Mbeya Region Website

 

Mbeya District Council is among the eight District Councils that make up Mbeya Region. It borders Mbarali District Council to the East, Rungwe and Ileje Districts to the South, Mbozi District Council to the West and Chunya District Council to the North. The availability of good infrastructure in the District, labour supply, land, reliable water and electricity supply, the construction of airport and good governance create favourable environment for investments by both local and foreign investors.

Based on the population census reports of 1967, 1978 and 1988 Mbeya District had a population of 180,210 243,115 and 332,430 respectively.  These data include Mbarali area when was part of Mbeya District before its separation in 1999.Thus Mbeya District alone had a population of 179,548 by 1988 and 254,069 people by the year 2002 after the national population and housing census conducted in August 2002.  This is an increase of 75,349 people equivalent to 29.5%.  As such population growth rate from 1988 to 2002 is estimated to 2.5 greater than that of the region which is 2.4 by 2002. According to 2005 projection, the District has a population of 273,857.

The population density in the District is 105 people per sq.km comparatively greater than the National average population densities and that of the region which are 39 square km and 34 per square km respectively by year 2002.

 

Administratively the district is divided into three divisions namely Tembela, Usongwe and Isangati.  These divisions are further subdivided into 17 wards. 143 villages and 1010 hamlets as depicted in table 1 below.

The main Ethnic groups found in Mbeya District are the Safwa, Malila and Nyakyusa who reside in Tembela Isangati and Usongwe divisions respectively.  Others include the Wanji, Ndali, Nyika and Kinga also the Maasai and Sukuma who specifically are identified as nomadic and predominantly agro-pastoralists.  These two ethnic groups mostly reside in Mshewe and Ikukwa wards.

The District lies between Latitudes 7º and 9º South of Equator and between Longitudes 33º and 35º East of Greenwich.  The District has a total land area of 2,432 square km equivalent to 243,200ha of which 189,818ha is arable land ideal for agricultural production.  Whilst about 47,354ha are covered by forests and 6,028ha i.e. water bodies as well as un arable land.

Topographically the District is characterized by highlands, mountainous peaks and lowlands of Songwe valley.  The most predominant natural vegetation includes tropical, savannah and wooded grassland.  Table 2 below shows different agro-ecological zones and their potential to investment opportunity.

Mbeya District lies at an altitude ranging from 2300 – 2800m above sea level.  The average temperature ranges between 12º centigrade and 30º centigrade annually.  Mean annual rainfall ranges between 650mm and 2700mm. 

 

The District has a total land area of 2,432 sq kms equivalent to 243,200ha of which 189,818ha is arable land ideal for agricultural production.  Whilst about 47,354ha are covered by forests and 6,028ha i.e. water bodies as well as an arable land. Due to its population pressure and the land ownership which belongs to the society, Mbeya District Council does not own land to offer to the investors, but investors can buy land from the people for the purpose of establishing investment ventures such as processing industries, storage, grading, packaging, cultivation of cash crops and handling facilities.

There is an expanding and improving infrastructure to support economic activities and investments in Mbeya District. This includes road networks of variable quality, railway line, and power supplies from the National Grid (TANESCO), good telecommunications, labour supplies and financial services as they are elaborated below. 

Mbeya District has road network of about 880km whereby 376.2km are trunk and regional roads and 503.8km are District and village roads which are passable throughout the year. The District also has an advantage of being passed by TAZARA railway line in a stretch of 46km and Tanzania Zambia Highway (TANZAM) which in addition provides easy transportation means to other parts of the country including neighbouring countries of Malawi and Zambia.

 

Construction of an International airport at Songwe is underway. Upon its accomplishment, the airport will serve as a hub for both cargo and passengers flight connections to the rest of the world.

Telecommunications

The Telecommunication Networks available in the District include land line telephones operated by Tanzania Telecommunications Company Ltd, and mobile phone services provided by Zain, Zantel, Tigo and Vodacom. Radio call and postal services are run by Tanzania Postal Services Company Ltd. Fax services are also available. Telephone and postal services are available in Mbalizi, Ilembo, Inyala, Bonde la Songwe, Santilya, Iwiji, Ilungu, Ulenje, Tembela and Ihango as well as in the district headquarters of Mbeya District. These services are being rapidly expanded.

The main sources of energy are electricity, kerosene, charcoal and firewood Electricity is obtained from the National Grid. Electricity is available in the small towns and some of the villages such as Igoma, Mbalizi, and Songwe viwandani, Inyala, Imezu, Utengule and Itewe. 

Nearly 96% of people live in rural areas where there is no electricity; thus they depend mainly on forest for firewood and charcoal. Kerosene is used for lighting and cooking and is obtained from outside of the district.

The economy of Mbeya District is based largely on major sectors which include agriculture and livestock, forestry and mining. Crop production, livestock husbandry and forestry generate the main sources of income. Thus agriculture is the mainstay of the District economy and accounts for more than 85% of the District gross domestic product (GDP). Mbeya District supplies several regions in Tanzania, e.g. Dar es Salaam, Tanga, Arusha, Kilimanjaro and Morogoro with food and cash crop production.

The working group of those aged 15-64 years constitutes 46.7% of the total District population. The dependent group (0-14) and above 64 years old constitutes 53.3% of the total population. Labour supplies are easily available in the District.

The only banking services in this District are offered by National Microfinance Bank (NMB), NBC, CRDB, Stanbic Bank, Barclays Bank and Exim Bank which are available at Mbeya City. Also Tanzania Revenue Authority has its branch in the city where people from this District use it to pay revenues.

Good District infrastructure and availability of varieties of raw materials make our District a suitable area to invest. Materials enter the area from nearest Districts, Regions and neighbour countries i.e. Zambia and Malawi through all weather roads. Investors are assured of distribution of their products to final consumers in different areas for internal and external Markets.