ABSTRACT
Using both interpretative and institutional approaches, this chapter identifies political and economic structures, explores their power relationships in influencing the urban development, built form, and urban administration in the city of Nkana-Kitwe. It opens with a justification of why the city of Nkana-Kitwe has been chosen as a case study and is followed by brief discussions on each of the following topics: history of copper mining and the functional evolution of Nkana-Kitwe, population growth and economic activity. The primary motive in the establishment of Nkana Mine Township was to provide houses and services for the mine workers free from government interference, and through this exercise, unfettered control over the work force. With the re-privatization of Nkana Division still being negotiated, any discussion about the sort of changes in the administration of the town this re-privatization will bring is merely speculative.
