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{{technical reasons|Chipatá|the city in Colombia|Chipatá, Santander}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage-->| official_name      = Chipata
| native_name        = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English -->
| nickname           = 
| settlement_type    = [[List of populated places in Zambia|City]]
| image_skyline      = Chipata View.jpg
| imagesize          = 
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| image_flag         = 
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| image_seal         = Chipata Coat of Arms.jpg
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| pushpin_map        = Zambia<!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map -->
| pushpin_label_position = left
| pushpin_map_caption = Location in Zambia
| subdivision_type   = Country
| subdivision_name   = [[Image:Flag of Zambia.svg|25px]] [[Zambia]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[Provinces of Zambia|Province]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Eastern Province, Zambia|Eastern Province]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[Districts of Zambia#Eastern Province|District]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Chipata District]]
| subdivision_type3  = 
| subdivision_name3  = 
| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = [[Local Government]]
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = [[George Mwanza]]
| leader_title1      = <!-- for places with, say, both a mayor and a city manager -->
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Founded <!-- Settled -->
| established_date   = {{Start date and age|1898}}
| established_title2 = City status
| established_date2  = 2017
| established_title3 = <!-- Incorporated (city) -->
| established_date3  = 
| area_magnitude     = 
| unit_pref          = Imperial <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired-->
| area_footnotes     = 
| area_total_km2     = <!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion-->
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| area_water_km2     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 
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| area_urban_km2     = 153.94
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| area_blank1_title  = 
| population_as_of   = 2022
| population_footnotes = 
| population_note    = 
| population_total   = 327,059
| population_density_km2 = 193.4
| population_density_sq_mi = 
| population_metro   = 
| population_density_metro_km2 = 
| population_density_metro_sq_mi = 
| population_urban   = 
| population_density_urban_km2 = 
| population_density_urban_sq_mi = 
| population_blank1_title = Ethnicities
| population_blank1  = 
| population_blank2_title = Religions
| population_blank2  = 
| timezone           = [[Central Africa Time|CAT]]
| utc_offset         = +2
| coordinates        = {{coord|13|38|43|S|32|38|47|E|region:ZM|display=inline, title}}
| elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use <ref> </ref> tags-->
| elevation_m        = 1181
| postal_code_type   = <!-- enter ZIP code, Postcode, Post code, Postal code... -->
| postal_code        = 51
| area_code          = +260 216
| blank_name         = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
| blank_info         = [[Tropical savanna climate|Aw]]
| blank1_name        = 
| blank1_info        = 
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
| name               = Chipata
}}

'''Chipata''' is a city and administrative centre of the [[Eastern Province, Zambia|Eastern Province]] of [[Zambia]] and [[Chipata District]]. It was declared the 5th city of the country, after [[Lusaka]], [[Ndola]], [[Kitwe]] and [[Livingstone, Zambia|Livingstone]], by President [[Edgar Lungu]] on 24 February 2017. The [[city]] has undergone rapid economic and [[infrastructure]] growth in the years, leading up to city status.<ref name="1R">{{cite web |access-date=22 November 2018 | url=http://www.daily-mail.co.zm/chipata-newest-city-on-the-hills/ |title=Chipata: Newest city on the hills |date=25 February 2017 | newspaper=[[Zambia Daily Mail]] |first=Darlington |last=Mwendabai |location=Lusaka}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-05-30 |title=Times of Zambia |url=https://www.times.co.zm/?p=94070}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-02-24 |title=Zambia : Chipata meets the these[sic] requisites required to be called a City-President Lungu |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/02/24/chipata-meets-requisites-required-called-city-president-lungu/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Lusaka Times |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Location==
Chipata is located on the [[Great East Road]], approximately {{convert|570|km|0}} east of [[Lusaka]], the capital city of Zambia.<ref name="2R">{{cite web| url=https://distancecalculator.globefeed.com/Zambia_Distance_Result.asp?fromplace=Lusaka%2C%20Zambia&toplace=Chipata%2C%20Zambia&dt1=ChIJSaq8PH3zQBkR6xMgRsGT0NA&dt2=ChIJpXP06sXrGBkR9XzTViAfdgY&sr=dc | title=Distance between Lusaka, Zambia and Chipata, Zambia | publisher=Globefeed.com |date=22 November 2018 |access-date=22 November 2018}}</ref> This is about {{convert|150|km|0}} west of [[Lilongwe]], the capital city of [[Malawi]].<ref name="3R">{{cite web|url=http://www.nomad-as.com/2015/09/traveling-through-zambia-with-backpack.html | title=Traveling through Zambia with backpack. Chipata to Lilongwe (it´s only 150 km) |publisher=Nomad-as.com |date=September 2015 |access-date=22 November 2018}}</ref> The [[Geographic coordinate system|geographical coordinates]] of Chipata are 13°38′43.0″S, 32°38′47.0″E.<ref name="4R">{{cite web|title=Location of Chipata, Zambia | url=https://www.google.com/maps/place/13%C2%B038'43.0%22S+32%C2%B038'47.0%22E/@-13.633657,32.6446554,4096m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-13.6452778!4d32.6463889 |access-date=22 November 2018}}</ref> The average [[elevation]] of Chipata is {{convert|1181|m|0}}, above sea level.<ref name="5R">{{cite web| url=http://www.floodmap.net/elevation/ElevationMap/?gi=918702 | title=Elevation of Chipata, Zambia |publisher=Floodmap.net |access-date=22 November 2018 |date=22 November 2018}}</ref>

==Overview==
Having a modern market, a central hospital, shopping malls, a university, some colleges and a number of schools, Chipata is the business and administrative hub of the region. The town boasts a four star hotel, a [[golf course]], an [[Chipata Airport|airport]], and a [[arch|"welcome arch"]]. Developed areas includes Kalongwezi, Moth, and Little Bombay.

Chipata is the regional head of the [[Ngoni people|Ngoni]] of Zambia. The Ngoni adopted the languages of the tribes they conquered, so Chewa and Nsenga are the principal languages, although Tumbuka and [[English language|English]] are widely spoken, plus some Indian languages, as a large number of [[Indians in Zambia|Zambian Indians]] live in the town. It is located near the border with [[Malawi]], and lies on the [[Great East Road (Zambia)|Great East Road]] which connects the capitals [[Lilongwe]] {{convert|150|km|0}} to the east,<ref name="3R"/> and [[Lusaka]] {{convert|570|km|0}} to the west.<ref name="4R"/> It is a popular access point for the [[South Luangwa National Park]], which is {{convert|100|km|0}} to the north-west.

== History ==
Chipata's name comes from the Chewa word "Chimpata" meaning "large space", in reference to the town's situation in a shallow valley between hills. The name of the central neighbourhood of Kapata, the original centre of town, comes from the Chewa word meaning "small space."

Chipata was formerly known as '''Fort Jameson''' (and informally as "Fort Jimmy"), being named after [[Sir Leander Starr Jameson]], the 19th-century British politician and adventurer. Even during the colonial period, few supported that Jameson, who is mainly known for his part in the infamous [[Jameson Raid]], fully deserved the honour of having any town named after him. Like [[Mchinji|'Fort Manning']] and '[[Mansa, Zambia|Fort Rosebery]]', Fort Jameson was called a "fort" because the local government offices, or [[Boma (enclosure)|"Boma"]], were once fortified.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

Fort Jameson was the capital of the [[British protectorate]] of [[North-Eastern Rhodesia]] between 1900 and 1911.

During [[World War II]], 80 [[Polish people|Polish]] refugees escaping from [[Occupation of Poland (1939–1945)|German- and Soviet-occupied Poland]], were admitted in Fort Jameson in 1941.<ref>{{cite book|last=Wróbel|first=Janusz|title=Uchodźcy polscy ze Związku Sowieckiego 1942–1950|year=2003|language=pl|publisher=[[Institute of National Remembrance|Instytut Pamięci Narodowej]]|location=[[Łódź]]|page=137|isbn=978-83-7629-522-0}}</ref>

== Government ==
The [[mayor]] of the city of Chipata is the head of the city government.

==Population==
With a population of about 327,059 in 2022,<ref name=":02">[https://www.ilo.org/sites/default/files/wcmsp5/groups/public/@africa/@ro-abidjan/@ilo-lusaka/documents/genericdocument/wcms_888660.pdf 2022 Census of Population and Housing - Preliminary Report] (PDF)</ref> [[Chipata District]] is believed to be the 8th largest district of the country. The city of Chipata had 193,288 inhabitants in 2022.<ref>[http://citypopulation.de/Zambia-Cities.html Largest cities of Zambia] retrieved 20 June 2019</ref>{{Failed verification|date=March 2025}} The predominant ethnic groups in the city are the [[Chewa people|Chewa]], [[Tumbuka people|Tumbuka]], [[Ngoni people|Ngoni]] and [[Nsenga people|Nsenga]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Study in Chipata (Oriental province, Zambia)|url=https://www.hauniversity.org/en/Zambia-Chipata.shtml|website=Africa EENI Global Business School & University|language=en|access-date=2020-05-26|archive-date=2021-01-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210127153956/https://www.hauniversity.org/en/Zambia-Chipata.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Economy ==
[[Image:Chipata side street.JPG|thumb|right|Saturday Market in Chipata]]
Chipata is the primary transport hub for trade between Zambia and Malawi. "Down Shops" is Chipata's bustling down-town area, most shops and other businesses having proprietors of Indian origin.{{cn|date=October 2025}}

== Tourism ==
[[File:Ackson.jpg|thumb|Ngoni Worriers During the Nc'wala Ceremony.]]
The Nc'wala ceremony of the Ngoni people takes place at Mutenguleni on the outskirts of Chipata. The ceremony celebrates the first fruits harvest and is usually held at the end of February.<ref name="1R"/>

== Transport ==
[[File:A Bus and Taxi Stop Shelter.jpg|thumb|Bus and taxi stop shelter on Great East Road]]

=== Rail ===
An extension of the [[Sena railway]], connecting the city of Chipata to the territory of Malawi (via Mchinji) was opened in August 2011.<ref name="7R">{{cite web|date=21 September 2011 | url=http://www.afrol.com/articles/36610 |title=Zambia, Malawi finally connected by rail |access-date=23 November 2018 | publisher=Afrol.com |location=Kroderen, Norway}}</ref> Since then, Chipata acts as the Zambian railhead and entry point from Malawi and beyond. In the pipeline since 1982, the short link, about {{convert|35|km|0}}, provides a through-route for rail traffic from Zambia via Malawi to the Indian Ocean deep-water port at [[Nacala]] in [[Mozambique]].<ref name="8R">{{cite web|date=26 August 2007 | url=http://www.mg.co.za/articledirect.aspx?articleId=317537 |title=New rail link to boost Southern African trade |access-date=23 November 2018 | publisher=[[Mail and Guardian|Mail&Guardian Online]] | format=Archived from the original |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930181819/http://www.mg.co.za/articledirect.aspx?articleId=317537|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref> The route and alignment of the line has been laid out, including the site of Chipata station and the basic station building.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-04-25 |title=Zambia : Government completes assessment for the construction of the Serenje-Petauke-Chipata green field railway line |url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2017/04/25/government-completes-assessment-construction-serenje-petauke-chipata-green-field-railway-line/ |access-date=2024-08-30 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

The route provides an alternative to two existing rail routes to the Indian Ocean, at [[Dar es Salaam]] and [[Beira, Mozambique|Beira]]. In 2015 it was proposed to build a rail link from Chipata through [[Petauke]] to [[Serenje]], a town on the [[TAZARA Railway]] line.<ref name="10R">{{cite web|url=http://breezefmchipata.com/?p=9367 | title=Chipata-Tazara railway project hits a snag |date=3 August 2017 |publisher=Breeze FM Chipata | access-date=23 November 2018 |location=Chipata, Zambia}}</ref>

=== Road ===
The T4 road ([[Great East Road]]) connects Chipata with [[Lusaka]] to the west (570 kilometres away) and the [[Mwami, Zambia|Mwami]] border with [[Malawi]] to the east (20 kilometres away).<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=Roads and Road Traffic Act  |url=https://www.parliament.gov.zm/node/1492 |access-date=2022-06-27 |website=www.parliament.gov.zm}}</ref>

The [[M12 road (Zambia)|M12 road]] connects Chipata with [[Lundazi]] to the north (180 kilometres away).<ref name=":3" /> The D104 road connects Chipata with its [[Chipata Airport|airport]] (12 kilometers away) as well as to [[Mfuwe]] and the [[South Luangwa National Park]] to the north-west (100 kilometres away).<ref name=":3" /> The D128 road connects Chipata with [[Chadiza]] to the south-west (65 kilometres away).<ref name=":3" /> The D804 road connects Chipata with [[Vubwi District|Vubwi]] to the south-east (60 kilometres away).<ref name=":3" />

== Rivers ==
Chipata has four major streams pouring into the Luangwa river. The Luangwa river rises in the Lilonda and [[Mafinga Hills]] in north-east [[Zambia]] at an elevation of around 1500 meters near the border with [[Tanzania]] and [[Malawi]], and flows in a southwesterly direction through a broad valley.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Luangwa River In Zambia|url=https://www.victoriafalls-zambiatravel-safaris.com/country-info/rivers/luangwa-river|website=AfricanMecca Safaris|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref> The water from the streams and the Luangwa river is used for farming by the inhabitants around the district.

== Soil and vegetation ==
There are three main soil types: acrisols, fersiallitic soils, and lithosols. There are four vegetation types, the main one being the brachystegia (miombo) woodland and munga vegetation types.

== Climate ==
Chipata features a [[tropical savanna climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Aw'')<ref>{{Cite journal |date=23 October 2023 |title=Table 1 Overview of the Köppen-Geiger climate classes including the defining criteria. |url=https://www.nature.com/articles/s41597-023-02549-6/tables/1 |journal=Nature |language=en}}</ref> with wet and dry seasons. Summers are characterized by warm to hot temperatures, reaching peak values in October and November. Winters are milder, with July being the coolest month. The wet season, from November to March, experiences high humidity and significant rainfall. The dry season, from May to October, is marked by minimal precipitation.<ref name="WMONormals" />

{{Weather box
 | width       = auto
 | collapsed   = 
 | metric first = yes
 | single line = yes
 | location    = Chipata (Msekera Research Station) (1991–2020, extremes 1961–2020)
 | Jan record high C = 36.1
 | Feb record high C = 39.2
 | Mar record high C = 34.0
 | Apr record high C = 35.3
 | May record high C = 33.2
 | Jun record high C = 32.2
 | Jul record high C = 32.2
 | Aug record high C = 34.9
 | Sep record high C = 39.4
 | Oct record high C = 40.0
 | Nov record high C = 39.5
 | Dec record high C = 39.0
 | year record high C = 
 | Jan high C = 28.5
 | Feb high C = 29.0
 | Mar high C = 29.0
 | Apr high C = 29.0
 | May high C = 28.4
 | Jun high C = 27.0
 | Jul high C = 26.6
 | Aug high C = 28.8
 | Sep high C = 32.1
 | Oct high C = 33.5
 | Nov high C = 33.4
 | Dec high C = 30.2
 | year high C = 29.6
 | Jan mean C = 23.7
 | Feb mean C = 23.8
 | Mar mean C = 23.6
 | Apr mean C = 22.8
 | May mean C = 21.3
 | Jun mean C = 19.6
 | Jul mean C = 18.9
 | Aug mean C = 21.1
 | Sep mean C = 24.4
 | Oct mean C = 26.4
 | Nov mean C = 26.8
 | Dec mean C = 24.7
 | year mean C = 23.1
 | Jan low C = 18.9
 | Feb low C = 18.6
 | Mar low C = 18.2
 | Apr low C = 16.6
 | May low C = 14.2
 | Jun low C = 12.2
 | Jul low C = 11.2
 | Aug low C = 13.4
 | Sep low C = 16.7
 | Oct low C = 19.3
 | Nov low C = 20.2
 | Dec low C = 19.2
 | year low C = 16.6
 | Jan record low C = 12.8
 | Feb record low C = 13.2
 | Mar record low C = 11.8
 | Apr record low C = 9.7
 | May record low C = 5.8
 | Jun record low C = 3.3
 | Jul record low C = 4.0
 | Aug record low C = 3.7
 | Sep record low C = 7.2
 | Oct record low C = 11.3
 | Nov record low C = 12.8
 | Dec record low C = 13.3
 | year record low C = 3.3
 | precipitation colour = green
 | Jan precipitation mm = 268.0
 | Feb precipitation mm = 226.3
 | Mar precipitation mm = 209.5
 | Apr precipitation mm = 32.3
 | May precipitation mm = 5.8
 | Jun precipitation mm = 0.0
 | Jul precipitation mm = 0.0
 | Aug precipitation mm = 0.2
 | Sep precipitation mm = 0.1
 | Oct precipitation mm = 17.3
 | Nov precipitation mm = 80.9
 | Dec precipitation mm = 248.3
 | year precipitation mm = 1088.6
|Jan humidity = 80.7
|Feb humidity = 81.5
|Mar humidity = 78.8
|Apr humidity = 72.1
|May humidity = 64.4
|Jun humidity = 59.8
|Jul humidity = 55.9
|Aug humidity = 48.9
|Sep humidity = 42.7
|Oct humidity = 45.2
|Nov humidity = 56.6
|Dec humidity = 75.4
|year humidity = 63.5
|Jan sun = 158.1
|Feb sun = 148.4
|Mar sun = 201.5
|Apr sun = 234.0
|May sun = 266.6
|Jun sun = 258.0
|Jul sun = 260.4
|Aug sun = 275.9
|Sep sun = 276.0
|Oct sun = 269.7
|Nov sun = 216.0
|Dec sun = 167.4
|year sun = 2732.0
 | source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]] (humidity, sun 1961–1990)<ref name="WMONormals">{{cite web
|url = https://www.nodc.noaa.gov/archive/arc0216/0253808/2.2/data/0-data/Region-1-WMO-Normals-9120/Zambia/CSV/Msekera_67580.csv
|title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Msekera
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = January 24, 2024}}</ref><ref name= NOAA>{{cite web
| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/ZA/67581.TXT
| title = Chipata MET Climate Normals 1961–1990
| publisher = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200725212148/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/ZA/67581.TXT
| archive-date = 2020-07-25
| url-status = dead
| access-date = March 8, 2015}}</ref>
}}

== Suburbs ==
* Kalongwezi
* Kalongwezi Extension 
* Kapata
* Umodzi
* Moth
* Muchini
* Nabvutika
* Little Bombay
* Mchenga
* Damview
* Old Gym
* New Gym
* Chimwemwe  
* Magazine 
* Eastrise
* Walela
* Chawama
* Munga
* Chipata Motel 
* Nadalitsika
* Katopola
* Maferendum 
* Rose
* Hillview
* Gash
* Msekera
* Messengers
*David Kaunda area
*Hollywood
*Kalongola site and service
*Hillview
*Chimzere
*Gondar Barracks
*Highlands
*Aslot

== See also ==
* [[Railway stations in Zambia]]
* [[Railway stations in Malawi]]
* [[Transport in Zambia]]
* [[Transport in Malawi]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikivoyage|Chipata}}
* [https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/zambia.pdf UN Map]
* [http://citypopulation.de/Zambia-Cities.html Largest cities of Zambia]
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in Eastern Province, Zambia]]
[[Category:Capitals of former nations]]
[[Category:Provincial capitals in Zambia]]
[[Category:Chipata District]]