MWANZA

OPPORTUNITIES

Mwanza region is in the extreme northern part of Tanzania Mainland dominated by Africa 's largest lake, the Lake Victoria. Geographically, it lies between latitudes 1° 30' and 3° 0' south of the Equator and the longitudes 31° 45' and 34° 10' east of Greenwich.

The northern part of the region is surrounded by the waters of Lake Victoria locally known as Lake nyanza. These waters in turn separate the region from the neighbouring countries of Kenya and Uganda. To the west is Kagera region while the south and southeastern parts border shinyanga region. Mara region borders Mwanza in the northeast.

LAND AREA AND ADMINISTRATION UNITS

The total surface area occupied by Mwanza region is 35, 187 sq kms. But of this area a good 43% or 15,092 sq km is water cover dominated by Lake Victoria. This leaves only 57% or 20,095 sq km as dry land. So, in terms of land area the region is one of the smallest in Tanzania Mainland. Only Kilimanjaro and Mtwara regions are smaller. With the Mainland land area pegged at 881,289 sq km. Mwanza's share is a mere 2.3%. In terms of Mainland's total area of 942,784 sq kms Mwanza's share goes up to 3.7%

  Table 1.1: Distribution of total surface and Land Areas, by district Mwanza region.

Source:Regional Commissioner's office. Mwanza, 2002

District	Land area (Sq kms)	Water area (Sq Kms)	Total surface area (sq Kms)	Percentage of regional
				Total	Land
Mwanza City	425	900	1.325	3.8	2.1
Magu	3,070	1,725	4795	13.6	15.3
Ukerewe	640	5,760	6,400	18.2	3.2
Geita	6,775	1,050	7,825	22.2	33.7
Sengerema	3,335	5,482	8,817	25.1	16.6
Kwimba	3,903		3,903	11.1	19.4
Missungwi	1,947	175	2,122	6.0	9.7
Total	20,095	15,092	35,187	100.0	100.0

 

  Tanzania has always had a tradition of carrying out some form of human population census at regular intervals. Prior to the 2002 census three major censuses had been carried out in 1988, 1978 and 1967. Less comprehensive censuses had also been undertaken earlier in 1957 and 1948.

From these censuses certain characteristics have emerged regarding the country's population. For instance, the population growth rate is slowing with time. Between 1967 and 1998 it was 3.2 percent per annum but between 1978 and 1988 it was down to 2.8 percent. Urbanization is increasing so is population density. The Population of females relative to males continues to be higher. Illiteracy among females continues to remain higher than among males. Agriculture is still the main economic activity as sector and the major foreign exchange earner. Though life expectancy at birth continues to rise, the rates of infant mortality and material mortality are still unacceptable high Fertility is on the decline as demonstrated by falls in the Crude Birth Rate (CBR) and the Total Fertility Rate (TFR). This could be because the population is now more aware of the need for family planning and that the age at first marriage has been rising. This age rose from 19 years during 1967/78 to 23 years between 1978 and 1988. Inspite of regional Variations the trends are clear.

  REGIONAL ECONOMY

Introduction

The economy in Mwanza Region is dominated by smallholder agriculture employing about 85 per cent of the region's population and complemented by an expanding fisheries sector.

The region has traditionally been one of Tanzania's main producing area for cotton. For the past two decades cotton production has declined basically due to low profitability and ineficient marketing arrangements. It is believed that fisheries activities in the region lead in terms of foreign exchange earning contribution to the regions's economy. Commercial fishing is carried out by big fishing companies using modern fishing gear and vessels. Agriculture takes second position followed by minning in recent days. the region holds a large proportion of the country's livestock; about 13 percent (District Integrated Agriculture Survey, 1998/99- National Report February 2000). The region's rural population is relatively poor and conditions are worsening due to high population density and consequent land shortage. exacerbated by erratic rainfall patterns in many parts of the region. Major food crops in the region are maize, cassava,sorghum,millet, sweet patatoes, and legumes (beans/peas) Maize, cassava and sweet patatoes constitute about 71 per cent of all food crops grown in the region. The region in most times isi unable to feed itself, food has to be imported from other regions surplus production realized in Geita and spome parts of Sengerema fail to bridge the food gap. Paddy and maize play a dual role in being food crops, which can also be sold if a surplus is generated or if cash is needed urgently. Cotton and paddy have both been major cash crops in the region over the past 50-60 years.

ROAD TRANSPORT

Mwanza as one of the country's northern most regions. Together with Mara in the east and KAgera to the west they form a ring of roads around Lake Victoria which connect to Kenya and Uganda, both which countries are follow members of the East African Community. Mwanza region is crucially placed to play a key role in the dvelopment of such a ring network around the lake. Already an all-weather tarmac trunk road connects Mwanza to Kenya Republic via Mara region. The western wing via Kagera region to the Republic of Uganda is yet to be developted to Tarmac standards.

Mwanza is strategically connected to central mainland by a trunk road into shinyanga region and Tabora to the south.

The internal network dominated by regional, district and feeder roads is discussed below:-

  TELECOMMUNICATIONS

TTCL	Telephone Lines
Year	Number of Lines
1990	4,993
1991	5,100
1992	5,206
1993	5,185
1994	5,290
1995	5,262
1996	5,185
1997	4,903
1998	na
1999	na
2000	na
20001	na

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