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Southern Zone

MBEYA REGION

ZONE | CAPITAL

Southern Highlands | Mbeya

 

Area:

• Total 35,954 km2 (13,882 sq mi)
• Land 35,493 km2 (13,704 sq mi)
• Water 461 km2 (178 sq mi)

Population (2012)

• Total 2,707,410
• Density 75/km2 (200/sq mi)

Mbeya Region is one of Tanzania’s 31 administrative regions. It is located in the country’s southwest. The regional capital is the city of Mbeya. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 2,707,410, which was lower than the pre-census projection of 2,822,396.

 

For 2002-2012, the region’s 2.7 percent average annual population growth rate was tied for the tenth highest in the country. It was also tied for the eighteenth most densely populated region with 45 people per square kilometre. In 2016, the town of Tunduma and the districts of Ileje, Mbozi, Momba and Songwe were split from Mbeya Region to create Songwe Region.

 

Mbeya Region is now bordered to the northwest by Tabora Region, to the northeast by Singida Region, to the east by Iringa Region, to the south by Songwe Region and Malawi, and to the west by Songwe Region.

NATIONAL PARKS AND OTHERS

  • Ruaha National Park
  • Kitulo National Park
  • Mount Rungwe Forest Reserve
  • Lake Ngosi
  • Matema Beach

 

DISTRICTS

In 2012, the region was administratively divided into eight districts namely: Chunya, Ileje, Mbarali, Kyela, Mbeya, Mbozi, Momba and Rungwe.

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RUKWA REGION

ZONE | CAPITAL

Southern Highlands | Sumbawanga

Area:

• Total   22,792 km2 (8,800 sq mi)

Population (2012)

• Total   1,004,539

• Density   44/km2 (110/sq mi)

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Rukwa Region is one of Tanzania’s 31 administrative regions with a postcode number 55000 . The regional capital is the municipality of Sumbawanga.

 

According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,004,539. For 2002–2012, the region’s 3.2 percent average annual population growth rate was tied for the third highest in the country. It was also the twentieth most densely populated region with 44 people per square kilometer

 

HISTORY

The region’s name comes from Lake Rukwa, which harbours the largest population of crocodiles in the nation. It is the region of the Fipa people, who maintain themselves by subsistence agriculture and livestock keeping.

The Rukwa Region was established in 1975 by President Julius Nyerere by taking Mpanda District from Tabora and the former unified Sumbawanga District from the Mbeya Region. Nkasi District was established in 1984.

 

MINING

While there are extensive mineral resources in the Rukwa Region, there are no active large mines. Gemstones, including emerald, moonstone, aquamarine, amethyst, ruby, and topaz, have been recovered from a number of locations.

There are coal seams in the Muze, Namewee, and Mkomolo areas, and some mining has occurred there.

SONGWE REGION

ZONE | CAPITAL

Southern Highlands | Vwawa

Area

• Total 27,656 km2 (10,678 sq mi)
• Land 26,595 km2 (10,268 sq mi)
• Water 1,061 km2 (410 sq mi) 3.8%

Population (2012 Census)[2]

• Total 998,862
• Estimate (2017 projection)[2] 1,173,667
• Density 36/km2 (94/sq mi)

Songwe Region borders the countries of Zambia and Malawi to the south: Tunduma is the main entry point into Zambia while Isongole is the main entry point into Malawi. Songwe also borders the Tanzanian regions of Rukwa and Katavi in the west, Tabora in the north, and Mbeya in the east.

 

ECONOMY

The main economic activities in Songwe Region are agriculture, animal husbandry and fishing. Crops cultivated include paddy rice, maize, coffee, sesame, sunflowers, beans and sorghum. The Maasai and Sukuma people in the region practice pastoralism.

 

DEMOGRAPHICS

The local government areas now comprising Songwe Region reported a combined population of 998,862 in the 2012 census, 46 percent of whom were under 15 years old.The same areas reported a population of 723,480 in the 2002 Tanzanian census, yielding an annual population growth rate of 3.2 percent between 2002 and 2012.

songwe river

In 2017 the population of the region was projected at 1,173,667 inhabitants. In 2012, 211,537 people or 21.2 percent of the region’s population lived in urban areas, an increase of 250.4 percent over the urban population of 60,377 recorded in 2002. Major ethnic groups in the region include the Nyiha, Nyamwanga, Ndali, Bungu and Lambya.

IRINGA REGION

ZONE | CAPITAL

Southern Highlands | Iringa

Area:

• Total  35,743 km2 (13,800 sq mi)

Population (2012)

• Total 941,238
• Density 26/km2 (68/sq mi)

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Iringa is one of Tanzania’s 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is Iringa. The region’s population is 941,238. It is primarily agricultural and boasts the second-highest per-capita GDP in the country.

 

Iringa Region is home to Ruaha National Park, Tanzania’s second largest park, which has an abundance of wildlife.

 

GEOGRAPHY

Iringa region has a total area of 35,743 square kilometres (13,800 sq mi). It is surrounded by Singida and Dodoma in the north, Morogoro to its east, Mbeya to its west and Njombe towards the south.

The region is drained by the Little Ruaha and the Great Ruaha rivers. The lake created by the Mtera Dam is the other significant water body here.

 

DEMOGRAPHY

The Iringa region has a total population of 941,238. Hehe people are the largest ethnic group living in the region. Other major populations are those of Bena and Kinga groups. Pangwa, Chaga, Nyakyusa and Ngoni can be found in urban areas primarily engaged in business. Maasai and Barbaig, sukuma and groups are mostly engaged in animal herding.

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