By JOWIT SALUSEKI –

LOCATED some 170 kilometres from the Copperbelt town of Chingola is the mining town of Solwezi in North-Western Province.
The locals call it Solwezi Mabanga (mabanga  means evenings). According to local belief, fun begins in the evening in this town.
The town which is also the provincial capital has a population of about 200,000 people and it sits on an elevation of 1,235 metres above sea level.
It is funny to note that most roads in Solwezi town have no names.
Others allude this to the fact that the town is still developing and only has a single main road known as Independence Road, which houses most of the shops on both sides.
Solwezi town which is mostly dusty is made up of townships such as Kazomba, Chawama, Kandemba, Kayebela, Zambia, Mushitala, Messenger and Kandundu, among others.
Although Kaonde is the popular language spoken in Solwezi besides Lunda, Luvale, Luchazi and Chokwe, the area has been infiltrated by languages brought by economic migrants from other parts of the country.
The town is attracting people from different parts of the country because of the booming mining sector which is employing thousands of job seekers who have camped in the area with others bringing with them various businesses and investments.
Solwezi was once a ‘little’ known sleepy town but the recent economic developments have put the city in motion making mining the main engine of activities.
The three main mines in the town are Kansanshi Mine located about 10 kilometres north on the Solwezi –Kipushi Road, the Lumwana mine located some 65 kilometres west of the town and Kalumbila Mine 160 kilometres way from the main town centre.
Lumwana Mine boasts of being one of the largest copper giants in the entire world. Apart from copper, the mine is also rich in uranium deposits as well as other precious minerals.
The future of Solwezi looks bright due to mostly the new copper mines in and around the area, especially the Kalumbila Mine which is still a virgin mining investment.
With commodity prices on the international market on a rather higher rate than when the mines commenced operations, the  copper output has more than doubled.
Solwezi town is endowed with a variety of tourist attractions which are a marvel to watch for people who are in love with mother nature’s flora and fauna.
Located approximately six kilometres from the town centre is the famous Kifubwa Rock Stream Shelter adjacent to  Kifubwa River.
This site  provides evidence of schematic engravings by late stone age inhabitants in Zambia.
The rock engravings were done  by pecking or rubbing the comparatively soft granite schist with a pointed quartz engraving tool until grooves or pits of the required depth were produced.
Excavations show that many more engravings had been covered by the deposition of a thick layer of sand and earth on the floor of the rock shelter.
These unique rock engravings have recently suffered some irreparable damage due to vandalism by the local dwellers.
This has therefore led to the engravings being viewed from outside the fence as access to the site is under lock and key.
Another breath catching wonder or marvel you can’t afford to miss while in Solwezi is the prestigious Mutanda Falls which is located a stone’s throw from the Mutanda –Mwnilunga and Mutanda –Zambezi turnoffs.
Soothing sounds greet you as you approach the site of the Mutanda Falls which is sandwiched by two lodges (Muntanda resort and Comfort Country lodge) on either side of the Mutanda River.
The setting is just spectacular and one can fall in love with the falls the moment they set their eyes on it.
The singing birds, busy ants, blossoming trees, fresh air and the ever green grass within the midst of the falls fill the site with such an amazing heavenly touch.
Solwezi town has several filling stations for fuel both within and away from the Central Business District.
Entering the town from the eastern direction from Chingola, one will find Puma filling station on
the left hand side, where as on the other side of town as one leaves for Mwinilunga, there are two Total filling stations on both sides of Independence Avenue.
The development of Solwezi town has seen more financial institutions such as banks coming in to serve their clientele. Currently the town prides itself with banks such as NATSAVE, ZANACO, Barclays, Stanbic and Capital
Bank.
Other financial institutions found in the area include bureau dechanges, insurance firms and micro -finance institutions.
The town has a television station known as North–West TV, with two radio stations broadcasting within the surrounding areas of Solwezi.
The construction industry is also thriving, everywhere one looks there are hotels, motels, lodges and guest houses springing up.
Landlords are converting their houses into lodges in order to cash in on the demand for accommodation from travelers visiting the town.
The cost of living in Solwezi is quite high due to the fact there are few manufacturing companies in the district and people have to travel as far as Lusaka, Ndola and Kitwe to bring  goods for sale.
This scarcity in accommodation in the town has led  commercial sex workers to take advantage of the situation booking rooms in advance in some of the guest houses.
The sex workers then charge travelers who are in dire need of accommodation for both the sexual act and room fee.
As Solwezi imprints itself as a mining giant town in Zambia, one cannot forget the hospitality embedded in its people who are always wearing smiles on their faces.