Itezhi-Tezhi District is a district of Zambia, located in Southern Province. The capital lies at Itezhi-Tezhi. As of the 2022 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 130,216 people.[1]

Itezhi-Tezhi District
District location in Zambia
District location in Zambia
Country Zambia
ProvinceSouthern Province
CapitalItezhi-Tezhi
Area
 • Total
15,790.8 km2 (6,096.9 sq mi)
Population
 (2022)
 • Total
130,216
 • Density8.2/km2 (21/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)

It was moved from Southern Province to Central Province by President Michael Sata in 2012[2][3] and later moved back to Southern Province by president Hakainde Hichilema in 2021.[4][5]

History

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Before 2012, Itezhi-Tezhi was part of the Southern Province of Zambia.[6] Then, President Michael Sata decided in 2012 to move Itezhi-Tezhi District from Southern Province to Central Province, against the wishes of the local residents.[3][2]

Nine years later, on 17 November 2021, President Hakainde Hichilema announced his intention to reverse the move done by late former President Michael Sata.[4][5] President Hichilema officially declared Itezhi-Tezhi as part of Southern Province (no-longer part of Central Province), thereby returning the district to its original province.[4][5] This was agreed upon after an urgent request the previous month by the Chiefs of the area to return the district to its original province, where facilities are easier to reach (Southern Province's capital at Choma is only a road away while Central Province's capital at Kabwe is distant).[4][5]

References

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  1. ^ 2022 Census of Population and Housing - Preliminary Report (PDF)
  2. ^ a b "Zambia : President Sata moves Chirundu and Itezhi Tezhi districts from Southern Province, UPND reacts". Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  3. ^ a b "MP opposes moving Itezhi-tezhi to Central province". Zambian Watchdog. 2012-02-15. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  4. ^ a b c d "Zambia : President Hichilema to give back Chirundu and Itezhi Districts to Southern Province". Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  5. ^ a b c d "South Chiefs Want Itezhi-Tezhi And Chirundu Districts Realigned Back To Southern Province". Phoenix FM. 2021-10-20. Archived from the original on 2021-11-18. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  6. ^ "Itezhi-Tezhi Travel Information". www.zambia-info.org. Retrieved 2021-11-18.

15°36′S 25°55′E / 15.600°S 25.917°E / -15.600; 25.917