Mzuzu
Encyclopedia
Mzuzu is the capital of Malawi
's Northern Region
and is the third largest city, by population, in Malawi. The City has 128,432 residents plus 20,000 commuters (Mzuzu University
students) with about 1.7 million people living around the outskirts of the city. It is situated in Mzimba District
, in the center of an agricultural region, and the area surrounding the city specializes in tea
, rubber
, and coffee
cultivation. The Viphya Forest
to the south of the city is the largest man-made forest in Africa.
culture. Tumbuka is widely spoken in Mzuzu. Popular foods include botolo fish.
is based in Mzuzu.
, and NorthernLife magazine. Mzuzu has two major markets, including Taifa
Market that sells fruits, clothes, cellphones, shoes etc..
Mzuzu is a growing city in Malawi.
, founded in 1994. Through Mzuzu University, has a highly skilled labour force. Mzuzu Technical College which was founded in 1958 is located in Mzuzu. It is home to leading high schools in the north Maymount Secondary School and Mzuzu Academy.
to the south of the city is the largest man-made forest in Africa. The weather in Mzuzu is chilly in the cold season.
, rubber
, and coffee
cultivation.
and water activities. Nyika National Park
, Malawi's largest park, is great for trekking, mountain biking, horse riding safaris and 4x4 excursions. The entertainment venues at Mzuzu hotel and the Key Lounge attract national and international artists and host other activities that are popular for tourists and the local community.
. It also has well built roads that are not keeping pace with the development of the growing city.
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...
's Northern Region
Northern Region, Malawi
The Northern Region of Malawi, population 1,698,502, covers an area of 26,931 km². Its capital city is Mzuzu. The Northern Region borders Zambia to the west, Tanzania to the north, Lake Malawi to the east, and Malawi's Central Region to its south....
and is the third largest city, by population, in Malawi. The City has 128,432 residents plus 20,000 commuters (Mzuzu University
Mzuzu University
Mzuzu University is one of the principal universities of Malawi. The school is located in Mzuzu, in the northern region of Malawi. It was founded in 1997 and accepted its first students in 1999....
students) with about 1.7 million people living around the outskirts of the city. It is situated in Mzimba District
Mzimba District
Mzimba is a district in the Northern Region of Malawi. The capital is Mzimba. The district covers an area of 10,430 km.² and has a population of 610,944.-Government:...
, in the center of an agricultural region, and the area surrounding the city specializes in tea
Tea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, and coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
cultivation. The Viphya Forest
Viphya Forest
Viphya Forest is a forest south of Mzuzu, a city in Malawi. It is situated on the Viphya Plateau, amongst the Viphya Mountains. It has an area of 560 km² and is the largest man made forest in Africa...
to the south of the city is the largest man-made forest in Africa.
Demographics
| Year | Population |
|---|---|
| 1987 | 44,217 |
| 1998 | 87,030 |
| 2008 | 175,345 |
History
The City was originally developed around the Commonwealth Development Corporation's Tung Oil Estate in 1947 and received city status in 1985.Culture
The culture of the city reflect the northern TumbukaTumbuka
The Tumbuka are a Bantu ethnic group living in Northern Malawi, Eastern Zambia and Southern Tanzania. Their chief god is called Chiuta, who is all-powerful, omniscient and self-created, just like the God of the Abrahamic religions...
culture. Tumbuka is widely spoken in Mzuzu. Popular foods include botolo fish.
Health
It is home to Mzuzu Central Hospital, one of four such hospitals in the country. The pharmacuetical manfacturing company Kentam Products LimitedKentam Products Limited
Kentam Product Limited is a Malawian pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing company that operates primarily in Malawi and is expanding internationally. Kentam's high demand products in Malawi are Kilpain , Ketaprin , and Bufen...
is based in Mzuzu.
Economy and Infrastructure
The commercial hub of the region has coffee, timber, fruit, milk and honey production. Manufacturing includes medication, cosmetics and timber. Through Mzuzu University, the City with its 128,432 residents plus 20,000 commuters has a highly skilled labour force. and along with its arable land, sufficient potable water and electricity. There is good capital mobility through new banking facilities. There are also small to medium sized businesses located there that provide telecommunication services, internet cafes, and multipurpose stores. National chains like Chipuku, Peoples Trading, and A.C opticals can be found. The city is the home base of national companies Mzuzu Coffee, Kentam Products LimitedKentam Products Limited
Kentam Product Limited is a Malawian pharmaceutical, and chemical manufacturing company that operates primarily in Malawi and is expanding internationally. Kentam's high demand products in Malawi are Kilpain , Ketaprin , and Bufen...
, and NorthernLife magazine. Mzuzu has two major markets, including Taifa
Taifa
In the history of the Iberian Peninsula, a taifa was an independent Muslim-ruled principality, usually an emirate or petty kingdom, though there was one oligarchy, of which a number formed in the Al-Andalus after the final collapse of the Umayyad Caliphate of Córdoba in 1031.-Rise:The origins of...
Market that sells fruits, clothes, cellphones, shoes etc..
Mzuzu is a growing city in Malawi.
Education
The city is home to Mzuzu UniversityMzuzu University
Mzuzu University is one of the principal universities of Malawi. The school is located in Mzuzu, in the northern region of Malawi. It was founded in 1997 and accepted its first students in 1999....
, founded in 1994. Through Mzuzu University, has a highly skilled labour force. Mzuzu Technical College which was founded in 1958 is located in Mzuzu. It is home to leading high schools in the north Maymount Secondary School and Mzuzu Academy.
Environment
Mzuzu is a city situated in wooded, hilly terrain. The Viphya ForestViphya Forest
Viphya Forest is a forest south of Mzuzu, a city in Malawi. It is situated on the Viphya Plateau, amongst the Viphya Mountains. It has an area of 560 km² and is the largest man made forest in Africa...
to the south of the city is the largest man-made forest in Africa. The weather in Mzuzu is chilly in the cold season.
Agriculture
In the center of an agricultural region, and the area surrounding the city specializes in teaTea
Tea is an aromatic beverage prepared by adding cured leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant to hot water. The term also refers to the plant itself. After water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world...
, rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
, and coffee
Coffee
Coffee is a brewed beverage with a dark,init brooo acidic flavor prepared from the roasted seeds of the coffee plant, colloquially called coffee beans. The beans are found in coffee cherries, which grow on trees cultivated in over 70 countries, primarily in equatorial Latin America, Southeast Asia,...
cultivation.
Tourism
Nearby tourist attractions include the sandy beaches of Lake MalawiLake 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...
and water activities. Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park
Nyika National Park is Malawi’s largest national park, with an area of 3200 km² .-Location and road access:The park covers practically the whole of the Nyika Plateau in northern Malawi, about 480 km north of Lilongwe and 60 km north of Rumphi by road...
, Malawi's largest park, is great for trekking, mountain biking, horse riding safaris and 4x4 excursions. The entertainment venues at Mzuzu hotel and the Key Lounge attract national and international artists and host other activities that are popular for tourists and the local community.
Transport
By air Mzuzu city is served by the Mzuzu AirportMzuzu Airport
Mzuzu Airport is an airport serving Mzuzu, the capital city of the Northern Region of the Republic of Malawi.- Facilities :The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designated 17/35 with a bitumen surface measuring ....
. It also has well built roads that are not keeping pace with the development of the growing city.