Nsanje District
Encyclopedia
Nsanje is a district
in the Southern Region
of Malawi
. The capital is Nsanje
. The district covers an area of 1942 square kilometres (749.8 sq mi) and has a population of 194,924.
and lies in the Lower Shire River Valley. It straddles the Shire River
in the north (the river forms most of Nsanje’s eastern boundary) and is surrounded by Mozambique
. Elevation is around 200 feet (61 m) ASL except for some hills in the south-western part of the district which reach near to 2000 feet (609.6 m) ASL. Mwabvi Game Reserve lies in the north-western part of the district and can be accessed from Bangula or Sorgin (both along the M-1 road)
Elephant Marsh lies partially in the northern part of the district and can be accessed for tours via the eastern bank road. Tours start from the village of James.
Major income comes from small holder farming. Maize, millet, sorghum, rice, and cotton are all grown using almost entirely rain fed agriculture.
. The predominant language is Chichewa, but Chisena, Chimang’anja, English
, and Portuguese
are also spoken.
A rain cult holds position south of Nsanje boma worshipping a deity called Mbona. His head was cut off hundreds of years ago and out flowed a river of blood. He now returns to his wife’s home every so often in the form of a python to tell prophecies for the coming year.
There are five National Assembly
constituencies in Nsanje: Nsanje lalanje, Nsanje South West, Nsanje-Central, Nsanje-North and Nsanje-South. Since the 2009 election
all of these constituencies have been held by members of the Democratic Progressive Party
.
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 Nsanje
Nsanje
Nsanje is the main town in Nsanje District within the Southern Region of Malawi.- Transport :The town is the headquarters of Malawi Railways. The railway at Nsanje is however closed needing major investment...
. The district covers an area of 1942 square kilometres (749.8 sq mi) and has a population of 194,924.
Location
Nsanje is the southern most district in MalawiMalawi
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...
and lies in the Lower Shire River Valley. It straddles 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...
in the north (the river forms most of Nsanje’s eastern boundary) and is surrounded by 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...
. Elevation is around 200 feet (61 m) ASL except for some hills in the south-western part of the district which reach near to 2000 feet (609.6 m) ASL. Mwabvi Game Reserve lies in the north-western part of the district and can be accessed from Bangula or Sorgin (both along the M-1 road)
Elephant Marsh lies partially in the northern part of the district and can be accessed for tours via the eastern bank road. Tours start from the village of James.
Climate
Temperatures get as hot as 52 °C (125.6 °F) in November and around 8 °C (46.4 °F) in June. Rainfall averages around 750 millimetres (29.5 in) yearly coming January through April.Economy
Nsanje is one of the poorest districts in Malawi and is virtually dependent on government and NGO aide organizationsMajor income comes from small holder farming. Maize, millet, sorghum, rice, and cotton are all grown using almost entirely rain fed agriculture.
Culture
The people of Nsanje are traditionally Sena people, or Mang'anjaMang'anja
The Mang'anja are a Bantu people of central and southern Africa, particularly around Chikwawa in the Shire River valley of southern Malawi. They speak a dialect of the Nyanja language, and are a branch of the Amaravi people. As of 1996 their population was estimated at 2,486,070....
. The predominant language is Chichewa, but Chisena, Chimang’anja, English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
, and Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
are also spoken.
A rain cult holds position south of Nsanje boma worshipping a deity called Mbona. His head was cut off hundreds of years ago and out flowed a river of blood. He now returns to his wife’s home every so often in the form of a python to tell prophecies for the coming year.
There are five 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 in Nsanje: Nsanje lalanje, Nsanje South West, Nsanje-Central, Nsanje-North and Nsanje-South. Since the 2009 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...
all of these constituencies have been held by members of the Democratic Progressive Party
Democratic Progressive Party (Malawi)
The Democratic Progressive Party is the ruling political party in Malawi. The party was formed in February 2005 by Malawian President Bingu wa Mutharika after a dispute with the United Democratic Front....
.