Mbeya Region (President’s Office Regional Administration & Local Government)

Mbeya Region is one of the four (4) regions located in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The other regions are Rukwa, Iringa and Ruvuma. Mbeya Region was established in 1961 and was formerly known as the ‘Southern Highland Province’ by incorporating parts of Iringa and Rukwa regions. The region has an area of ​​63,617 sq km. Of which 61,783 sq km. is land and 1,834 sq km. is water. According to the 1967 Population and Housing Census, the region had a population of 969,053, the 2002 Population and Housing Census Mbeya Region had a total population of 2,063,328.

As of 2010, the region was estimated to have a population of 2,662,156. Mbeya Region is located in the southwestern part of the Southern Highlands of Tanzania. The region lies between 7º and 9º 31′ south of the Equator and between 32º and 35º east of Greenwich. The region borders Zambia and Malawi to the south, Rukwa Region to the west, Tabora and Singida Regions to the north, and Iringa Region to the east. The town of Tunduma in Mbozi District and Kasumulu in Kyela District serve as gateways to and from Zambia and Malawi.

During the British colonial era, Mbeya Region was known as the ‘Southern Highland Province’. The region used to encompass parts of the three current regions of Iringa and Rukwa. The name Mbeya is derived from the Swahili word “Ibheya” which means salt, due to traders arriving there and exchanging their produce for salt.

The city of Mbeya was founded by the British colonialists in 1927. At that time, gold began to be found in the mountains near Mbeya to Chunya, so Mbeya was a resort town for Europeans due to its good weather, a situation that led to the city of Mbeya being nicknamed “The Scotland of Africa” ​​after recognizing that the vegetation, its weather and the appearance of the hills surrounding the city of Mbeya resembled Scotland, for example the vegetation found in Mount Loleza. This region is one of the oldest regions
that existed before independence in 1961. During that period, the main tribes in Mbeya Region were the Wasafwa, Wanyakyusa, Wandali, Wasangu, Wamalila, Wanyiha, Wakimbu and Wanyamwanga. Where these communities are famous for engaging in agriculture and small-scale animal husbandry.