Mzimba District
Mzimba | |
|---|---|
District | |
  Mzimba | |
| Coordinates: 11°30′S 33°30′E / 11.500°S 33.500°E | |
| Country | Malawi |
| Region | Northern Region |
| Capital | Mzimba |
| Established | 1908 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Unitary presidential republic |
| Area | |
• Total | 10,473 km2 (4,044 sq mi) |
| Population (2023[2]) | |
• Total | 1,017,701[1] |
| Racial makeup (2023) | |
| • Black African | 94.1% |
| • Asian | 2.6% |
| • Mixed | 1.9% |
| • White | 1.3% |
| • Other | 0.1% |
| First languages (2018) | |
| • Chitumbuka | 93.2% |
| • Chichewa | 2.8% |
| • Yao | 1.5% |
| • Lomwe | 1.1% |
| • English | 0.2% |
| • Other | 1.1% |
| Time zone | UTC+2 (CAT) |
| ISO 3166 code | MW-MZ |
Mzimba is a district in the Northern Region of Malawi. The capital is Mzimba and the biggest town is Mzuzu, which is also the administrative headquarters of the Northern Region. The district covers an area of 10,473 km2 and has a population of 1,017,701 (2023).[3] It is the largest district in Malawi. The district is inhabited by Tumbuka people. Chitumbuka is the predominant language spoken in the district.[3]
Geography
The district's diverse landscape features the Viphya Mountains that stretch across its southern and eastern regions, while the central area is occupied by the Mzimba Plain. The South Rukuru River and its tributaries flow through the plain, draining into the nearby basin. The district's western border shares a boundary with Zambia, marked by a low divide separating the South Rukuru basin from the Luangwa River basin.[4]
Government
Since 2009, there are twelve National Assembly constituencies in Mzimba:[4]
Divisions
The district is divided into 13 sub-divisions, each with its characteristics. These include Senior Chief Jaravikuba Munthali, Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve, TA Mpherembe, TA Mtwalo, Mzuzu City, TA Chindi, SC Kampingo Sibande, Mzimba Boma, TA M'Mbelwa, TA Mzikubola, TA Mzukuzuku, SC Khosolo Gwaza Jere, and TA Mabulabo.[4]
Economy
Mzimba's economy is diverse and growing, with various sectors contributing to its development.
Agriculture
The mainstay of Mzimba's economy is agriculture that employs most of the population. Key crops implemented in the area include tobacco (main cash crop), maize, groundnuts, and beans. Other crops such as cassava, sweet potatoes, and vegetables are planted in the area.
Forestry
The district has significant forest reserves, with timber production and wood processing contributing to the economy. One of its forest reserves include Chikangawa Forest Reserve.
Mining
Mzimba has deposits of minerals such as uranium, coal, bauxite and graphite, as well as granite.
Manufacturing
The district has many small-scale industries such as food processing with services of tobacco curing, oil seed crushing. Others include textiles companies that gin cotton, as well as garment production including wood products (such as furniture, carpentry).
Tourism
Mzimba's natural attractions include the Viphya Mountains and Vwaza Marsh Game Reserve, among others that offer opportunities for eco-tourism, wildlife conservation and cultural tourism.[3]
Demographics
At the time of the 2018 Census of Malawi, the distribution of the population of Mzimba District by ethnic group was as follows: 78.3% Tumbuka, 9.1% Chewa, 6.3% Ngoni, 1.4% Lomwe, 1.1% Yao, 1.0% Tonga, 0.9% Sukwa, 0.4% Lambya, 0.3% Nkhonde, 0.1% Sena, 0.1% Mang'anja, 0.1% Nyanja and 0.8% others.
Cities in Mzimba District
Culture
The district consists of people of Tumbuka with their cultural dance (Vimbuza) origin. And also, descendants of Ngoni people from South Africa with their Cultural Dance (Ingoma). However, the main language spoken is chiTumbuka. The district headquarters is at Mzimba. It is also the centre of netball in Malawi, Malawi's most successful sport. Most of the players in the national team, including international star Mwayi Kumwenda were born and grew up in Mzimba.[5]
Famous people
- Mwayi Kumwenda (1989–), a netball player for the Malawi national team.
- Goodall Gondwe, former Minister of Finance of Malawi
- Rose Chibambo, Malawian politician
- Jane Chimaliro, a netball player for the Malawi national team.
- Tamika Mkandawire, former professional footballer
- Brighton Munthali, a Malawian professional footballer
- Towera Vinkhumbo, a netball player for the Malawi national team
- Bridget Kumwenda, a netball player for the Malawi national team
Incidents
On 10 June 2024, a Malawian Defence Force Dornier 228 carrying Vice-President of Malawi Saulos Chilima, former First Lady Patricia Shanil Muluzi, and seven other occupants, crashed in Chikangawa Forest Reserve in Nkhata Bay District; all on board died in Malawi's deadliest aviation accident.
At the time of the crash, the aircraft and its passengers were en route from Lilongwe to Mzuzu Airport in the Northern Region to attend a funeral.[6][7]See also
References
- ^ "Mzimba (District, Malawi) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Mzimba (District, Malawi) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ a b c "Mzimba (District, Malawi) - Population Statistics, Charts, Map and Location".
- ^ a b c "Mzimba". npc.mw. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
- ^ "Mzimba｜All About Malawi". All About Malawi (in Japanese). Retrieved 2020-05-27.
- ^ Gondwe, Gregory and Imray, Gerald (11 June 2024). "Malawi's vice president and 9 others are confirmed dead after their plane's wreckage is found". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 11 June 2024. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
- ^ "UTM Raises Transparency Concerns Over Missing VP's Plane". AfricaBrief. 2024-06-11. Archived from the original on 21 June 2024. Retrieved 2024-06-21.
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Communities of , Northern Region, Malawi | |||||||||||||
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Seat: Mzimba | |||||||||||||
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| Mzimba District |
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