THE PROVINCE
OF KUANZA SUL
Founded in 1769 ofthe mouth ofthe River Ngunza by Dom Francisco Inocêncio de
Sousa Coutinho, at the time General Governor of Angola.
Sumbe is the capital city of the province
of Kuanza Sul, which has a surface of 55, 660 km2. The province
has mountainous areas and plains with a varied relief. The altitude is
between zero and 500 metres, as in the municipalities of Sumbe and Porto
Amboim. Most of the province is between 1,000 and 15,000 metres high. The
climate ranges from warm and humid to hot and dry.
The main
municipalities are: Sumbe, Porto Amboim, Amboim, Quilenda, Conda, Seles,
Ebo, Cela, Cassongue, Kibala, Libolo and Mussende.
Fishing is the main economic activity.
The province
has wonderful beaches, excellent for swimming, such as the ones at
Sumbe, Kicombo, Chicucula, Carimba and Porto Amboim. On the beach at
Sumbe, Salinas, Foz do Cubal and Foz do Cuvo there are various
species of fish: prata, macoa, corvina, pargo (sea-bream), barbudo
and shark. Wonderful bays create perfect beaches for the visitor to
enjoy.
Ethnic groups
Due to the wars between tribes, the ethnic groups are not homogenous
in this region, which gives rise to misunderstandings between the
communities and an unfavourable atmosphere for people from outside,
who come looking for good lands to cultivate. The ethnic groups are:
Kibalas, Ngoias Mus. seles, Mussumbas and Bailundos.The population is mainly farmers and the basic
foodstuffs are composed of mandioc or com porridge, fish and
vegetables.
The boys are circumcised between the ages of five and
eight. The rites of each region are respected (traditional weddings,
circumcision, divorce, the death of the soba (chief), hunting,
traditional fishing methods, the widow and grazing. The women wear
beads, a headscarf and some of them, a cloth and quimone. They are
responsible for looking after the children and preparing the food.
The men take care of the hunting, the fishing, looking after the
herds, house-building and other manual works.
Handicraft is easy to find all over the region. The
works are made with ceramics, sisal fibre, ivory, wood and horn.
Useful information
Police: Tel.: (036) 41102
Hospital: Tel: (036) 41532
Red Cross.: Tel.: (063) 30617
Climate
The province has a tropical, high-altitude climate and generally,
the temperature varies with the latitude. The fact that it is near
the sea makes for more homogenous conditions.
The hottest months along the coast are from January
to April, whi1e Ju1y and August are the coldest ones.
How to get There
By roadFrom Luanda straight to
Kwanza Sul, which is 492 km.
By airThere are landing strips for
aircraft in the cities of Waco Kungo, Sumbe, Gabela, and
Kibala.
By seaCommercial Port of Porto
Amboim.
Nature Reserves
Hunting
There are good conditions for the hunting of small animals and
ornamental birds in many places.
Flora
The flora of this province is rich, providing the country with a
great variety of types of wood.
Fauna
There is also a great variety of fauna. Common wild animals are wild
fowl, rabbit, deer, pacassa and enjeu, among others.
Rivers
The Rivers Cambongo, Cubal and Keve offer excellent conditions for
the practice of water sports, sailing, fishing and duck shooting.
Rio Longa You can sail along this River as far as the junction at Nhia, a
distance of around 80 km. The Rivers Covo or Keve also, until the
Binga falls.
Main
tourist attractions
One of the areas of greatest interest for tourists is the Medicinal Waters
of Waco Kungo. Other places of interest are the falls with opportunities
for white-water rafting, at Takota na Conda and Pedra d' água in Catanda
in the municipality of Seles.
15 kilometres from Sumbe, is the Bay of Quicombo, where in
1640, Salvador Correia de Sá anchored his naus and then set sail for
Luanda to fight the Dutch.
There are a number ofbays, with good beaches. 11 km from
the city, there are the Sumbe caves with stalactites and stalagmites,
possible among the finest examples in the world. Of special interest is
the forest and the caves at Sassa, the Kicombo caves, the Sumbe Ceramic
Works, Porto Amboim, Calulo, Kibala, Waco Kungo, the qyarry at Sumbe and
Porto Amboim.
Cultural tourism
Ruins and Archaeological Remains:
There are ruins and archaeological remains, in a bad state of
conservation. The most important ruins are those of the Fort of
Kicombo, the Fortress of Kibala, the towns of Seles and CaluIo, the
ruins of the old Fortress at Novo Redondo, the ancient cemetery and
military barracks at Novo Redondo. Other places of interest are the
rock engravings 12 km from the road which connects Kibala and Dongo
(around the Neolithic Era), the rock engravings at Kinjinge (Ebo),
the Sanga Cave (Cela), rock engravings at Quingunba (Ebo), the
Assango Cave (Amboim), the Dumbi Cave (Kassongue), architectural
modification Works at the main church (Igreja Matriz), Nossa Senhora
da Conceição, and the construction of breakwaters along the coast,
to defend against I
high tides.
Among the Fortresses and monuments with
interesting archaeological, civilian, military,or funerary interest are the Fortresses of Kibala,
Novo Redondo, Amboim, the Forts of Libolo, Seles, and the wall at
Kariango (Kibala); Fortaleza (Fortress) da Kibala (ruins);
Fortaleza de Novo Redondo (ruins); Fortaleza do Libolo do Amboim,
Seles and Muralha (Wall) do Kariango.
The province's authorities control 43 monuments, 36
of these being military and 3, religious.
Events
Festas do Mar, (Sea Festival) in the cities of Sumbe and Porto
Amboim;
City Fairs in ali the municipalities;
Christmas Fairs in Kwanza Sul (15th September).
Taag - Angolan Air Lines
Where to stay
HOTEL GAHELA
Rua comandante Valodia;
Tel: (036) 20394
HOTEL
RITZ
Av. Marginal; Tel: (036) 60277
HOTEL
SOL NACIONAL
Av. 4 de Fevereiro. Sombe;
Tel: (036) 30440 / 091 521412
Where to eat
RESTAURANTE CARA VELA
Avenida 4 de Fevereiro;
Tel: (036) 30408
RESTAURANTE MIL FLORES
Rua dos estudantes;
Tel: (036) 41117
KWANZA-SUL THE TOURISTIC BET FOR 2003
Kwanza Sul is one the beautiful provinces of Angola,
boarding in the North with Bengo, Benguela to the South, to the Northeast
with Malange and Kwanza North, to the Southeast, Kwanza Sul borders with
Huambo, while to the East with Bié, and West with the Atlantic Ocean.
Kwanza-Sul has mountainous plateaux zones. The altitudes
between 0-500 meters are found in Sumbe and Porto Amboim Municipalities.
The major part of the extension of the province has
altitudes that fall between 1500 meters approximately. The areas with
altitudes higher than 1500 meters very small and dispersed. They are
located above all in the municipality of Kassangue.
Waco Kungo, Kassangue, Gabela and Ebo have essentially a
humid mesothermic climate while his localities of Calulo, Seles Sembe and
Porto Amboim have arid and semi-arid climates.
There are also mesothermic climates in the high regions of
the hydroelectric basins of Longa, Cambongo, Queve or Kuvo and Kicombo.
Generally, the medium temperature varies when the latitude
increases. On the other hand, the proximity of the sea influences very
much in the decrease of its variation The hottest months on the coastland
are; January, February, March and April, while June July and August are
the coldest months. However, the hottest months inland the provinces are
September and October.
After consulting the registry table it was noticed the
following annual averages: 17º (in Waco Kungo, Kassangue and Kibala), 18º
( Gabela and Libolo), and 24º ( Sumbe and Porto Amboim).
The Provinces cities are Sumbe, Porto Amboim, Seles, Gabela,
Conda, Waco Kungo, Kibala and Calulo; and there is free access to almost
all municipalities but Mussende, Kassangue and Kibala; Sumbe and Waco Kngo
cities have got airports in good condition of utilization by the
airplanes; and there is a commercial port at Port Amboim.
Kwanza – Sul is rich in rivers and lakes, where one can
practise fishing of cacusso, sheatfish, and others, but there are also
hippopotamus and crocodiles.
With regard to fauna, it is small, but abundant and also
with frequency of ornamental birds.
All this characterization already mentioned, and that will
be described further on, has to do with the touristy bet for 2001 in
Kwanza – Sul, Where in Sumbe and Porto Amboim will be observed the Eclipse
of the Sun, a natural phenomenon that should be profited to show the spots
of touristy relevance, what makes our province to be considered priority
for the tourism growth.
Besides the Eclipse of the Sun, the observers will also be
able to contemplate 15 Kms away from Sumbe, the bay of Quicombo, to
reconquer Luanda from the hands of the Dutch ; the falls of Cachoeiras
waters of Binda, Kuvo river; Tokota at Canda, Pedra d’água (storn of
water) at Catanda in Seles, medicinal waters at Waco Kungo the seasides in
Sumbe, Quicomgo, Chicuacula and Porto Amboim; 11 kms away from the city we
can find the famous caverns or dens of Sumbe formed by the calcareous
stalactite and stagnifs, giving surprising appearances; ruins and
archaeological vestiges such as; Quikomgo fortress, Kibala fortress, Novo
Redondo fortress and cemetery military quarters of Novo Redondo, the
rupestral paintings located 12 kms away from the road linking Kibala –
Dondo (nearly of the later stone age) the rupestral paintings located 12
kms away from the road linking Kibala – Dondo (nearly of the later stone
age) the rupestral paintings of Kinginge (EBO), Assango den (AMBOIM) and
the den of Dumbi (Kassangue); Kariango’s wall; the cultural aspects such
as the ethnic groups: Kibalas, Ngoias, Mussumbas, Musseles, and Bailundos;
the habits and customs, being the majority of the population farmers and
the practice of handicraft, music and the traditional folklore, lays on
the habits and customs of the people who integrate it, expressing their
beliefs, puzzles, tales and proverbs identifying their knowledge.
The musical instruments are: marimba, ngoma, conguxi,
clapper and whistle, etc.
These musical instruments are used in the recreative
dances, commemorative ceremonies, in the magic’s, in the treatments, in
the carnival and funerals. The main festivities of the Province are
namely; the feasts of the sea in Sumbe and Porto Amboim and Seles; the
anniversary party of kwanza-Sul on 15 September.
The hotelier net is not yet working very well, but there
are other equipments of touristic interest such as: the camping park in a
regular state of conservation located in Sumbe, the lodging-house Santa
Filomena, the School of ex-Mocidade Portuguesa, still in good condition,
the castle of Cruzeiro; Gabela lodging-house female home of ex-Mocidade
Portuguesa and his camping park at Cela.
Re-launch Of Agriculture Involves 1,200 Families
In Pambangala
Sumbe, 10/05 - Some 1,200 families of farmers that recently returned to
their areas of origin are since Septemeber involved in the 2004/2005
Agricultural Campaign in the commune of Pambangala, central Kwanza Sul
province, said Tuesday, here, the local representative of the Christian
Association for the Youth (ACM), Ernesto Cassinda.
According to him, about a thousand of the families are receiving kits of
agricultural seeds and tools, aiming at re-launching the farming and
cattle-raising activity, whereas other 200 families have received cattle
for yoke, as well as trucks, fertilizers and medicine to treat cattle.
The programme is being financed by the German NGO Emergency Assistance of
Diakonia.
ANGOLA: PLANNING MINISTER, WORLD BANK DIRECTOR VISIT CUANZA-SUL
Luanda, 16 April: Angolan Planning Minister Ana Dias Lourenco has left for
Cuanza-Sul province today, accompanied by the World Bank's director for
Angola, Malawi and Mozambique, Darius Mans, to assess the Social Support
Fund's effectiveness. Moments before leaving, Ana Dias Lourenco said the
committee's visit to that province was included in the World Bank
official's visit. This international financial institution recently
approved a five-year interim support strategy, valued at 125 million US
dollars.
During their short stay in Cuanza-Sul, the leaders will
meet national and provincial fund officials, who are meeting in Sumbe, to
identify areas included in the support strategy. She explained that the
third support strategy was approved by the World Bank, which has allocated
55m dollars to invest in the programme. Ana Dias Lourenco was joined by
members of her ministry and the World Bank representative in Angola.
The approval
of a financial agreement calculated in 18 million euros between Angola and
Italy for the development of the
telecommunications system in the
South Kuanza province was the
event that highlighted the economic actuality during the second week of
October 2001.The amount will be applied for the installation of a new digital
centers in the cities of Sumbe, Porto Amboim and Gabela .Each center will
have respectively 5000,1280 and 1664 phone lines.
Angola received a financing to install a new digital telecommunications
center In a modernization project .
Cabinet council standing commission approves
financial agreement with italy
Luanda, 10/11 - Angolan Cabinet
Council Standing Commission Wednesday in Luanda approved a financial
agreement with the Government of Italy to modernise and develop the
communication system in central Kwanza-Sul
province. A communique from the cabinet council explains that the agreement
comprises 18 million euros to be refunded in 36 years, 24 of which free of
interests.
The document underlines that this financial support will permit the setting
up of a new digital station in Sumbe city for 5,000 telephone lines, 1,280
of which for Porto-Amboim and 1,664 for Gabela.
The Modernisation and expansion of telecommunication infrastructures will
also benefit the districts of Quibala, Waco-kungo, Uku Seles, Conda and
Calulo and contribute to improve productive activity in the country`s
central and southern regions.
Wednesday`s session, chaired by president Jose Eduardo Dos Santos, also
analysed the report on the accomplishment of the treasury plan for August
and approved another one for October.
This month, the treasury plan takes as a priority the public servants
salary, other state fixed charges and capitalisation of public comercial
banks and subvention of debts to enterprises rendering public services.
The Standing commission also approved the protocol for partial pardoning of
the angolan debt to the People`s Republic of China. This sum of this
perdoning is 35,740 million plus 1,4 US Dollars.
On the same occasion, the standing commission upheld the points to be
defended by Angola at the World Trade Organisations 4th conference taking
place on november 9-13 in Qatar.
Partial view of Kuanza-Sul
Fomer Miss Angola elected in Sumbe,
Kuanza Sul Province
Hidianeth Cussema from central Bie Province is the current Miss elect at
2001 edition realized in Sumbe city Kuanza-sul
province.