The
capital city of this province, which has an area of 34, 270 km2, has the
same name. The munici-palities are: Huambo, Londuimbale, Bailundo, Mungo,
Tchindjenje, Ucuma, Ekunha, Tchicala Tcho-loanga, Catchiungo, Longonjo
and Caala. The main economic activity is agriculture.
Paiva Conceiro was the first specialist to study the region of Huambo
and he arrived at the conclusion that it has all the conditions to accommodate
urban centres, due to its excellent climate, geographical position favorable
for agriculture, a good hydrographic grid, friendly population and network
of rivers for fishing and swimming.
General José Mendes Norton de Matos, the Gover-nor, founded the
plain city of Huambo on 8th August, 1912.
In 1928, the engineer Antonio Vicente Ferreira, baptized the city of Huambo with the name Nova Lisboa (New Lisbon) and prepared it to be the capital of Angola. However, only the name of the city was changed because of the various schools of opinion opposed to this city becoming the capital of the country, because of Luanda’s more favorable position, on the sea.
Useful Information
Hospital Central do Huambo: Tel.: (041) 20425
Red Cross: Tel. (041) 20166
Transports
Enana: Tel.: (041) 20191
Railway: Tel.: (041) 20478 Trucks: Tel.: (041) 20373
Angola Telecom: Tel.: (041) 20003
Climate
Tropical climate at high altitude.
How to get there
By road
From Luanda, through Benguela, Huila and Bie Huambo
By rail
There is a railway line from Lobito to the border of the Congo (Catanga),
Zambia, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi. There are four passenger
trains every week apart from the goods trains, which carry minerals and
other products.
By air
Aircraft of all sizes can use the main runway, which is 2,800 m. long.
The second runway is 1,000 m long. International aircraft can use these
runways in an emergency.