"Movement" / Chona Mwemba
Provinces of Solwezi, Mwansabombwe, Kasama, Zambezi and Samfya- Zambia 2023- Current
We begin 2026 with a six-part series centered around themes of place, movement, and conflict. These issues demand deeper human-centered context, as displacement, political instability, and environmental pressure increasingly define daily life for millions.
Movement examines mobility in Zambia as a structural and cultural condition rather than a purely physical act. Through photographs made across multiple provinces between 2023 and the present, Chona Mwemba documents how everyday movement functions as an organizing principle of social life.
Infrastructural realities in present-day Zambia result in a majority of the population—especially rural Zambians—regularly traveling long distances as part of daily life. In urban areas like Lusaka, walking and public transport together serve well over 70 % of all daily commutes, and in many rural districts a significant portion of the population must walk hours to reach basic services due to low access to all-season roads and motorized transport options.
Against this backdrop movement operates as an informational and cultural network. Music, news, images and public discourse circulate along the same routes as people and goods, connecting geographically remote communities to national and global currents. Public transportation emerges as a site of exchange and debate, reinforcing movement’s role in sustaining collective awareness and social continuity.
Taken together, the photographs position mobility as both necessity and expression, presenting Zambia not as a fixed geography, but as a dynamic system shaped by continual motion across landscapes, provinces and social contexts.
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About Chona Mwemba
Chona Mwemba is a self-taught Zambian photographer with a deep love for capturing everyday life moments that cannot be replicated. The rawness and richness of his subjects and their environments serve as a personal reminder to always see the beauty of life regardless of geography. His work has been featured on platforms such as the BBC and The Times (UK). Through his work he strives to portray Zambia in a positive light. With this series of images he aspires to bring to life the beauty and strength of the Zambian people across the country, highlighting their gracious, resilient and amiable nature.
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