Moxico Province

Moxico Province
Moxico (Portuguese spelling) or Moshiko (Bantu spelling) is the largest province of Angola. It has an area of , 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 km² (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 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 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:
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; 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
See also
Caianda
References
External links
Official website of province governor
Information on this province at the Angolan ministry for territorial administration
Information on this province at Info Angola
Angolan embassy in London on Moxico province
Province geographical info at geoview.info
Provinces of Angola