Every street in Kitwe tells a story. Have you ever wondered how your street got its name? Who gave it the name and why? Why have some street names changed?
This series on Kitwe Street Names will be exploring some of the stories behind our old street names as well as the new street names. If you know the story behind your street, or any other streets in Kitwe, you can share your story here. Write your comments in the box below or send us an E-mail.
SPECIFIC: eg. Kantanta
GENERIC: eg. Street, Avenue, Road, Way, Close, Terrace, etc.
OTHER: eg. East
The Meaning Of Generic Street Names:
* Street – "A street is a paved public thoroughfare in a built environment. It is a public parcel of land adjoining buildings in an urban context, on which people may freely assemble, interact, and move about." (source: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street)
* Road – "A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way between two places, which typically has been improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motorized vehicle. Modern roads are normally smoothed, paved, or otherwise prepared to allow easy travel, although historically many roads were simply recognizable routes without any formal construction or maintenance." (source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road)
* Avenue: "A common part of street names, often for roads with lines of trees on either side. A common name for any mediumly-high capacity road." (source: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avenue)
From the above, it is obvious that as a town increases in size, what was once a road between two places may well become engulfed in an expanding town, thus functionally becoming a street. It's original name may remain unchanged. In other places the distinction is blurred from the start. This makes it difficult to tell whether a road is really a road or not.
Most traditional Zambia villages were constructed without a specific street plan. Places were given descriptive names, usually of the local chief or the original family that settled in the area, the local geography, a past event that took place there, or some other name. Foot paths were usually named after the destination.
The concept of formal street names was introduced into Northern Rhodesia by the settlers who came mainly from Great Britain. The names tended to reflect the way streets were named back in Britain and the indigenous people had no say in the decisions.
Inspiration for street names tend to include:
1. Famous local people
2. Famous people of world renown
3. A feature that existed in the original location
4. An activity or trade that took part on that street
5. A geographical feature
After independence in 1964,Kitwe saw the introduction of new street names for the old. This phenomenon is not unique to Kitwe. Towns in other parts of the world have changed street names for different reasons, including:
1. The name becomes associated with controversy or painful memories for the community
2. Attempts to erase history
3. In honour of a famous son or daughter of the city
4. Political changes.
|
Ref.
|
Old Name
|
Old Type
|
New Name
|
New Type
|
|
1
|
Abercorn
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
2
|
Aberdeen
|
Road
|
|
|
|
3
|
Accra
|
Road
|
|
|
|
4
|
Albany
|
Drive
|
Lubambe
|
Drive
|
|
5
|
Amazon
|
Crescent
|
Mulilansolo
|
Crescent
|
|
6
|
Andrews
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
7
|
Argyll Avenue
|
Avenue
|
Kabengele
|
Avenue
|
|
8
|
Arno Close
|
Close
|
|
|
|
9
|
Auckland
|
Avenue
|
Chishimba
|
Road
|
|
10
|
Avon
|
Close
|
|
|
|
11
|
Bandawe
|
Avenue
|
Emmanuel Mulemena
|
Road
|
|
12
|
Bangweulu
|
Road
|
|
|
|
13
|
Bartok
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
14
|
*Bath
|
Crescent
|
||
|
15
|
Bedford
|
Avenue
|
Enos Chomba
|
Avenue
|
|
16
|
Beit
|
Street
|
|
|
|
17
|
Belfast
|
Road
|
Lumumba
|
Road
|
|
18
|
Birmingham
|
Road
|
Kamongesha
|
Road
|
|
19
|
Blantyre
|
Road
|
|
|
|
20
|
Boma
|
Street
|
|
|
|
21
|
Botha
|
Road
|
|
|
|
22
|
Bridge
|
Walk
|
|
|
|
23
|
Brighton
|
Road
|
|
|
|
24
|
Buffalo
|
Avenue
|
Mungala
|
Street
|
|
25
|
Burns
|
Close
|
Madzimoyo
|
Road
|
|
26
|
Bury
|
Road
|
|
|
|
27
|
Buseko
|
Road
|
|
|
|
28
|
Byron
|
Close
|
|
|
|
29
|
Canberra
|
Avenue
|
President
|
Avenue
|
|
30
|
Canterbury
|
Drive
|
Kenyatta
|
Road
|
|
31
|
Cardiff
|
Road
|
Miseshi
|
Street
|
|
32
|
Carl
|
Street
|
|
|
|
33
|
Central
|
Street
|
|
|
|
34
|
C. Fourie
|
Road
|
|
|
|
35
|
Chaucer
|
Close
|
|
|
|
36
|
Cherwell
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
37
|
Chibuluma
|
Road
|
|
|
|
38
|
Chimbwete
|
Road
|
|
|
|
39
|
Chingola
|
Road
|
Chilonga
|
Road
|
|
40
|
Chipembi
|
Road
|
|
|
|
41
|
Chitimukulu
|
Road
|
|
|
|
42
|
Church
|
Road
|
|
|
|
43
|
Clifton
|
Crescent
|
Mabumbu
|
Crescent
|
|
44
|
Club
|
Street
|
|
|
|
45
|
Codrington
|
Street
|
|
|
|
46
|
Collier
|
Street
|
|
|
|
47
|
Colorado
|
Crescent
|
Twalilwisha
|
Crescent
|
|
48
|
Columbia
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
49
|
Congo
|
Way
|
|
|
|
50
|
Conway
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
51
|
Cook
|
Street
|
Hippo
|
Street
|
|
52
|
Cornwall
|
Avenue
|
Kanyanta
|
Avenue
|
|
53
|
Coventry
|
Road
|
|
|
|
54
|
*Crewe
|
Road
|
||
|
55
|
Danube
|
Gardens
|
|
|
|
56
|
Deleware
|
Close
|
|
|
|
57
|
Derwent
|
Close
|
|
|
|
58
|
Diamond
|
Drive
|
Twashuka
|
Drive
|
|
59
|
Dickens
|
Close
|
|
|
|
60
|
Don
|
Close
|
|
|
|
61
|
Dorset
|
Avenue
|
Mpezeni
|
Avenue
|
|
62
|
Durham
|
Crescent
|
||
|
63
|
East Main
|
Street
|
|
|
|
64
|
Eton
|
Way
|
Nationalist
|
Way
|
|
65
|
Edinburgh
|
Road
|
Independence
|
Avenue
|
|
66
|
Edith Cavell
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
67
|
Edmund Davis
|
Street
|
|
|
|
68
|
Eighteenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
69
|
Eighth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
70
|
Eleventh
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
71
|
Elgar
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
72
|
Ely
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
73
|
Empire
|
Crescent
|
Diamond
|
Drive
|
|
74
|
*Entebbe
|
Road
|
||
|
75
|
Ernest
|
Road
|
|
|
|
76
|
Eshowe
|
Road
|
|
|
|
77
|
Essex
|
Avenue
|
Pamo
|
Avenue
|
|
78
|
Eton
|
Way
|
Nationalist
|
Way
|
|
79
|
Exeter
|
Avenue
|
||
|
80
|
Fife
|
Avenue
|
Chandamali
|
Road
|
|
81
|
Fifteenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
82
|
Fifth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
83
|
First
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
84
|
First Mayor
|
Street
|
First African Mayor
|
Street
|
|
85
|
First
|
Street
|
|
|
|
86
|
Fleming
|
Way
|
|
|
|
87
|
Forest
|
Road
|
|
|
|
88
|
Fort Rosebery
|
Road
|
Mansa
|
Road
|
|
89
|
Fourteenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
90
|
Fourth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
91
|
Fourth
|
Street
|
|
|
|
92
|
*Foys
|
Close
|
||
|
93
|
Fraser
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
94
|
Freetown
|
Road
|
|
|
|
95
|
Galway
|
Avenue
|
Chibote
|
Avenue
|
|
96
|
Gambia
|
Avenue
|
Langashe
|
Street
|
|
97
|
Geddes
|
Street
|
Kalungwishi
|
Street
|
|
98
|
Glenalmond
|
Close
|
|
|
|
99
|
*Green Park
|
Crescent
|
||
|
100
|
Harrison
|
Street
|
Ifuma
|
Crescent
|
|
101
|
Harrow
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
102
|
Herbert Stanley
|
Drive
|
Twashuka
|
Drive
|
|
103
|
Herbert Stanley
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
104
|
Hertford
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
105
|
Hillcombe
|
Road
|
|
|
|
106
|
*Hilton
|
Close
|
||
|
107
|
Hobart
|
Avenue
|
Chisokone
|
Avenue
|
|
108
|
Hospital
|
Road
|
|
Street?
|
|
109
|
Hudson
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
110
|
Humbar
|
Crescent
|
Limulunga
|
Crescent
|
|
111
|
Jameson
|
Street
|
Lantana
|
Street
|
|
112
|
Juba
|
Road
|
|
|
|
113
|
Kabonbo
|
Road
|
|
|
|
114
|
Kalako
|
Road
|
|
|
|
115
|
Kalambo
|
Road
|
|
|
|
116
|
Kambombo
|
Road
|
|
|
|
117
|
Kambwili
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
118
|
Kaniki
|
Road
|
Leymba
|
Road
|
|
119
|
Kantanta
|
Street
|
|
|
|
120
|
Kanwe
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
121
|
Kasama
|
Street
|
|
|
|
122
|
Kasempa
|
Road
|
|
|
|
123
|
Kaunda
|
Street
|
|
|
|
124
|
Kawambwa
|
Street
|
|
|
|
125
|
Kazembe
|
Road
|
|
|
|
126
|
*Kennington
|
Close
|
||
|
127
|
Kensington
|
Gardens
|
|
Gardens
|
|
128
|
Kent
|
Avenue
|
Freedom
|
Avenue
|
|
129
|
Kentucky
|
Crescent
|
Mwandi
|
Crescent
|
|
130
|
Kew
|
Gardens
|
|
|
|
131
|
Khama
|
Road East
|
Khama
|
Road
|
|
132
|
Khama
|
Road West
|
Khama
|
Road
|
|
133
|
Kingston
|
Road
|
|
|
|
134
|
Kitwe
|
Street
|
|
|
|
135
|
Limpopo
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
136
|
Lincoln
|
Avenue
|
Chiwala
|
Avenue
|
|
137
|
Lister
|
Avenue
|
Twalilubuka
|
Road
|
|
138
|
Livingstone
|
Street
|
|
|
|
139
|
London
|
Road
|
Nyerere
|
Road
|
|
140
|
Luangwa
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
141
|
Luansimba
|
Road
|
|
|
|
142
|
Luapula
|
Road
|
|
|
|
143
|
Lundazi
|
Road
|
|
|
|
144
|
Malenga
|
Road
|
Lubungula
|
Road
|
|
145
|
Manchester
|
Road
|
Dr Aggrey
|
Avenue
|
|
146
|
Manda
|
Road
|
|
|
|
147
|
Mandala
|
Road
|
|
|
|
148
|
*Margam
|
Road
|
||
|
149
|
Market
|
Road
|
|
|
|
150
|
Mateyo
|
Street
|
|
|
|
151
|
Maxwell
|
Street
|
Liberia
|
Street
|
|
152
|
Mayfair
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
153
|
Mbereshi
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
154
|
Messenger
|
Road
|
|
|
|
155
|
Milambo
|
Road
|
|
|
|
156
|
Mill
|
Street
|
|
|
|
157
|
Mindola
|
Road
|
|
|
|
158
|
Moffat
|
Street
|
|
|
|
159
|
Monmouth
|
Close
|
|
|
|
160
|
Mpala
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
161
|
Mpezeni
|
Street
|
|
|
|
162
|
Muchinga
|
Street
|
|
|
|
163
|
Mukuni Road
|
Road
|
|
|
|
164
|
Mukwae
|
Street
|
|
|
|
165
|
Mulanje
|
Road
|
|
|
|
166
|
Mulundu
|
Street
|
|
|
|
167
|
Mushili
|
Street
|
|
|
|
168
|
Mwaya
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
169
|
Nachibungulubwe
|
Road
|
|
|
|
170
|
Nelson
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
171
|
Newlands
|
Court
|
|
|
|
172
|
Niger
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
173
|
Nile
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
174
|
Nineteenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
175
|
Ninth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
176
|
Nkalomo
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
177
|
Nkomesha
|
Road
|
|
|
|
178
|
Nkumbula
|
Street
|
Fikaya
|
Street
|
|
179
|
Northampton
|
Road
|
|
|
|
180
|
North End
|
Road
|
Natwange
|
Road
|
|
181
|
Northumberland
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
182
|
Nsofu
|
Road
|
|
|
|
183
|
Nursery
|
Crescent
|
||
|
184
|
Nyika
|
Road
|
|
|
|
185
|
Odgers
|
Street
|
|
|
|
186
|
Ohio
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
187
|
Olympia
|
Way
|
|
|
|
188
|
Oppenheimer
|
Street
|
|
|
|
189
|
Orange
|
Crescent
|
|
|
|
190
|
Oxford
|
Avenue
|
Oxford
|
Road
|
|
191
|
Parker
|
Street
|
|
|
|
192
|
Philip
|
Street
|
Luela
|
Street
|
|
193
|
Pollack
|
Street
|
|
|
|
194
|
Pridham-Jones
|
Street
|
Sampa
|
Street
|
|
195
|
Princess
|
Street
|
|
|
|
196
|
Queen
|
Street
|
|
|
|
197
|
Regent
|
Street
|
Matuka
|
Avenue
|
|
198
|
Rhodes
|
Street
|
Chile
|
Street
|
|
199
|
Richmond
|
Gardens
|
|
|
|
200
|
Roedean
|
Drive
|
Lushitu
|
Drive
|
|
201
|
Rugby
|
Drive
|
Lukasu
|
Drive
|
|
202
|
St. Andrews
|
Drive
|
|
|
|
203
|
St. Georges
|
Close
|
|
|
|
204
|
St. Pauls
|
Close
|
|
|
|
205
|
St. Peters
|
Close
|
|
|
|
206
|
Sakumbila
|
Road
|
|
|
|
207
|
Salisbury
|
Drive
|
Kuomboka
|
Drive
|
|
208
|
Second
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
209
|
Second
|
Street
|
|
|
|
210
|
Seventeenth A
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
211
|
Seventeenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
212
|
Seventh
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
213
|
Shakespeare
|
Drive
|
Kalemba
|
Drive
|
|
214
|
Sheffield
|
Road
|
Kafulafuta
|
Road
|
|
215
|
Shelly
|
Court
|
|
|
|
216
|
Shire
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
217
|
Sinclair
|
Street
|
|
|
|
218
|
Sixteenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
219
|
Sixth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
220
|
Stanley
|
Street
|
|
|
|
221
|
Stour
|
Close
|
|
|
|
222
|
Strand
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
223
|
Swinborne
|
Close
|
|
|
|
224
|
Tabora
|
Road
|
|
|
|
225
|
Tamar
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
226
|
Taylor
|
Street
|
|
|
|
227
|
Tenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
228
|
Thakary
|
Close
|
|
|
|
229
|
Third
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
230
|
Third
|
Street
|
|
|
|
231
|
Thirteenth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
232
|
Thomas
|
Road
|
Kwacha
|
Road
|
|
233
|
Truro
|
Close
|
|
|
|
234
|
Twelfth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
235
|
Twentieth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
236
|
Twenty-First
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
237
|
Twenty-Second
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
238
|
Twenty-Third
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
239
|
Twenty-Fourth
|
Avenue
|
|
|
|
240
|
Twenty-Fifth
|
Avenue
|
|
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241
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Uchi Street
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Street
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242
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Valley Walk
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Walk
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Luangwa
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Avenue
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243
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Waitwika
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Avenue
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244
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Walton
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Crescent
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245
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Waluzimba
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Street
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Manenekela
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Street
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246
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Wells
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Crescent
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Luangwa
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Crescent
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247
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Wembley
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Road
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Twalilwisha
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Crescent
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248
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West Main
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Street
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249
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Westminster
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Drive
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Jambo
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Drive
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250
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Williams
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Street
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251
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Wimbledon
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Court
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252
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Winchester
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Drive
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253
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Winther
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Street
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254
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WM. Comrie
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Comrie Avenue
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Lufunsa
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Avenue
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255
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Yeta
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Road
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256
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York Minster
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Way
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Unity
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Way
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257
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*Yotham Muleya
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Road
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258
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Yukon
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Avenue
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259
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Zambesi
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Way
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260
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Zimba
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Street
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261
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Zomba
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Road
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262
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N.B. —* Not named on Map.
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263
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KEY FOR THE COLOUR CODE:
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264
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= Not on May 2011 Google Map
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265
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= No Change in Street Name
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Some of the street names in the current Google map for Kitwe need to be corrected. You can make corrections or include your street name in Google Maps directly, or you can leave your comments below.
KitweOnLine will compile the names and submit updates to Google Maps as we have done in the past.
The map below shows some of the old street names in Kitwe in 1961.
Zoom in and Click on a balloon on the Google Map to read the old street name label.
You can also click on the balloon that will appear on the left side if you want to see where the name appears on the map.
View (Old) Kitwe Street Names in 1961 in a larger map
Remember, If you know the story behind your street, or any other streets in Kitwe, you can share your story here.
Write your comments in the box below or send us an E-mail.
__________________________
Join the forum discussion on this post
Please advise where is Avondale Avenue in Kitwe.
Greetings all,
I am wondering if somebody can help me. I was born in Kitwe hospital in 1962 and lived for about my first 4 years at 5 Malcombe crescent Kalulushi. I was looking for the street on google maps but the name appears to have changed. Does anybody know what its new name is?
Regards
Neville
Can anyone tell me where Fyalipa Close is ( excuse spelling if it's wrong)? I lived there in the early 1970s and I've been trying to locate it on Google for ages!
Hi Chris,
You are most likely looking for Philip Street (old name) which is now called Luela Street. It is located in Nkana East.
Approaching from Ndola (South) turn right (East) into Central Street at the first traffic lights. Next, turn left (North) at the 5th junction and take the first right turn into Luela Street. It runs between Central Street and Kariba Street.
Click on this link: (https://maps.google.co.uk/maps/ms?client=firefox-a&channel=s&hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=213936905783013673468.0004a342cf9cd40ce5e21&ll=-12.82926,28.19712&spn=0.04948,0.102267&source=embed)
I hope that helps.
No, definitely not thinking of Philip Street. It was definitely called Fylipa or Fiyalipwa Close, or something like that. It was a small cul-de-sac, not a big street at all.
Corrections – Geddes is not Kalungwishi. Kalungwishi is next to Geddes. Geddes street changed to Kariba Road in the mid 80′s check with the local post office. I lived on this road from 1979 to 1987.
Arno Close changed to Chendaeka Close in late 80′s.
Jameson street is now Lantana and not Lutana!
Lastly, i think this is not a conclusive list of Kitwe roads – i note Eagle, Zebra, Mwenda, Luela & Muombo are missing from Nkana East’s main roads as is Mpalume Drive in Parklands. Perhaps it would help if you invite bloggers to submit names of all roads they have lived on in Kitwe.
My ones are:
1. Kariba Road (Geddes Street)
2. Fyakapale Gardens
3. Mpalume Drive
4. Independence Avenue (Edinburgh Avenue)
5. Chendaeka Close (Arno Close)
6. Lubambe Drive (Albany Drive)
Muyooma,
Thank you for your valuable contribution.
You are right about the list of street names not being exhaustive. We are confident that with the participation of our readers we will compile the most accurate information we can. That is why contributions such as yours are so important.
We have followed your advise and made a clear call for readers to submit names of the streets they have lived on or know about. The text of the post has been revised.
Readers can start a topic for discussion in the Insaka-Forum and should feel free to express their opinions on the topics in various posts. We want everybody to participate.
Thanks.
Thanks Lynda.
The change has been included in the table.
Was told by a Zambian friend that Kalemba Drive, Parklands was known as Shakespeare Drive. 213