KASENENGWA IS A DISTRICT OF GENTLE LANDSCAPES AND POWERFUL STORIES

About Kasenengwa District

Kasenengwa District is a rural district in Zambia’s Eastern Province, located along the Great East Road, about 580 km from Lusaka and roughly 28–40 km from Chipata. The district covers an area of approximately 1,967.4 square kilometres. Kasenengwa was officially created in 2018 after being separated from Chipata District as part of the Government’s decentralisation programme, and it continues to grow as a new administrative and development centre in the province.

The district shares boundaries with four neighbouring districts: Mambwe to the west, Chipangali to the north, Chipata to the east/southeast, and Katete to the south. Administratively, Kasenengwa has one constituency and is divided into eight wards.

Over the past decade, Kasenengwa’s population has expanded steadily. The district recorded a population of about 98,117 in the 2010 census and increased to approximately 155,565 people in the 2022 Census of Population and Housing. This growth reflects both natural increase and the district’s rising importance as a service and administrative hub. A more detailed demographic profile is contained in the District Integrated Development Plan (IDP). Download here

Composition of the Council

Administratively, Kasenengwa District has one constituency. The Council is composed of a directly elected Council Chairperson, eight (8) elected Councillors representing the eight wards, and up to three (3) Chiefs as provided for under Article 153 (2)(c) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016. The current Council was elected in 2021 to serve a five-year term up to 2026. The Deputy Council Chairperson is elected from among the Councillors for a period of two and half years.

Economic Activities

Kasenengwa District’s economy is predominantly agriculture-based, with most households depending on crop production and livestock rearing for income and food security. Major crops include Maize as the main staple, alongside Cotton, Tobacco, Sunflower, Groundnuts, Soybeans, and Millet, with Vegetables and other food crops produced on a smaller scale for local markets. The district benefits from government programmes such as FISP, although productivity is often affected by rainfall variability, input costs, and market access challenges.

Livestock farming is another key livelihood, especially cattle, goats, pigs, and poultry, which provide income, manure, draught power, and household nutrition. Fisheries and fish farming are also growing in importance, supporting diets and local trade, particularly in areas with reliable water sources. Beyond agriculture, the district’s emerging trading centres, local enterprises, and hospitality services contribute to the rural economy.

 
Kasenengwa District is home to a rich cultural heritage shaped mainly by the Chewa and Ngoni communities, under the traditional leadership of Chief Chikuwe of the Chewa people and Chiefs Mishoro, Madzimawe and Nzamane of the Ngoni people. Traditional ceremonies celebrated in the wider Eastern Province, such as Kulamba and Nc’wala, strengthen local identity and present opportunities for cultural tourism, arts, and hospitality development in the district.
 

Location map for Kasenengwa District – JIDP team 2020

Kasenengwa Distric Resource Map