Until about 1966 it was called Balovale after the dominant chief (and his village within the town is still known by that name) but the name was changed in an attempt to defuse tensions between the main groups and the government of the newly independent country.

The Chinyingi Suspension Bridge spans the river just to the north-west of the town.

Zambezi features a humid subtropical climate (Köppen: Cwa)[1] with distinct wet and dry seasons.

The wet season, from October to March, experiences significant rainfall.

The dry season, from April to October, is marked by minimal precipitation.