Tabora

Tabora is the capital city of Tanzania's Tabora Region with a population of 127,880 (2002 census). It was founded by Arab traders in the 1850s (known back then as Kazeh) and became a centre of the slave trade. Although the German East Africa protectorate was proclaimed over the region in 1885, as late as 1891 travellers reported it to be a lawless town and the German colonial administration did not gain control of it until later that year. It then became an administrative centre of German East Africa when it was known as Weidmannsheil.

During the East African Campaign of World War I colonial armed forces of the Belgian Congo ('Force Publique') under the command of General Tombeur captured the city on 19 September 1916 after some heavy fighting.

Tabora region is one of the largest geographical regions of Tanzania.

Transport

Dirt roads connect Tabora to the capital Dodoma and to Mwanza in the north. Salt flats in the west prevent a direct road from connecting to Kigoma.

Tabora is a junction on the Central railway line which goes west to Lake Tanganyika and north to Lake Victoria.

See also

• Transport in Tanzania

Sources

• Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition (at encyclopedia.com)
• Tabora page at fizzylogic.com

5°01′S 32°48′E