Gaza Province
Encyclopedia
Gaza is a province
of Mozambique
. It has an area of 75,709 km² and a population of 1,333,106 (2006).
Xai-Xai
is the capital of the province. Inhambane Province
is to the east, Manica Province
to the north, Maputo Province
to the south, South Africa
to the west, and Zimbabwe
to the northwest.
, which runs from northwest to southeast through the district, emptying into the Indian Ocean
near Xai-Xai. The Changane River
, a tributary of the Limpopo, forms part of the province's eastern boundary. The Rio dos Elefantes (Olifants River) flows into the district from the east to empty into the Limpopo.
The Save River
forms the northern boundary of the province.
The Limpopo railway, which connects Zimbabwe
and Botswana
to the port of Maputo
, runs through the province, entering Zimbabwe at the border town of Chicualacuala
.
The province, including the towns of Xai-Xai and Chokwe
, were greatly affected by the 2000 Mozambique flood
.
Limpopo National Park
lies within the province, bounded by the Elefantes and Limpopo rivers and the South African border. Banhine National Park
lies in the east-central portion of the province. The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
and its associated conservation area, which is in the process of being formed, will cover the northern part of the province, including both national parks, and extend into adjacent parts of Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Gaza is divided into the districts of:
and the municipalities of:
Provinces of Mozambique
||Mozambique is divided into 10 provinces and 1 capital city with provincial status:#Cabo Delgado Province#Gaza Province#Inhambane Province#Manica Province#Maputo City#Maputo Province#Nampula Province#Niassa Province...
of Mozambique
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
. It has an area of 75,709 km² and a population of 1,333,106 (2006).
Xai-Xai
Xai-Xai
Xai-Xai is a city in the south of Mozambique. It is the capital of Gaza Province. As of 2007 it has a population of 116,343 -Portuguese rule:...
is the capital of the province. Inhambane Province
Inhambane Province
Inhambane is a province of Mozambique located on the coast in the southern part of the country. It has an area of 68,615 km² and a population of 1.412.349 . The provincial capital is also called Inhambane....
is to the east, Manica Province
Manica Province
Manica is a province of Mozambique. It has an area of 61,661 km² and a population of 1,359,923 .Chimoio is the capital of the province.-Districts:*Báruè District*Gondola District*Guro District*Machaze District*Macossa District*Manica District...
to the north, Maputo Province
Maputo Province
Maputo is a province of Mozambique; the province excludes the city of Maputo . The province has an area of 26,058 km² and a population of 1,072,086 .Matola is the capital of the province....
to the south, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
to the west, and Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
to the northwest.
Geography
Most of the district lies in the basin of the Limpopo RiverLimpopo River
The Limpopo River rises in central southern Africa, and flows generally eastwards to the Indian Ocean. It is around long, with a drainage basin in size. Its mean annual discharge is 170 m³/s at its mouth...
, which runs from northwest to southeast through the district, emptying into the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
near Xai-Xai. The Changane River
Changane River
The Changane River is a river in Mozambique, a tributary to the Limpopo River which it joins near the coast, just past the town of Chibuto. It forms part of the eastern boundary of Gaza Province.-Geography:...
, a tributary of the Limpopo, forms part of the province's eastern boundary. The Rio dos Elefantes (Olifants River) flows into the district from the east to empty into the Limpopo.
The Save River
Save River (Africa)
The Save is a 400km river of southeastern Africa, flowing through Zimbabwe and Mozambique. The river has its source in Zimbabwe, some 80 km south of Harare, then flows south and then east, from the Zimbabwean highveld to its confluence with the Odzi River...
forms the northern boundary of the province.
The Limpopo railway, which connects Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
and Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
to the port of Maputo
Maputo
Maputo, also known as Lourenço Marques, is the capital and largest city of Mozambique. It is known as the City of Acacias in reference to acacia trees commonly found along its avenues and the Pearl of the Indian Ocean. It was famous for the inscription "This is Portugal" on the walkway of its...
, runs through the province, entering Zimbabwe at the border town of Chicualacuala
Chicualacuala
Chicualacuala is a town located in the province of Gaza in Mozambique. The town is better known by this unofficial name than by its official toponym Vila Eduardo Mondlane.- History :...
.
The province, including the towns of Xai-Xai and Chokwe
Chokwe, Mozambique
Chokwé, and earlier known as Vila Trigo de Morais, is a rural town and capital of Chokwe District in the province of Gaza in Mozambique. It is located about 230 km north of the capital city of Maputo. This agricultural town is noted for its tomatoes.-Economy:Chokwe lies in the mixed farming...
, were greatly affected by the 2000 Mozambique flood
2000 Mozambique flood
The 2000 Mozambique flood was a natural disaster that occurred in February and March 2000. The catastrophic flooding was caused by heavy rainfall that lasted for five weeks and made many homeless. Approximately 800 people were killed. 1,400 km² of arable land was affected and 20,000 head of...
.
Limpopo National Park
Limpopo National Park
The Limpopo National Park was born when the status of Coutada 16 Wildlife Utilisation Area in Gaza Province, Mozambique, was changed from a hunting concession to a protected area....
lies within the province, bounded by the Elefantes and Limpopo rivers and the South African border. Banhine National Park
Banhine National Park
Banhine National Park is a protected area in the district of Chigubo, northern Gaza Province, Mozambique.The park was proclaimed on 26 June 1973.-Location:...
lies in the east-central portion of the province. The Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park
Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park is a 35,000 km² peace park that is in the process of being formed. It will link the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, Kruger National Park in South Africa, Gonarezhou National Park, Manjinji Pan Sanctuary and Malipati Safari Area in Zimbabwe, as well as the...
and its associated conservation area, which is in the process of being formed, will cover the northern part of the province, including both national parks, and extend into adjacent parts of Mozambique, South Africa, and Zimbabwe.
Administration
The province was created on October 20 1954, when Sul do Save District was divided into the districts of Gaza, Inhambane, and Lourenço Marques (later renamed Maputo). In 1978, Mozambique's districts were renamed provinces.Gaza is divided into the districts of:
- Bilene Macia DistrictBilene Macia DistrictBilene Macia District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. Its principal town is Macia.-External links:*...
- Chibuto DistrictChibuto DistrictChibuto District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. Its principal town is Chibuto.-External links:*...
- Chicualacuala DistrictChicualacuala DistrictChicuacuala District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. It has a population of 38,780 . It is home to several villages along the Limpopo River including, but not limited to: Dumela, Mbuzi, Kunguma, Mawene, Xicumba, Xicumbane, Ngala, Panhame, Mabuzane, and...
- Chigubo DistrictChigubo DistrictChigubo District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. It has a population of 20,685 .-Further reading:*...
- Chókwè DistrictChókwè DistrictChókwè District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. Its principal town is Chokwe. It has a population of 187,422 .- References :...
- Guijá DistrictGuijá District-Further reading:*...
- Mabalane DistrictMabalane District-Further reading:*...
- Manjacaze DistrictManjacaze DistrictManjacaze District is a district of Gaza Province in southwestern Mozambique. Its principal town is Manjacaze.-Further reading:*...
- Massagena DistrictMassagena District-Further reading:*...
- Massingir DistrictMassingir DistrictMassingir District is a district of Gaza Province in southwestern Mozambique.-Further reading:*...
- Xai-Xai DistrictXai-Xai DistrictXai-Xai District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. Its principal town is Xai-Xai.-Further reading:*...
and the municipalities of:
- ChibutoChibutoChibuto is a city located in the province of Gaza in Mozambique. It is the principal city of Chibuto District and is served by Chibuto Airport.-References:...
- ChókwèChokweThe Chokwe also pronounced Tchokwe are an ethnic group of Central Africa whose ancestry can perhaps be traced to Mbundu and Mbuti Pygmies. Large groups of Chokwe currently reside in Angola, Zambia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their language is usually referred to as Chokwe, a Bantu...
- MaciaMaciaMacia is a small town in Gaza Province, Mozambique, and the seat of the Bilene Macia district. In 2008 its population was 25153.-Features:...
- ManjacazeManjacaze- Economy :The town formerly had a cashew processing plant, which was shut down in the early 21st century.The cashew processing plant was opened up again in 2006, .- Transport :Manjacaze was connected to the port city of Xai-Xai by a 762mm gauge railway...
- Xai-XaiXai-XaiXai-Xai is a city in the south of Mozambique. It is the capital of Gaza Province. As of 2007 it has a population of 116,343 -Portuguese rule:...