Kitwe was founded in 1936 in north-central
Zambia as the railway was being built by Cecil Rhodes' company. It was first
established as an adjunct, non-mining-related but supportive part of an
expanding copper-mining centre at Nkana. The expanding copper mines at Nkana
made it the dominant centre in the region and Kitwe started building up its
size and significance over the years, finally surpassing Nkana as the main
centre. The Rhodesia Railways main line reached the town in 1937, providing
passenger services as far south as Bulawayo, with connections to Cape Town. The
line was extended into DR
