Overview of Ruvuma Region Tanzania and Its Administrative Divisions

Overview of Ruvuma Region Tanzania and Its Administrative Divisions

Ruvuma Region is among the thirty-one administrative regions in Tanzania. The capital of the region is located in Songea Municipality. According to the census conducted in 2012, the region’s population is 1,376,891. This figure is less than the pre-census estimation of 1,449,830. From 2002 to 2013, the Ruvuma region’s 2.1% average yearly population growth was the 20th highest rate in Tanzania. Also, it ranked 28th in terms of population density, with 22 people per square kilometer (57 per square mile).

The region got its name from River Ruvuma, the second biggest river in Tanzania. Most of the Ruvuma river southern border is formed with Mozambique’s Niassa Province (where it’s called Rovuma). Morogoro Region borders the region to the north; Lindi Region borders it to the northeast, Mtwara Region borders Ruvuma to the east, while Njombe region borders the region to the northwest. There are many tribes in Ruvuma Region, including the Mpoto people. The Ngoni people are the region’s largest group. Mount Lukukura is the highest peak in Ruvuma Region.

Ruvuma river map and Ruvuma basin snapshot
Ruvuma river map and Ruvuma basin snapshot

Christina S. Mndeme is Ruvuma Region’s regional commissioner.

Administrative Divisions of Ruvuma Tanzania

Districts

Administratively, the Ruvuma region is split into 5 districts

2012 Census Population District
298,279 Tunduru District
203,309 Songea Municipal
173,821 Songea District
146,160 Nyasa District
201,639 Namtumbo District
353,683 Mbinga District
1,376,891 Total

Mbinga District

Mbinga Ruvuma
Mbinga Ruvuma

The District of Mbinga Ruvuma is among the 5 districts of Tanzania’s Ruvuma Region. Njombe Region borders the district to the north; Lake Malawi borders the district to the west. The region also shares borders with Mozambique to the south and Songea Urban District and Songea Rural District to the east. Oscar Kambona, ex-Foreign Affairs Minister, is a notable person from the district.

According to the National Census held in 2002, there are 404,799 people in Mbinga District. The district has a total land area of 11,396km2, about 18% of Ruvuma Region’s total land area and around 1 percent of Tanzania’s total landmass.

Wards

There are 37 administrative wards in the Mbinga District of the Ruvuma region.

  • Kihagara
  • Chiwanda
  • Kihangi Mahuka
  • Kigonsera
  • Kilimani
  • Kingerikiti
  • Kilosa
  • Kitura
  • Liparamba
  • Langiro
  • Linda
  • Lipingo
  • Litembo
  • Litumbandyosi
  • Lituhi
  • Liuli
  • Matiri
  • Maguu
  • Mbaha
  • Mbangamao
  • Mbamba Bay
  • Mbinga Urban
  • Mikalanga
  • Mbuji
  • Mkumbi
  • Mpepai
  • Mpapa
  • Mtipwili
  • Ndongosi
  • Myangayanga
  • Ngumbo
  • Ngima
  • Nyoni
  • Tingi
  • Ruanda
  • Ukata
  • Kilindi
  • Utiri

Namtumbo District

The District of Namtumbo is among the 5 districts of Tanzania’s Ruvuma Region. Morogoro Region borders the district to the north. The district is also bordered by Songea Rural District, Tunduru District, and Songea Urban District to the east, while it is bordered by Mozambique to the south. Natumbo District has a total population of 185,131 people as of 2002.

Wards

Natumbo District in the Ruvuma region has 21 administrative wards.

  • Ligera
  • Kitanda
  • Luchili
  • Magazini
  • Luegu
  • Lusewa
  • Mkongo Nakawale
  • Msisima
  • Mgombasi
  • Namtumbo
  • Msindo
  • Namabengo
  • Rwinga
  • Hanga
  • Mchomoro
  • Mputa
  • Lisimonji
  • Likuyuseka
  • Mkongo Gulioni
  • Limamu
  • Mtwaro pachani
  • Litola
  • Suluti
  • Nambecha
  • Mtonya

Nyasa District

The District of Nyasa is one of the districts in Tanzania’s Ruvuma Region.

Songea Rural District

Songea Rural District is among the five districts in Tanzania’s Ruvuma Region. Mbinga District borders the district to the west, and Iringa Region borders it to the northwest. Songea Urban District and Namtumbo District border the region to the south and east, respectively, while the Morogoro Region borders the region to the north. Songea Rural District has a total population of 147,924, according to the national census held in 2002.

Songea Urban District

Songea Urban District is among the 5 districts in Tanzania’s Ruvuma Region. Songea Rural District and Natumbo District border the region to the north and east, respectively, while Mozambique and Mbinga District border Songea Urban District to the south and west, respectively. Songea Urban District has a total population of 131,336, according to the national census held in 2002.

Wards

Administratively, the Songea Urban District of the Ruvuma region is split into fourteen (14) wards:

  • Bomba Mbili
  • Majengo
  • Songea Mjini
  • Lizaboni
  • Matarawe
  • Subira
  • Matogoro
  • Mateka
  • Mfaranyaki
  • Mletele
  • Misufini
  • Mshangano
  • Ruvuma
  • Ruhuwiko

Tunduru District

The District of Tunduru is among the 5 districts in Tanzania’s Ruvuma Region. The districts of Lindi and Mtwara border the district to the north and the east, while Mozambique and Namtumbo District border the region to the south and west, respectively. The district has a total population of 247,976 people as of 2002.

Administrative Subdivisions

Administratively, the Tunduru district of the Ruvuma region is divided into 24 wards and seven divisions.

Divisions

The divisions in the district are;

  1. Mlingoti (including the entire Tunduru township)
  2. Lukumbule
  3. Nakapanya
  4. Matemanga
  5. Nalasi
  6. Nampungu
  7. Namsakata
Wards

The wards in the district are:

  1.     Kalulu
  2.     Ligoma
  3.     Kidodoma
  4.     Ligunga
  5.     Marumba
  6.     Lukumbule
  7.     Matemanga
  8.     Mchesi
  9.     Mbesa
  10.   Mchoteka
  11.   Mlingoti Magharibi (West)
  12.   Misechela
  13.   Mindu
  14.   Mlingoti Mashariki (East)
  15.   Mtina
  16.   Nakapanya
  17.   Nalasi
  18.   Muhuwesi
  19.   Namasakata
  20.   Tuwemacho
  21.   Namwinyu
  22.   Nampungu
  23.   Ngapa
  24.   Nandembo

Constituencies

Tanzania is split into constituencies for legislative elections. There are eight constituencies in Ruvuma Region

  1. Madaba Constituency
  2. Tunduru Constituency
  3. Songea Mjini Constituency
  4. Peramiho Constituency
  5. Namtumbo Constituency
  6. Mbinga Vijijini Constituency
  7. Mbinga Mjini Constituency
  8. Nyasa Constituency

Ruvuma Region Map

Ruvuma map
Ruvuma map

Other Important Things to Know in Ruvuma Region

  • Tanzania Ruvuma coffee:

Tanzania Ruvuma AA is a mix of the harvests of numerous small investor farm ranches in the Mbinga Locale of the Ruvuma District of High country Tanzania, where cultivation heights territory are from 1200 to 1800 meters.

This “fat (and phat!) magnificence” is prevalently N39 and N5 (whiskey cultivar sub-assortments). Throughout the previous 20 years the thorough endeavors of two organizations, Soochak Shrubbery and Tropex, have incredibly raised the profile and nature of Mbinga espresso by consistently adding new and productive pulperies all through the locale.

This espresso is heavenly, aggressively competing against the best Kenya AA’s in cup quality and intricacy.

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