Rukwa Region

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Rukwa Region Mkoa wa Rukwa  (Swahili)
Region
Sumbawanga Municipality
Regional map before partition in 2012
Rukwa Region Location of Rukwa Region Rukwa Region Rukwa Region (Africa) Show map of TanzaniaShow map of AfricaShow all
Coordinates: 7°00′S 31°30′E / 7.000°S 31.500°E / -7.000; 31.500Coordinates: 7°00′S 31°30′E / 7.000°S 31.500°E / -7.000; 31.500
Country	Tanzania
Zone	Southern Highlands
Capital	Sumbawanga
Government
• Regional Commissioner	Joackim Wangabo
Area
• Total	22,792 km2 (8,800 sq mi)
Population  (2012)
• Total	1,004,539
• Density	44/km2 (110/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+3 (EAT)
Postcode	55xxx
Area code(s)	025
HDI (2018)	0.467[1] low · 24th of 25
Website	www.rukwa.go.tz

Rukwa Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions with a postcode number 55000 . The regional capital is the municipality of Sumbawanga. According to the 2012 national census, the region had a population of 1,004,539.^{[2]: page 2} For 2002–2012, the region's 3.2 percent average annual population growth rate was tied for the third highest in the country.^{[2]: page 4} It was also the twentieth most densely populated region with 44 people per square kilometer.^{[2]: page 6}

The region is bordered to the north by the Katavi Region, to the east by the Mbeya Region, to the south by Zambia, and to the west by Lake Tanganyika, which forms a border between Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

History[]

The region's name comes from Lake Rukwa, which harbours the largest population of crocodiles in the nation.^{[citation needed]} It is the region of the Fipa people, who maintain themselves by subsistence agriculture and livestock keeping.^{[citation needed]}

The Rukwa Region was established in 1975 by President Julius Nyerere by taking Mpanda District from Tabora and the former unified Sumbawanga District from the Mbeya Region. Nkasi District was established in 1984.^[3] In 2012, the region was reorganized with the Mpanda District going to the new Katavi Region.

Districts[]

The region is administratively divided into four councils (i.e. Sumbawanga Municipal Council (MC); Sumbawanga District Council; Kalambo District Council; and Nkasi District Council). Furthermore, RUkwa has two townships (i.e. Laela and Namanyere located in Sumbawanga and Nkasi districts respectively). Rukwa has 16 divisions, 97 wards, 339 villages, 1817 sub-villages/hamlets and 165 streets.

Economy[]

Agriculture[]

Rukwa remains one of the biggest food producer in Tanzania. Its arable land suits the production of paddy, corn (maize), wheat, beans, and banana.

Mining[]

While there are extensive mineral resources in the Rukwa Region,^[5] there are no active large mines. Gem stones, including emerald, moonstone, aquamarine, amethyst, ruby, and topaz, have been recovered from a number of locations.^[5] There are coal seams in the Muze, Namwele, and Mkomolo areas, and some mining has occurred there.^[5]

References[]

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