HUAMBO

formerly Nova Lisboa, English New Lisbon, city, west-central Angola. It lies south of the Kwanza River on the Bi (Angolan) plateau at an elevation of 5,581 feet (1,701 m) and has a temperate climate. The town was founded in 1912 by Portuguese settlers and workers on the Benguela Railway, which was then under construction. It was first called Huambo but was renamed Nova Lisboa in 1928. Following Angola's attainment of independence in 1975, the city's original name was restored. Huambo was severely damaged during the civil war that accompanied and followed Angolan independence. The city became the headquarters of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), a guerrilla movement. Huambo is basically a transportation centre with one of the largest rail repair shops in Africa. The important Benguela Railway passes through Huambo on its way from Lobito on the Atlantic coast eastward through central Angola to Congo (Kinshasa). The railway's operation, however, has been repeatedly disrupted by forces of UNITA. Huambo itself suffered serious damage in 1993 as a result of the civil war. Coffee, wheat, and corn (maize) are grown in the area around the city. Pop. (1983 est.) 203,000.