ndola and North of Kitwe is Chingola town that harbors the worlds, second largest open pit mine .60 kilometers North-West of Chingola rests the world’s largest Chimpanzee Sanctuary , Chimfunshi Orphanage. 

And the abundant town of Mufulira ,boasts of having one of the  worlds deepest and largest underground mines.The mine is a must see when on the Copperbelt .