Geita Region

Region of Tanzania From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Geita Region (Mkoa wa Geita in Swahili) is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The region covers an area of 20,054 km2 (7,743 sq mi)."Geita Region Size". The region is comparable in size to the combined land area of the nation state of Slovenia.[4] Geita Region is bordered to the east by Lake Victoria, Mwanza Region and Shinyanga Region. The region is bordered by Tabora Region and Kigoma Region to the south and south west respectively. Lastly, Gieta is borders Kagera Region to the west.

Country Tanzania
Administrative Region2012
CapitalGeita Municipal
Highestelevation
(Mula)
1,519 m (4,984 ft)
Quick facts Mkoa wa Geita (Swahili), Country ...
Geita Region
Mkoa wa Geita (Swahili)
Ferry from Mwanza to Geita
Ferry from Mwanza to Geita
Nicknames: 
The Gold Region, Golden State of Tanzania[1]
Location in Tanzania
Location in Tanzania
Coordinates: 2°49′27.12″S 32°15′55.44″E
Country Tanzania
ZoneLake
Administrative Region2012
Named afterGeita
CapitalGeita Municipal
Districts
Government
  Regional CommissionerMartin Reuben Shigela
  Assistant AdministratorGodius Walter Kayharara
Area
  Total
20,054 km2 (7,743 sq mi)
  Rank21st of 31
Highest elevation
(Mula)
1,519 m (4,984 ft)
Population
 (2022 census)[2]:11
  Total
2,977,608
  Rank7th of 31
  Density148.48/km2 (384.56/sq mi)
DemonymGeitan
Ethnic groups
  SettlerSwahili & Sukuma
  NativeZinza, Sumbwa & Haya
Time zoneUTC+3 (EAT)
Postcode
30xxx
Area code028
ISO 3166 codeTZ-27
HDI (2021)0.523[3]
low · 17th of 25
WebsiteOfficial website
Symbols of Tanzania
Bird
African fish eagle
Butterfly
Graphium policenes
FishChristmas Fulu (Xystichromis phytophagus)
Mammal
Topi
Tree
Moringa stenopetala
Mineral
Gold
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According to national census of 2022, the region had 2,977,608 inhabitants, and ranked among the top 5 regions with high population growth rate.[5] The region's city (capital) is the town of Geita. The region is named after the town of Geita itself. The region is home to Tanzania's largest gold mining industries and was also home to Tanzania's fifth president, the late John Magufuli.[6]

Geography

Geita Region covers an area of 20,054 km2 (7,743 sq mi). The region lies between latitudes 2°8' and 3°28' South of the equator and longitudes 31° 15' and 32° 48' East of Greenwich, the Geita Region is situated in Tanzania's northern west. It shares borders with five other regions: Kagera Region to the west and north-west; Tabora and Shinyanga Regions to the south; Shinyanga Region to the south-east; Kigoma Region to the south and south-west; and Mwanza Region to the north and north-east. The region is 1,100 to 1,300 meters above sea level. In the north, the waters of Lake Victoria also encircle the area.[7][8][9]

Climate

Geita region receives between 900 mm (35 in) and 1,200 mm (47 in) of rain each year. Between wet season and dry seasons the temperature varies between 22 °C (72 °F) and 30 °C (86 °F). The primary wet season is from February to May, with the smaller wet season between September and December. The dry season is from June to September.[10]

History

The area was created in March 2012 from sections of the Shinyanga, Kagera, and Mwanza Regions. created were six councils total, one of which is the town council, and five districts from portions of the Shinyanga, Mwanza, and Kagera Regions.[11][12][10]

Demographics

The area that is now Geita Region has been inhabited by Bantu peoples for thousands of years. The majority of the people are Basukuma and Sumbwa. There are additionally many Haya, Zinza, and Nyamwezi in the region. The area is the ancestral home to the Zinza people who live on the shore of Lake Victoria.[13][9]

In 2016 the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics report there were 1,932,230 in the region, from 1,739,530 in 2012.[2]:11[14]:219

More information Census, Population ...
Census Population
2002 1,337,718
2012 1,739,530
2022 2,977,608
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Economy

Geita's economy is dominated by the extraction industry especially the mining gold. The Geita Gold Mine is the largest mining operation located within Geita Region, 4 km west of the town of Geita. The mine is currently being owned and managed by AngloGold Ashanti. Other major industries in the region is agriculture and fishing.[15][9]

Two paved trunk roads pass through the region from east to west: road T3 (from Kahama to the Rwanda border), passes through the south of the region, while road T4 (from Mwanza to Bukoba) passes through the north of the region.[16]

Rubondo Island National Park is located on an island in Lake Victoria that is a part of Geita Region. It can be reached by ferry from Geita and Chato Districts.[17]

Currently the Kigongo–Busisi Bridge is being built to connect the Mwanza Region to the Geita Region across the Gulf of Mwanza of Lake Victoria.[18][19]

Administrative divisions

The region has 6 council districts, 122 wards, 474 villages, and 2,219 hamlets.[10]

Districts

Geita Region is divided into six councils. One town council of Geita, and 5 districts councils:[20][12][2]:11

More information Districts of Geita Region, Map with main roads in green ...
Districts of Geita Region
Map with main roads in green District Population
(2016)[2]:11
Geita Town 192,541
Bukombe District 249,416
Chato District 405,575
Geita District 704,542
Mbogwe District 215,404
Nyang'hwale District 164,750
Total 1,932,230
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Notable people from Geita Region

References

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