# Moxico Province

Moxico (Portuguese spelling) or Moshiko (Bantu spelling) is the largest province of Angola. It has an area of 223,023 square kilometres (86,110 sq mi), and covers 18% of the landmass of Angola. The province has a population of 758,568 (2014 census) and a population density of approximately 3.4 residents per km$^2$ (8.8/sq mi), making it one of the most sparsely populated areas of Angola. The population of the province is in flux; displaced residents have slowly returned to Moxico since the end of the Angolan Civil War in 2002. The war left Moxico as one of the most landmine-contaminated places in the world. The governor of the province is Gonçalves Manuel Muandumba.
Luena is the capital of the Moxico Province, and is located 1,314 kilometres (816 mi) from the Angolan capital of Luanda.

## History

Moxico Province was the scene of much guerrilla fighting during the Angolan Civil War. Its long border with Zambia at the east of the province was a base of operations for UNITA and MPLA. As a result, Moxico Province saw many raids by the military of South Africa.
Moxico Province is known as the place where UNITA rebel leader Jonas Savimbi was killed in 2002, signalling an end to over a quarter-century civil war in Angola. Savimbi's body was buried in the village of Lucusse, about 1,000 kilometres (620 mi) south-east of the capital, Luanda, under a tree near where he was killed.

## Geography

Moxico Province borders Lunda Sul Province to the north, Bié Province to the west, Cuando Cubango Province to the south, the nation of Zambia to the east, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the northeast.

## Municipalities

The province of Moxico contains nine municipalities (Portuguese: municípios):
* Alto Zambeze (Cazombo)
* Bundas (Lumbala-N'guimbo)
* Camanongue
* Cameia (Lumeje)
* Léua
* Luau
* Luacano
* Luchazes
* Moxico (Luena)
Moxico is also home to Cameia National Park in the Cameia Municipality.

## Communes

The province of Moxico contains the following communes (Portuguese: comunas); sorted by their respective municipalities:
* Alto Zambeze Municipality – Caianda (Kaianda), Calunda, Cazombo, Lóvua Leste (Lóvua do Zambeze), Lumbala-Caquengue (Lumbala-Kakengue), Macondo, Nana Candundo (Candundo)
* Bundas Municipality – Chiume, Lumbala-Guimbo (Lumbala-N'guimbo) Lutembo, Luvuei, Mussuma, Ninda, Sessa
* Camanongue Municipality – Camanongue
* Cameia Municipality – Cameia (Lumeje)
* Léua Municipality – Léua, Liangongo
* Luau Municipality – Luau
* Luacano Municipality – Lago-Dilolo, Luacano
* Luchazes Municipality – Cangamba (Kangamba), Cangombe, Cassamba, Muié, Tempué
* Moxico Municipality – Cangumbe (Kangumbe), Cachipoque, Lucusse, Luena, Lutuai (Muangai)

## Demographics

Moxico Province is composed of a diversity of ethnic groups, and is primarily a Bantu area. Populations of Chokwe, Lovale, Mbunda, Lucazi, and Ovimbundu make up the majority of the province. Isolated communities of other ethnic groups exist throughout Moxico.
Chokwe language is the most commonly spoken language in the province.

## List of governors

| Name | Years in office |
| Armando Fernando Ndembo | 1976–1979 |
| Maj. Marques Monakapui Bassovava | 1979–1981 |
| Celestino Figueiredo Tchinhama Faísca | 1981–1983 |
| Maj. João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço * | 1983–1986 |
| Jaime Baptista Ndonge | 1986–1992 |
| João Ernesto dos Santos Liberdade | 1992–2017 |
| Gonçalves Manuel Muandumba | 2017–present |
Up to 1991, the official name was Provincial Commissioner.