History
The recent origins of the City of Lichinga are closely linked to its privileged geographical situation and to its agricultural potential.
With the onset of the struggle for national liberation the village became an important military centre on account of its strategic position.
The colonial occupation is very old and the settlement was only decreed a village in 1937 under the name of Vila Freixo.
The town covers an area of 131km2 organised in 11 suburbs and has a calculated population of 56.801 inhabitants. The village of Mentangula is situated on the eastern shores of the Niassa Lake and covers an area of 81 km2 organised in in 12 suburbs and with an estimated population of 98.000 inhabitants.
Other destinations are: Massangulo, in the district of Ngauma, is situated 65 km north of Mandinba and has a mission at the base of the mountain named after it and Cobué that is situated 80km north of Metangula on the shores of Lake Niassa with access to the island of Likoma in Malawi.