Mpongwe is situated in the Copperbelt Province of Zambia. It shares boundaries with 5 districts, i.e., Kapiri Mponshi, Ngabwe (to the south), Kasempa, Lufwanyama (to the west), and Masaiti (to the north). It is located 350 km north of the Capital City, Lusaka and 110 km from the Provincial Administration Office in Ndola. It covers an estimated total area of 8,376 square Kilometres.

1.1.2 Geography and Topography

The district is found within the central plateau of Zambia lying between 1200 metres and 1500 metres above sea level. It has generally a flat and undulating relief with low-lying hills.

The district’s main underlying rock is limestone that has been greatly weathered giving it the characteristic flat topography. Only few isolated areas have upraised hills of resistance rocks such as the Kanyenda Ridge north of the Mpongwe District. The flat relief of the area has resulted in the formation of dambos and short seasonal streams that drain into the rivers in the area. The district is drained by several big rivers and numerous streams. The Kafulafuta River to the north forms a natural boundary with Masaiti District while the Kafue River forms the north-western and western boundaries and runs from the north to south-western part of the district. The Lukanga River to the south forms the southern boundary and the Mpongwe River, which runs through the middle of the district, drains its waters into the Kafue River. There are no major lakes in the area except Lake Nampamba and the famous Lake Kashiba, which are sunken lakes.

1.1.3 Demography and Socio Economics

Population

Mpongwe is predominantly a remote district and home to 145,239 people with an annual population growth rate of 3.8 percent (Central Statistics Office, 2010). This translates to males making up 50.21% while that of females represents 49.78% of the population. Most of the population is concentrated in major settlement areas such as Mpongwe town, Ibenga, Mikata, Nampamba, Kashiba, Kanyenda and others.

1.1.4 Climate and Weather

Mpongwe has a tropical savannah climate, which is typical of the tropical grassland climate of Zambia with hot - wet summer and cool dry winters with rainfall coming mainly in summer. The district experiences the rainy season which runs from October to April while the cold season runs from May to mid-August, and this is followed by the hot season.