Mangochi District
Encyclopedia
Mangochi is a district
in the Southern Region
of Malawi
. The capital is Mangochi
. The district covers an area of 6,273 km.² and has a population of 610,239.
Mangochi contains thirteen National Assembly
constituencies. Since the 2009 general election
these constituencies have been represented by politicians from a mix of political parties.
The Mangochi District is a real hub of commerce. It is a transit point, with roads leading to all areas of Malawi and Mozambique
to the east. In fact, the border is not far once you cross the Shire River
. To the north, the road bifurcates into the Salima
or Monkey Bay
roads. To the west, is the hilly region of Dedza
. Travelling south, the road climbs up the Machinga escarpment to Zomba and from there the old capital Blantyre
(named after David Livingstone's
home town near Glasgow). It is fiercely hot in summer and ambient in winter. It is on the flood-plain for Lake Malawi
(formerly Lake Nyassa). The lake is the third largest and most southerly in the Rift Valley
lake system (the others being Lake Victoria
and Lake Tanganyika
), and is unofficially known as the Lake of Stars. The lake was named by David Livingston as he discovered it on September 18, 1859, for the effect of the reflection of the sun on the water's surface. It is also known as the Calendar Lake as it is approx 365 miles (587.4 km) long and 52 wide.
While a beautiful area, the Mangochi area has been decimated by Africa's nemesis - AIDS
. Couple that with poverty, climate change and a severe lack of infrastructure and the scenario is desperate. It is a very beautiful place, full of natural minerals, loads of fish, for example chambo, and of course Nkopola Lodge, Sun and Sand Palm Beach and many more. In fact there are numerous lovely lodges along the Mangochi Road other than Nkopola Lodge. One of the finest is Club Makakola (Club Mac). You can swim in Lake Malawi
without fear of crocodiles or hippos
. There are beautiful tropical fish, mostly cichlids, to be seen as you swim. There are many fabulous bird rookeries along the lake. There are many Fish Eagle
s, the national bird of Malawi, a member of the same genus as the American Bald Eagle. Mangochi is well known with its lake that generates income in the tourism industry. Most of the indigenous people of Mangochi are the Yao people
, and there are a few from other tribes. Lingamasa is known with its fresh rice that is sold in most parts of the country.
Districts of Malawi
||Malawi is divided into 28 districts within three regions. Each District is headed by a District Commissioner:*Central Region**1 Dedza**2 Dowa**3 Kasungu**4 Lilongwe**5 Mchinji**6 Nkhotakota**7 Ntcheu**8 Ntchisi**9 Salima* Northern Region...
in the Southern Region
Southern Region, Malawi
The Southern Region of Malawi, population 5,876,784, covers an area of 31,753 km². Its capital city is Blantyre.Of the 28 districts in Malawi, 12 are located within the Southern Region They are: Balaka, Blantyre, Chikwawa, Chiradzulu, Machinga, Mangochi, Mulanje, Mwanza, Neno, Nsanje,...
of Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
. The capital is Mangochi
Mangochi
Mangochi is a township in the Southern Region of Malawi. Located near the southern end of Lake Malawi, in colonial times it used to be called Fort Johnston. As of 2008 it has a population of 51,429.-History:...
. The district covers an area of 6,273 km.² and has a population of 610,239.
Mangochi contains thirteen National Assembly
National Assembly of Malawi
The unicameral National Assembly of Malawi is the country's legislative body. It consists of Members of Parliament from each constituency. They are more commonly addressed as "Members of Parliament" or "MP's"....
constituencies. Since the 2009 general election
Malawian general election, 2009
A general election was held in Malawi on 19 May 2009. President Bingu wa Mutharika ran for re-election; his main opponent was John Tembo, the President of the Malawi Congress Party . Five other candidates also ran. The election was won by Mutharika, who was re-elected to the Presidency with around...
these constituencies have been represented by politicians from a mix of political parties.
The Mangochi District is a real hub of commerce. It is a transit point, with roads leading to all areas of Malawi and 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...
to the east. In fact, the border is not far once you cross the Shire River
Shire River
The Shire is a river in Malawi and Mozambique. The river has been known as the Shiré or Chire River. It is the outlet of Lake Malawi and flows into the Zambezi. Its length is 402 km; including Lake Malawi and the Ruhuhu, its headstream, it has a length of about 1200 km...
. To the north, the road bifurcates into the Salima
Salima
-Demographics:...
or Monkey Bay
Monkey Bay
Monkey Bay or Lusumbwe is a town in Mangochi whichi is in the Mangochi District in the Southern Region of Malawi. The town is on the shore of Lake Malawi and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. The population of Monkey Bay is estimated to be 14,591 as of 2008. Monkey Bay is from Lilongwe,...
roads. To the west, is the hilly region of Dedza
Dedza
Dedza is the main township of Dedza District in the Central Region of Malawi.Dedza is located about 85 km south of Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, off the M1 road to Blantyre at a point where a trans-African highway from Johannesburg enters the country....
. Travelling south, the road climbs up the Machinga escarpment to Zomba and from there the old capital Blantyre
Blantyre, Malawi
Blantyre or Mandala is Malawi's centre of finance and commerce, the largest city with an estimated 732,518 inhabitants . It is sometimes referred to as the commercial capital of Malawi as opposed to the political capital, Lilongwe...
(named after David Livingstone's
David Livingstone
David Livingstone was a Scottish Congregationalist pioneer medical missionary with the London Missionary Society and an explorer in Africa. His meeting with H. M. Stanley gave rise to the popular quotation, "Dr...
home town near Glasgow). It is fiercely hot in summer and ambient in winter. It is on the flood-plain for Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
(formerly Lake Nyassa). The lake is the third largest and most southerly in the Rift Valley
Rift valley
A rift valley is a linear-shaped lowland between highlands or mountain ranges created by the action of a geologic rift or fault. This action is manifest as crustal extension, a spreading apart of the surface which is subsequently further deepened by the forces of erosion...
lake system (the others being Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria
Lake Victoria is one of the African Great Lakes. The lake was named for Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, by John Hanning Speke, the first European to discover this lake....
and Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika
Lake Tanganyika is an African Great Lake. It is estimated to be the second largest freshwater lake in the world by volume, and the second deepest, after Lake Baikal in Siberia; it is also the world's longest freshwater lake...
), and is unofficially known as the Lake of Stars. The lake was named by David Livingston as he discovered it on September 18, 1859, for the effect of the reflection of the sun on the water's surface. It is also known as the Calendar Lake as it is approx 365 miles (587.4 km) long and 52 wide.
While a beautiful area, the Mangochi area has been decimated by Africa's nemesis - AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. Couple that with poverty, climate change and a severe lack of infrastructure and the scenario is desperate. It is a very beautiful place, full of natural minerals, loads of fish, for example chambo, and of course Nkopola Lodge, Sun and Sand Palm Beach and many more. In fact there are numerous lovely lodges along the Mangochi Road other than Nkopola Lodge. One of the finest is Club Makakola (Club Mac). You can swim in Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi
Lake Malawi , is an African Great Lake and the southernmost lake in the Great Rift Valley system of East Africa. This lake, the third largest in Africa and the eighth largest lake in the world, is located between Malawi, Mozambique, and Tanzania...
without fear of crocodiles or hippos
Hippos
Hippos is an archaeological site in Israel, located on a hill overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Between the 3rd century BC and the 7th century AD, Hippos was the site of a Greco-Roman city. Besides the fortified city itself, Hippos controlled two port facilities on the lake and an area of the...
. There are beautiful tropical fish, mostly cichlids, to be seen as you swim. There are many fabulous bird rookeries along the lake. There are many Fish Eagle
Fish Eagle
Fish eagle can refer to several birds:*African Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer*Sanford's Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus sanfordi*Madagascar Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vociferoides*Lesser Fish Eagle, Ichthyophaga humilis...
s, the national bird of Malawi, a member of the same genus as the American Bald Eagle. Mangochi is well known with its lake that generates income in the tourism industry. Most of the indigenous people of Mangochi are the Yao people
Yao people
The Yao nationality is a government classification for various minorities in China. They form one of the 55 ethnic minority groups officially recognized by the People's Republic of China, where they reside in the mountainous terrain of the southwest and south...
, and there are a few from other tribes. Lingamasa is known with its fresh rice that is sold in most parts of the country.