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Before And After – Kitwe Street Names (1961-2011)

A road - kitweonline
A Road

Introduction: 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.

Before And After – Kitwe Street Names (1961-2011) compares street names between 1961 and 2011 and tabulates the ones that have changed.
Most street names can be divided into two or three parts:
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.

In future, Kitwe will expand and merge with Kalulushi. This could lead to one big city having two streets with the same name. This has happened in big cities like London where different villages have been engulfed by one metropolitan center.  

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

In Kitwe, as in other towns in Northern Rhodesia, there was segregation of living areas and shops. Some areas were designated “Whites Only” areas and others were for “Blacks Only.” The settlers therefore felt more comfortable naming the streets they lived in after the streets they had left back home. Kitwe thus had names like Oxford Street, Queen Street, Regent Street and Amazon Crescent. 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.

One of the disadvantages of changing street names is that people tend to forget the history of the place, being aware of only the current name. As a community matures, it tends to treasure the oldest names and tends to retain them.
Evolving technology will also lead to more citizen participation in civil affairs. It is now conceivable that when civil leaders are going into a meeting to deliberate on street names they will have all their constituents voting by mobile phone and the leaders will know which name is most popular.
The following table shows Kitwe street names in 1961 in the column titled “Old Name.” Where the name has not changed, the name appears in bold letters.
We encourage you, our readers, to send in information about the street you live in or know about. This will help us complete this task of documenting Kitwe’s old and new street names.

To see if your street had a different name in 1961, check out the table below. 

Ref.
Old Name
Old Type
New Name
New Type
1
Abercorn
Avenue
2
Aberdeen
Road
3
Accra
Road
 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
 Chendaeka  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
Kariba
Road
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
241
Uchi Street
Street
242
Valley Walk
Walk
Luangwa
Avenue
243
Waitwika
Avenue
244
Walton
Crescent
245
Waluzimba
Street
Manenekela
Street
246
Wells
Crescent
Luangwa
Crescent
247
Wembley
Road
Twalilwisha
Crescent
248
West Main
Street
249
Westminster
Drive
Jambo
Drive
250
Williams
Street
251
Wimbledon
Court
252
Winchester
Drive
253
Winther
Street
254
WM. Comrie
Comrie Avenue
Lufunsa
Avenue
255
Yeta
Road
256
York Minster
Way
Unity
Way
257
*Yotham Muleya
Road
258
Yukon
Avenue
259
Zambesi
Way
260
Zimba
Street
261
Zomba
Road
262
N.B. —* Not named on Map.
263
KEY FOR THE COLOUR CODE:
264
= Not on May 2011 Google Map
265
= No Change in Street Name

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.

Google map - Nkana East

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.

__________________________

18 Thoughts on Before And After – Kitwe Street Names (1961-2011)
    Lynda WANGONGO
    7 Jun 2011
    8:55am

    Was told by a Zambian friend that Kalemba Drive, Parklands was known as Shakespeare Drive. 213

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    Editor
    7 Jun 2011
    11:55am

    Thanks Lynda.

    The change has been included in the table.

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    Muyooma Kabalata
    21 Jun 2011
    6:20pm

    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)

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      Editor
      22 Jun 2011
      10:29pm

      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.

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        Keith Baldwin re Eaton
        4 Dec 2016
        4:22pm

        Dear Editor,
        For information my wife is Dorothy Baldwin previously Dorothy Mary Eaton daughter of Canon Albert William Eaton who was proud to be the Rector of St Michael and All Angels church Kitwe from 1960 to 1967. The family lived in The Rectory of Dorset Avenue on the corner of Canberra Avenue.The family had a wonderful time in Kitwe and still regularly talk about the wonderful people.
        my wife Dorothy would love to share her memories with people from Kitwe.

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        0
          JS
          7 Dec 2016
          7:32am

          Hi Keith,
          We would be happy to share memories of Kitwe. You can send articles and any relevant material, such as photos, to KitweOnline(at)Gmail(dot)com.

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    Chris Ives
    30 Jun 2012
    8:00pm

    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!

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    Neville
    6 Sep 2012
    11:14am

    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

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      Tom
      10 Aug 2022
      12:00pm

      I was also born in 1962 Kitwe at Llewellen Hospital.

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    Andy Cai
    25 Dec 2012
    2:06pm

    Please advise where is Avondale Avenue in Kitwe.

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    Carol Johnson
    2 Nov 2019
    7:56pm

    Fyalipwa Close was formerly known as Stour Close. My husband and I lived there from 1973-76. The street name changed towards the end of our stay there, We were there on contract with Blackwood Hodge and this had come to the end. Everyone living there at this time were BH employees.

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      Ed Nicolai
      4 Jun 2021
      7:37pm

      And in 2015, my daughter was born there! Stories!

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    Alfred Stone
    16 Jul 2022
    1:36am

    Hi JS, firstly thank you for setting up this site, really a wonderful and useful one indeed. I was born in Kitwe in 1962, and it is is still engraved deep into my soul. Something about it is just magical. My question is what was the name of the hospital in 1962 and what is it called today? I have read that there were two hospitals, yet which one was the new one of the time?

    Kind regards,
    Alfred.

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      JS
      21 Jul 2022
      2:17am

      Hi Alfred, Thanks for your comments.
      The newest hospital at that time would have been the Llewellin Hospital, built in 1954. It changed names to Kitwe Central Hospital after Independence in 1964 and is now called Kitwe Teaching Hospital due to its connections to the University of Zambia Medical School.

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    Alison Fleming
    11 Dec 2021
    4:53am

    I was born in Kitwe in 1961 and lived there until 1969. I went to Kitwe Primary School but could not find it on the map. We lived nearby in Hartford Avenue but I couldn’t see that either – have the names been changed?

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