Mtwara

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Mtwara
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The western shores of the Indian Ocean as seen from Mtwara.
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Mtwara
Location of Mtwara
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Mtwara
Mtwara (Africa)
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Mtwara
Mtwara (Earth)
Coordinates: 10°16′25″S40°10′58″E / 10.27361°S 40.18278°E / -10.27361; 40.18278
CountryTanzania
Region Mtwara Region
Proclamation of the Region1971
Government
  Regional CommissionerHon. Col Ahmed Abbas Ahmed
  Regional Administrative SecretaryBahati I. Geuzye [1] [2]
Population
 (2022 census) [3]
  Total140,793
Time zone UTC+3 (EAT)
Website Town website

Mtwara (Portuguese: Montewara) is the capital city of Mtwara Region in southeastern Tanzania. In the 1940s, it was planned and constructed as the export facility for the disastrous Tanganyika groundnut scheme, but was somewhat neglected when the scheme was abandoned in 1951. The city is spread out over a large area planned to accommodate up to 200,000 people. The present population is around 141,000. As part of the development associated with the failed Tanganyika groundnut scheme, Mtwara features a deep-water port that can accommodate ocean-going vessels, and a range of large municipal buildings, including a post office. Recent improvements in the port made it possible for big container ships to berth there.

Contents

Transportation

Road

Mtwara has reasonable transport links considering its remoteness in southern Tanzania. It is linked by paved roads with Dar es Salaam and Lindi to the north and Masasi inland and by partially paved roads to Newala in-land to the west. Beyond Masasi the road is newly paved towards Songea via Tunduru and Namtumbo and the Unity Bridge which provides a crossing point to Mozambique.

Airport

The A19 links it with Mbamba Bay on Lake Malawi in the west. It features an airport with a new paved runway that can accommodate medium size passenger jets up to Boeing 737 and Airbus. Precision Air runs a daily morning flight between Mtwara Airport and Dar es Salaam and Air Tanzania offers a flight in the afternoon. The flight time is around an hour. Current improvement of the airport makes it possible for landing in the day and night or in the mist.

Bus

Mtwara serves as the access point for a small but growing tourism industry based in nearby Mikindani. New roads of a good standard were being built in 2013 within the city. Most of the roads have never been sealed. There is a choice of bus companies which provide daily services between Mtwara and Dar es Salaam. Also regular buses connect with Masasi, the biggest town inland from Mtwara.

Port

The port is the third largest ocean port in the country and was built as part of the failed Tanganyika groundnut scheme. The port was neglected for many years, however with the recent economic boom in the region, the government has spent funds for the upgrade of the port. Recently the port has seen added activity due to the construction of the Dangote cement factory and increased gas exploration activities and the recent energy crisis, has seen Mtwara port used as port for transporting Coal. The port in the future is planned to facilitate exports such as Cashew nuts, Iron, Coal and Gas. The port also has an Export Processing zone to facilitate the manufacturing industry in the area. New Port for dirty cargo such as Cement and Coal is planned to be constructed at Mgao Village near Mikindani, it is under final stage of procurement.

Economy

Iron ore and coal

Mtwara might be the port for the export of iron ore [4] and coal. There are plans to build a railway linking Mtwara with Lindi and mines at Mchuchuma and Liganga via Songea. [5]

In the year 2003, there were proposals for transporting coal from the Ludewa and Njombe regions respectively by rail to the port of Mtwara in Southern Tanzania as part of the Mtwara Development Corridor project. [6]

Cement

Mtwara hosts a branch of the Dangote Cement Public Limited Company and medium scale cement factory owned by Chinese at Mikindani called Lulu Cement.

Geography

Climate

Due to close proximity to the equator and the warm Indian Ocean, the city experiences tropical climatic conditions similar to all Tanzanian coastal cities. The city experiences hot and humid weather throughout much of the year and has a tropical wet and dry climate (Köppen: Aw). Annual rainfall is approximately 1,024 mm (40 in), and in a normal year the rainy season lasts from November to April/May and the dry season from then until late October. [7]

Climate data for Mtwara (1991-2020)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °C (°F)34.4
(93.9)
35.0
(95.0)
36.1
(97.0)
33.9
(93.0)
32.8
(91.0)
32.2
(90.0)
33.3
(91.9)
33.3
(91.9)
35.0
(95.0)
36.1
(97.0)
36.1
(97.0)
34.1
(93.4)
36.1
(97.0)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)30.7
(87.3)
30.8
(87.4)
31.1
(88.0)
30.9
(87.6)
30.3
(86.5)
29.5
(85.1)
29.4
(84.9)
29.8
(85.6)
30.0
(86.0)
31.5
(88.7)
31.3
(88.3)
30.5
(86.9)
30.1
(86.2)
Daily mean °C (°F)27.2
(81.0)
27.1
(80.8)
26.8
(80.2)
26.5
(79.7)
25.8
(78.4)
24.3
(75.7)
24.1
(75.4)
23.9
(75.0)
24.7
(76.5)
25.7
(78.3)
26.8
(80.2)
27.3
(81.1)
25.9
(78.5)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)23.8
(74.8)
23.5
(74.3)
23.1
(73.6)
22.6
(72.7)
21.3
(70.3)
19.7
(67.5)
18.9
(66.0)
18.6
(65.5)
19.0
(66.2)
20.4
(68.7)
22.1
(71.8)
23.5
(74.3)
21.4
(70.5)
Record low °C (°F)20.6
(69.1)
20.2
(68.4)
21.1
(70.0)
19.4
(66.9)
15.0
(59.0)
13.9
(57.0)
15.0
(59.0)
15.0
(59.0)
16.0
(60.8)
17.2
(63.0)
18.3
(64.9)
19.9
(67.8)
13.9
(57.0)
Average precipitation mm (inches)183.2
(7.21)
180.9
(7.12)
237.5
(9.35)
160.6
(6.32)
54.0
(2.13)
10.5
(0.41)
7.7
(0.30)
10.1
(0.40)
12.9
(0.51)
28.9
(1.14)
52.0
(2.05)
143.3
(5.64)
1,081.6
(42.58)
Average precipitation days (≥ 1.0 mm)11.210.415.011.95.11.81.51.72.33.15.09.678.6
Average relative humidity (%)79848283707270717476767976
Mean monthly sunshine hours 229.4189.3217.0225.0263.5267.0266.6285.2270.0303.8297.0263.53,077.3
Mean daily sunshine hours 7.46.77.07.58.58.98.69.29.09.89.98.58.4
Source 1: NOAA [8]
Source 2: Deutscher Wetterdienst (extremes, humidity, and sun), [9] Tokyo Climate Center (mean temperatures 1991–2020) [10]

Sports

Football (Soccer)

Mtwara is the hometown of Bandari F.C. and NDANDA F. C.

Twin Town – Sister City

Mtwara is twinned with: [11]

See also

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mtwara Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Mtwara Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions. The regional capital is the municipality of Mtwara. Mtwara Region is home to one of the most infuluencial people in Tanzania, the Makonde. Mtwara is home to Tanzania's 4th president Benjamin Mkapa and is home to a number of influential artists. The boundary with Mozambique to the south is formed by the Ruvuma River. To the west, Mtwara is bordered by Ruvuma Region, to the north by Lindi Region, and to the east is the Indian Ocean.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mtwara–Mbamba Bay Road</span> Road in Tanzania

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mtwara Development Corridor</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mtwara-Mikindani District, Mtwara</span> District of Mtwara Region, Tanzania

Mtwara Mikindani Municipal District Council is one of eight regional councils of the Mtwara Region in Tanzania. It is bordered to the north by the Lindi Region, to the east by the Indian Ocean and to the south and west by the Mtwara District. In 2016, the municipality has a total population of 113,732.

References

  1. "JPM makes extensive RCs, DCs, civil service postings". www.ippmedia.com.
  2. "JPM makes extensive RCS, DCS, civil service postings".
  3. Citypopulation.de Population of cities & urban localities in Tanzania
  4. "Iron & Steel". National Development Corporation. Archived from the original on 25 December 2008.
  5. "Tazara hopes rise on investment plan". Railway Gazette. 2008-11-01. Retrieved 2011-02-08.
  6. RailwaysAfrica
  7. "Climate Mtwara". meteoblue. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  8. "Mtwara Climate Normals 1991–2020". World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 16 September 2023. Retrieved 16 September 2023.
  9. "Klimatafel von Mtwara / Tansania" (PDF). Baseline climate means (1961-1990) from stations all over the world (in German). Deutscher Wetterdienst. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. "Normals Data: Mtwara - Tanzania Latitude: 10.27°N Longitude: 40.18°E Height: 113 (m)". Japan Meteorological Agency. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  11. "Twinning". redditchbc.gov.uk. Redditch Borough Council. Retrieved 2020-11-04.

10°16′25″S40°10′58″E / 10.27361°S 40.18278°E / -10.27361; 40.18278