INTRODUCTION AND LOCATIONMwanza City is the second largest city in Tanzania after Dar es Salaam. The city is strategically located on the southern shores of Lake Victoria in Northern Tanzania. It is situated between the Latitude 2015’- 2045’ just South of the Equator and between Longitude 32045 ‘ and 450 38’ East. It has an altitude of 1,140 metres above sea level. Mwanza region has eight districts which are Nyamagana,Ilemela (constituting the city), Misungwi and Kwimba to the South, Sengerema and Geita to the West, Ukerewe to the North and Magu to the East.
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND
Before the colonial era Mwanza region was under the Sukuma, Kerewe, Kara and Zinza empire. The Germans came and colonized Tanganyika. Mwanza region was one of the districts in their territory. After the First World War, East africa came under the supervision of UN peacekeepers.
The British established the Provincial leadership in Tanganyika and Mwanza region was one of the districts of the Lake Province where Biharamlo, Bukoba, Maswa, Shinyanga, Musoma and Kwimba were the other districts of the province. Later on the Lake Province was divided into the Lake Province and the Western Zone. After independence all the Provinces were made regions. Mwanza region remained as a part of the Lake Region until 1963 when it was officially given the status of a region.
AREA
The area of Mwanza Region has been changing from time to time due to the change of the leadership and the leadership system. Under the British, the size of the Lake Province 159696 square kilometres while after independence it had an area of 35187 square kilometres.
PHYSICAL FEATURES
Granites and granodiorite cover Mwanza City in gently undulating to level physiography with isolating hill masses and rock inselbergs. The soil drains smoothly and is not saline. The soil ranges from yellow,
red, gritty, sandy soils and loam that are delivered from course grained cetaceans rock. The soils are usually associated with inselbergs of between 1100 – 1600 etres in height. The natural vegetation consists of isolated tall trees scattered on grassy hills.RAINFALL PATTERNS
Mwanza City receives approximately 700mm and 1000mm of rainfall per annum with two rainy seasons. The short rains occur from August – October and long season from December to May in each year. Average annual temperatureare between 200C and 300 C. Due to these elevation of1,140 metres above sea level and the favorable lake winds. Mwanza has a pleasant tropical climate.
POPULATION
There has been some changes in the number of people in the region from time to time. During the time of the Lake Province Mwanza which had only two districts i.e Mwanza and Kwimba districts had 476767 people (Source 1934 Census) and in 1957 the census was conducted in the mwanza ,kwimba ukerewe and geita district where 836341 people were counted.According to the National bureau of statistic in 1988 the region was resided with 1878145 people which made Mwanza to be the second populated region after Dar es Salaam.
ADMINISTRATION
The administrative change has been affected by the ruler of the time.During the Germany rule the country was was devided into areas which were known as districts ,the districts were under Commisioners who were helped by chiefs
LAND USE PATTERN
Mwanza City Council consists of 424 square kilometres of dry land. Out of that, the forest covers 14.27 square kilometres (4.2%), valleys and cultivatable land covers 327.19 km2 (77%) hilly and rocky land covers 50 km2 (11.8%) and 32.62 km 2 is residential area.
