Kipushi

Kipushi is a specialized mining town in the Haut-Katanga province, located directly on the border between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia. The town owes its existence to the discovery of rich ore deposits in the 1920s, particularly zinc and copper. Kipushi is home to one of the world's deepest and highest-grade underground mines, the Kipushi Mine, renowned for its exceptionally high zinc content. Its proximity to the Zambian border makes the town a significant frontier post, though much of its activity is focused on the mining sector. The urban layout is intricately linked to the mine's operations; many residential areas and infrastructure projects were originally developed for mining company employees. Geographically, Kipushi is situated only about 30 kilometers southwest of Lubumbashi, resulting in close economic ties with the provincial capital. In recent years, substantial investments have been made to modernize the mine and restart production after a period of dormancy. The town serves as a prime example of a 'company town,' where social life is deeply intertwined with the rhythm of industrial labor.

Nearby cities

Lubumbashi

Lubumbashi is the mining capital of the DR Congo and the second-largest city, located in the southeastern part of the country.

Likasi

Likasi is a major industrial city in the Upper Katanga Province, significantly involved in the processing of minerals.

Kambove

Kambove is a historical mining town in Haut-Katanga province.

Pweto

Pweto is located at the northern end of Lake Mweru on the border with Zambia.

Kasumbalesa

Kasumbalesa is a border town in Upper Katanga Province, serving as a vital crossing point between DR Congo and Zambia.

Sakania

Sakania is the southernmost town of the DR Congo on the border with Zambia.

History & landmarks

Palais de Justice Lubumbashi

The Palais de Justice in Lubumbashi is a notable colonial-era building that houses the high courts of the region.

Frédéric Kibassa Maliba Stadium

A major sports stadium in Lubumbashi, formerly known as Stade de la Kenya.

Stade TP Mazembe

The Stade TP Mazembe is the private stadium of the famous Tout Puissant Mazembe football club in Lubumbashi.

Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral

The Cathédrale Saints-Pierre-et-Paul in Lubumbashi is a grand Romanesque-style cathedral and a landmark of the mining capital.

National Museum of Lubumbashi

The Musée National de Lubumbashi displays a rich collection of archaeological, ethnographic, and artistic works from the Katanga region.

University of Lubumbashi (Belvédère)

The distinctive campus buildings of the University of Lubumbashi, a center for education in the south.

More places

Kipushi Mine

A historic zinc and copper mine near the Zambian border that has been modernized.

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Lubumbashi Children's Park

Children's parks in Lubumbashi offer safe and fun environments for the city's youth to play and socialize.

Brasimba Brewery

The Brasimba brewery in Lubumbashi is a leading company in the beverage industry of southern Congo.

Cathedral of St. Peter and Paul

The cathedral in Lubumbashi, built in the 1920s, is a significant religious and architectural heritage of the colonial city of Elizabethv…

Luiswishi Mine

A high-grade copper and cobalt mine not far from Lubumbashi in the resource-rich south.

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Ruashi Mine

A significant open-pit copper and cobalt mine near Lubumbashi.

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Kinsevere Mine

Kinsevere is a significant copper mine located near Lubumbashi in the Upper Katanga Province.

Jadotville (Likasi)

Likasi, formerly Jadotville, was the site of the famous 1961 Siege of Jadotville, where Irish UN troops fought Katangese secessionists.