Sumbawanga
Encyclopedia
Sumbawanga is a city located in western Tanzania
. It is the capital of Rukwa Region
. The regional population is approximately 150,000 based on a 2002 census.
Many people living in Sumbawanga are Fipa, called so for the native language also spoken there. The name of the town literally translates as "through away you are witches", which may stem from local superstitions and practices relating to spiritual healers, of which there are still some who practice in the surrounding smaller villages on the plateau. The town serves as the location for the largest hospital in the region, Rukwa General Hospital (government funded) and the smaller Dr Atiman hospital administrated and run by the Catholic Diocese of Sumbawanga.
The town acts as a supply and commerce center for the Rukwa province and some government agencies are to be found here, notably the transport department for the region plus the Libori and Morovian conference centres. A modest sized market is situated in the town centre where local produce may be found. This includes maize, fruit, poultry and fish. Many imported plastic goods and electronics are available as well as bicycles and spares.
The local economy is largely dependent on agriculture and small locally owned businesses, currently there is very limited industry or production in the town. Vast improvement could be expected if the road link to Mbeya
was improved enabling four-seasonal capacity of this highway and thus greater reliability of transport links which are currently heavily impaired during the long rains season.
The town can be reached by bus from Mbeya
which lies to the south with train links to Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia and Dar es Salaam, or from Mpanda
in the north.
Tanzania
The United Republic of Tanzania is a country in East Africa bordered by Kenya and Uganda to the north, Rwanda, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west, and Zambia, Malawi, and Mozambique to the south. The country's eastern borders lie on the Indian Ocean.Tanzania is a state...
. It is the capital of Rukwa Region
Regions of Tanzania
Tanzania is divided into 26 regions.-See also:* list of Tanzanian regions by area ranks the regions by their total area, land area, and water area.* Districts of Tanzania* ISO 3166-2:TZ-External links:*...
. The regional population is approximately 150,000 based on a 2002 census.
Many people living in Sumbawanga are Fipa, called so for the native language also spoken there. The name of the town literally translates as "through away you are witches", which may stem from local superstitions and practices relating to spiritual healers, of which there are still some who practice in the surrounding smaller villages on the plateau. The town serves as the location for the largest hospital in the region, Rukwa General Hospital (government funded) and the smaller Dr Atiman hospital administrated and run by the Catholic Diocese of Sumbawanga.
The town acts as a supply and commerce center for the Rukwa province and some government agencies are to be found here, notably the transport department for the region plus the Libori and Morovian conference centres. A modest sized market is situated in the town centre where local produce may be found. This includes maize, fruit, poultry and fish. Many imported plastic goods and electronics are available as well as bicycles and spares.
The local economy is largely dependent on agriculture and small locally owned businesses, currently there is very limited industry or production in the town. Vast improvement could be expected if the road link to Mbeya
Mbeya
Mbeya is a city located in southwest Tanzania, Africa. Mbeya's urban population was 280,000 in 2005. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region ....
was improved enabling four-seasonal capacity of this highway and thus greater reliability of transport links which are currently heavily impaired during the long rains season.
The town can be reached by bus from Mbeya
Mbeya
Mbeya is a city located in southwest Tanzania, Africa. Mbeya's urban population was 280,000 in 2005. Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region ....
which lies to the south with train links to Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia and Dar es Salaam, or from Mpanda
Mpanda
Mpanda is one of the 4 districts of the Rukwa Region of Tanzania. It is bordered to the Northwest by the Kigoma Region, to the Northeast by the Tabora Region, to the East by the Mbeya Region, to the Southeast by the Sumbawanga Urban District, to the Southwest by the Nkansi District and to the West...
in the north.
Use in popular culture
- In the fictional Harry Potter universeHarry Potter universeThe fictional universe of J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series of fantasy novels comprises two separate and distinct societies: the wizarding world and the Muggle world...
, Sumbawanga is the hometown of the professional QuidditchQuidditchQuidditch is a fictional sport developed by British author J. K. Rowling for the Harry Potter series of novels. It is described as an extremely rough, but very popular, semi-contact sport, played by wizards and witches around the world...
team the Sumbawanga Sunrays.
- The town was included on the route taken by Ewan McGregorEwan McGregorEwan Gordon McGregor is a Scottish actor. He has had success in mainstream, indie, and art house films. McGregor is perhaps best known for his roles as heroin addict Mark Renton in the drama Trainspotting , young Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi in the Star Wars prequel trilogy , and poet Christian in the...
and Charlie Boorman on their 15,000 mile North to South Long Way DownLong Way Down"Long Way Down" is a single by the Goo Goo Dolls from their breakthrough album, 1995's A Boy Named Goo. This song is often overshadowed by the low-key ballad "Name", which launched the band to household names...
motorcycle adventure in July 2007.