Mbeya
Mbeya | |
|---|---|
City | |
 The mountains surrounding Mbeya | |
| Country |  Tanzania |
| Region | Mbeya Region |
| District | Mbeya Urban |
| Incorporated city | 1 July 2005 |
| Time zone | UTC+3 (EAT) |
Mbeya is a city located in southwest Tanzania, Africa. Mbeya's urban population was 280,000 in 2005. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region (population, with Mbeya, totals approx. 2 million).
Mbeya is the first large urban settlement encountered when travelling overland from the neighbouring nation of Zambia. Mbeya is situated at an altitude of 1,700 meters (5,500 ft), and sprawls through a narrow highland valley surrounded by a bowl of high mountains. The main language is colloquial Swahili, and the English language is extensively taught in schools.
History
Following the 1905 gold rush, Mbeya was founded as a gold mining town in the 1920s. The TAZARA railway later attracting farming migrants and small entrepreneurs to the area. Mbeya and its district was administered by the British until 1961. Mbeya Region was created in 1961. Mbeya City is now a growing metropolis and business centre for the southern regions and the neighbouring countries of Malawi, Zambia and Congo. The City is well connected with an all-weather road that forms part of the "Great North Road" running from Cape Town to Alexandria. The City has several tribes including the Safwa, Nyakyusa and Nyiha, all being agricultural peoples. Mbeya also boasts as one of the regions that form the bread basket of Tanzania.
Economy and infrastructure
Local government is administered via the Mbeya Urban District authority and a Regional Commissioner.
Mbeya has weather with enough rainfall and fertile soil which enable it to be thelargest producer of maize, rice, bananas, beans, potatoes (Irish & sweet), soya nuts and wheat in the entire country. Tanzania has a free market in agricultural produce, and Mbeya transports vast amounts of its maize to other areas of Tanzania. There is also extensive animal husbandry, with dairy cattle predominating. Mbeya is also the biggest producer of high-value export and cash crops in Tanzania; those crops are coffee (arabica), tea, cocoa, pyrethirum and spices. There is some smallholder cultivation of tobacco. Firewood is collected by women and girls, from the wooded valleys and mountainsides. Bamboo is naturally abundant in the forests, and there are plans to teach local people about this versatile plant and its many uses. Some gold is still mined in the rural Chunya District, by artisan miners.
Mbeya is considered to be heading the Southern Highlands Regions, that's why there is a Mbeya Referral Hospital which serves the whole of the Southern Highlands regions, Bank of Tanzania BOT, Mbeya Cement Company, Afri Bottlers Company Coca-Cola Company, SBC Tanzania Ltd Pepsi Cola Company, Tanzania Breweries Limited, NMB, TIB, Mbozi Coffee Curing Limited, Tukuyu Tea Company, Tanzania Oxygen Limited TOL - KYEJO, CRDB all these serve as zonal representative for southern Highlands. There are also a number of companies and statutory organisations with zonal offices in Mbeya.
Education
Besides a growing number of secondary schools like Meta, Sangu, Loleza, Mbeya day, Iyunga,Igawilo, UWATA Secondary School, St Mary's Mbeya, St. Francis Girls Secondary School, which the best Secondary School in Tanzania (the leading school in the entire country, has been in that position for couple of years now). Mbeya has some institutes of higher learning education:
- Teofilo Kisanji University is a young institution of the Moravian Church in Tanzania offering courses in theology,business, arts, sciences and educational studies, as well as training pastors and. Since 2005, it has grown out of the earlier Moravian Theological College. The college is situated at Soweto suburb.
- Mbeya University of Science and Technology (MUST) formerly known as Mbeya institute of Science and Technology(MIST) is a public institution offering degrees, advanced diplomas, and ordinary diplomas in various engineering disciplines.{ MIST was formerly known as Mbeya Technical College (MTC)}. The College is at Iyunga area.
- Mzumbe University (MU) Mbeya Campus is situated in Forest area next to the Bank of Tanzania. This public University offers bachelor degrees and diplomas in law and business, as well as providing evening programs in postgraduate studies.
- Tanzania Institute of Accountancy (TIA) is another public University, offering advanced diplomas and ordinary diplomas in Accountancy, Procurement, and Material Management. The Institution is situated at the Mafiat area, along the Tanzania-Zambia Highway.
- Agricultural Research Institute (ARI Uyole), with a training college and a large research library. This was previously the Ministry of Agriculture Research and Training Institute (MARTI).
- MARTI-Igurusi is a training college in agricultural sciences, and is similar to the ARI Uyole. Its uniqueness is based on being the only agricultural institution in Tanzania which offers various irrigation courses
- Shukrani International College of Business Management and Administration is an institution operated by The Salvation Army in Tanzania. Located in the Soweto area of Mbeya, it offers diploma courses in Business Administration, Sales and Marketing, Computer Studies, Office Management and Administration.
- VETA Southern Highland Zonal Centre is another vocational training college, situated in the Ilomba area.
- Tumaini University has also opened its centre in Mbeya, at Uzunguni area, which offers various diplomas and certificate courses. The processes are underway in order to open the University College at Uyole
- The University of Arusha has already opened its centre at SOWETO suburb, which offers various courses there.
- Mbeya Medical training center (MMTC)is a complex medical training college located adjacent to Mbeya Referral Hospital, it offers Advanced Diploma in clinical Medicine, Diploma in Dental therapy and diploma in nursing.
- Tukuyu Teachers College and Makandana Teachers College, they offer Certificate and Diploma.
- Uyole Social College, belongs to the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, it offers Certificate in Sociology.
- Mbozi Mission Nursing College, is under Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
- Uyole Teachers College is a branch of Tumaini University.
Geography and climate
Mbeya has a subtropical highland climate (Cwb, according to the Köppen climate classification), with humid summers and dry winters. The general range of temperature is between −6 °C in the highlands and 29 °C on the lowlands. The weather from June until October, is dry and cold. The heaviest rainfall occurs during the months December to March.
The area around Mbeya town (especially in Tukuyu) enjoys abundant and reliable rainfall which stimulates abundant agriculture on the rich volcanic soils. Average rainfall per year is around 900mm. The rainy season is from March to May.
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Mountain reserves and wildlife
The area around Mbeya has been called the "Scotland of Africa". The hills are clad in heather and bracken, but botanically they are more closely related to the Fynbos (fine bush) of South Africa’s Western Cape Province than the Highlands of Scotland. The nearest mountain to Mbeya is Loleza Mountain, which rises over and behind the town. Mbeya Peak is visible but some distance away.
Mount Rungwe is the highest mountain in the wider Mbeya region and it dominates the skyline for several kilometers around. It is composed of ten or more dormant volcanic craters and domes. Rising above the small town of Tukuyu, at 2,960m, Rungwe is southern Tanzania's highest peak, and is among the highest in the country after some of the peaks in northern Tanzania such as Mount Kilimanjaro (5,895m) and Mount Meru (4,565). Mount Rungwe is surrounded by a catchment forest reserve that was gazetted in 1949. This forest reserve incorporates montane forest, upper montane forest and montane grassland, with lesser amounts of bushland and heath at the upper elevations, found in low bushes along streams and at the edges of montane forest. The forest is home to a variety of significant forest flora and fauna, including the threatened Abbott's Duiker. The forest is regarded as an important bird area, with two species listed as vulnerable. The most notable creatures are Rungwe bush vipers and Colobus monkeys.
Also ecologically important are the Poroto Mountains, south-east of Mbeya. In 2005, a completely new species of large monkey, the Kipunji, was discovered living in the [southern highlands to the south-west of Mbeya. The Mbeya region has not yet been closely studied by scientists.
The Kitulo Plateau, famous for its orchids and display of native flora is now within the designated Kitulo National Park.
Forests in the area, even in the reserves, continue to be encroached upon and degraded. However, there has also been extensive tree and forest planting, which ensures the local firewood supply. There is a small illicit trade in orchid bulbs, which is thought to be endangering the survival of some species.
Rivers
Catchments from the reserve feeds numerous villages and towns from Kiwira to Katumba to Tukuyu and Kandete, and all settlements in between. All streams from the north, west and southwest flow into the Kiwira River. These streams include the Marogala, Sinini, Kipoke, Kilasi and Mulagala. In the southeast is the source of the Mbaka River, with the Suma River feeding into it. In the east the Mrambo and the Mwatisi flow out of the reserve. All of the above rivers flow into Lake Nyasa. The region's rivers are generally clear and fresh, and the area is outside the mosquito zone. Freshwater fish abound in the rivers. Other rivers flow from various sources in a catchment divide at the area called Igoma in Mbeya rural district. Also, Igoma is a dividing watershed for the two river systems, those flowing southward to lake Nyasa and those flowing northward towards the Usangu plains. The rivers flowing norhtwards are Ipatagwa, Mlowo Mwambalizi and other minor ones and are among tributaries of the great Ruaha River which flows into Indian Ocean.
Climate
| Climate data for Mbeya | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 23 (73) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
23 (73) |
22 (72) |
21 (70) |
21 (70) |
22 (72) |
25 (77) |
27 (80) |
27 (80) |
25 (77) |
24 (74) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | 14 (57) |
14 (57) |
14 (57) |
13 (55) |
11 (52) |
9 (48) |
8 (46) |
9 (48) |
11 (52) |
13 (55) |
13 (56) |
14 (57) |
12 (53) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 190 (7.5) |
160 (6.3) |
160 (6.3) |
110 (4.5) |
18 (0.7) |
0 (0) |
0 (0) |
2.5 (0.1) |
2.5 (0.1) |
15 (0.6) |
56 (2.2) |
140 (5.4) |
854 (33.7) |
| Source: Weatherbase[1] | |||||||||||||
Transport
Mbeya connects to the rest of tanzania and nearby countries through Songwe Airport which was opened in december 2012. it is one of four international airports availabe in tanzania. The city is also the location of a regional TAZARA Railway hub.[2]
Tourism
The rains normally start in October and end around May, followed by a dry and cold spell between June and September. Mbeya can be reached by bus services along tarmac roads, or via the TAZARA railway line from the capital (approx. 600-miles, two overnight passenger trains per week). An airport is marked on maps, with a grass airstrip.
Recently constructed airport equiped with international standard facilities is already operational for passenger flights, cargo and other. It is known as Songwe international airport (ICAO: HTGW) and located approximately 10 km from the city center. Currently there are four flights a week by Precision air (main carrier in Tanzania)with a plan to increase frequency to daily flights due to increased demand. Auric air is the other airline which ferries passengers to the city of mbeya
There are game watching safaris, and also trout fishing in the mountains to the south. There are efforts to widen tourism beyond animal and wild game viewing, which can best be done in Madibila and Rujewa.
Mbeya is the best place in Tanzania for hiking and forest walking; which is aided by the cooler climate, friendly villages and pure clear water in the river catchments. Well-defined hiking trails have been established to enable hikers to reach the elevated areas and bio-diverse highlands, although the trails need to be properly mapped. For self-sufficient hikers, some of the best, and least known trekking in Africa is in the Poroto Mountains around the small town of Tukuyu.
Botanical excursions are also promoted, due to the presence of the natural flower garden at Kitulo.
Recommended lodgings include: the Karibuni Center in Mbeya, the Mbeya Hotel, the Holiday Lodge, the Highlands and the Moravian Youth Hostel for budget travellers. South of Mbeya, signposted off the main road into Zambia, the Utengele Country Resort is a charming country hotel with excellent food and a vibrant pub.
Sports and culture
As for football, the city is represented in the Tanzanian Premier League by Prisons FC; the team is owned by the Tanzanian Prison Service based in Mbeya and the home venue is Sokoine Stadium.A new team named mbeya city which is owned by the mbeya city council was recently promoted to play in the tanzania premier league for the season 2012 - 13
tourism
Recently constructed airport equiped with international standard facilities is already operational for passenger flights, cargo and other. It is known as Songwe international airport (ICAO: HTGW) and located approximately 10 km from the city center. Currently there are four flights a week by Precision air (main carrier in Tanzania) with plans to increase frequency (from March 2013) to daily flights due to increased demand. Auric air is the other airline which ferries passengers to the city of Mbeya
Twin towns – sister cities
References
- ^ "Weatherbase: Historical Weather for Mbeya, Tanzania". Weatherbase. 2011. Retrieved 24 November 2011.
- ^ "Tanzam Journey". Railways Africa. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 21 June 2011.
External links
- Accommodation in Mbeya
- Rail timetable details.
- Karibuni Center in Mbeya.
- A tourist diary of a visit to Mbeya.
- Extensive photo gallery of Mbeya, its people and activities in 2001.
- Map of the forest reserves around Mbeya.
- Southern Highlands Conservation Programme is based in Mbeya.
- Detailed 1936 study of the Mbeya region's topography (German only, but English map).