Nchelenge District

9°00′S 29°00′E / 9.000°S 29.000°E / -9.000; 29.000Country ZambiaProvinceLuapula ProvinceCapitalNchelengeArea • Total4,147.8 km² (1,601.5 sq mi)Population • Total233,696 • Density56/km² (150/sq mi)Time zoneUTC+2 (CAT)

Nchelenge District is a district of Zambia, located in the Luapula Province. The capital lies at Nchelenge. As of the 2022 Zambian Census, the district had a population of 233,696 people.^[1]

The native inhabitants of Nchelenge are mainly fishers or fishmongers. Due to overfishing, there has been a shift to farming in the past few years to meet people's basic economic needs. The selling of fish and timber, as well as general trading, comprise the main economic activities carried out by people, accounting for some 80 percent of the workforce. The remaining 20 percent are formally employed workers mostly in government departments and various non-governmental organizations in the area. The transport sector in the district has also increased.

Banking services are offered by the National Savings Bank and the Zambia National Commercial Bank; the latter operating as a mobile bank twice weekly from Kawambwa district, located about 90 kilometers from Nchelenge district.^[2]

The Nchelenge district is headed by the District Commissioner on the administrative side appointed by the President. He/she is assisted by the district administrative office and heads of government departments who report to him administratively and to their provincial heads on technical matters. The Council Chairperson is an elected political leader responsible for the performance of civic duties in the district. He/She is elected every five (5) years by residents in all the wards of the district to preside over the political affairs of the district. Traditional leaders play an important governance role in the running of the district, which has four chiefs: Chief Kambwali, Chieftainess Kanyembo, Chief Nshimba and Chief Muyembe. Other traditional leaders include headmen and women who assist the chiefs.