Mwense was declared a district in 1977, situated in the heart of Luapula province. It derives its name from the Mwense stream which is located within the township. As of the 2010 Zambia census, the district had a population of 87,267 people, most of whom were farmers.

The district shares national boundaries with the Democratic Republic of Congo to the west and district boundaries with Mansa to the south, Mwansabombwe to the north, and Chipili to the east. Mwense is divided into five (5) chiefdoms, namely: Lukwesa, Lubunda, Kashiba, Mulundu, and Katuta.

TOURISM

The Luapula river is the major tourism attraction and has a lot of beautiful sceneries, with Mambilima falls (a series of rapids) being the biggest and a national monument. More investment is expected to be made on the natural waters to develop the sector through the construction of hotels.

AGRICULTURE

Initially, people were focused on investing in fishing, but over the years, fish stocks have depleted. Peasant farmers have diversified, and the major agricultural activities include cultivating maize, cassava, groundnuts, and rice, which is an upcoming agricultural activity.

Mwense District is divided into two constituencies:

Mwense Constituency under area member of parliament Hon. David Maumba of the PF. The constituency has eleven (11) wards, namely: Kasengu, Katiti, Chachacha, Kapela, Pebekalesa, Luche, Nkanga, Kaombe, Kapamba, Mwense, and James Chiwasha.

Mambilima Constituency which is under area member of parliament Hon. Jean Chisenga of the PF. The constituency has ten (10) wards, namely: Nsomfi, Munwa, Mambilima, Lundashi, Musonda, Chibembe, Mpasa, Michelo, Kalanga, and Chansha

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MWENSE TOWN COUNCIL

Mwense Town Council was established in 1977 under the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019, which provides for the decentralization of government functions and the establishment of local government structures. The Act outlines the powers and functions of local government authorities, including the management of local affairs, planning and implementation of development programs, and the provision of public services.

The Act also establishes a framework for the establishment of elected local government structures, such as councils, committees, and boards, and provides for the appointment of local government officials, such as mayors, councillors, and administrators.

The Local Government Act in Zambia promotes transparency, accountability, and public participation in the governance of local government structures. It also provides for the involvement of community-based organizations and traditional leaders in local government decision-making processes. The Local Government Act in Zambia aims to promote effective and efficient service delivery to local communities and to empower them to participate in the management of their local affairs.