Mwanza or Rock city to the residents is a port city on the southern shore of Lake Victoria in north-western Tanzania. With a population of more than 800,000, it is Tanzania's second largest city, after Dar es Salaam. Mwanza is the capital of the surrounding Mwanza Region, and is administratively divided into two municipal districts within that Region - Ilemela and Nyamagana.
Ethnicity
The Sukuma constitute over 90 percent of the population of the Mwanza Region. Other ethnic groups in the region, in much smaller proportions, include the Zinza, Haya, Sumbwa, Nyamwezi, Luo,, Jita, Shashi and Kerewe. They live mainly in the Mwanza city area. National policy, however, gives very little importance to ethnic groupings and reliable data is difficult to find.
Economy
In 2011 the City Council announced plans to create a major commercial development in the Ilemela District. Construction works on Rock City Mall were finalized in early 2016. This mall is the first of its size in Mwanza and one of the biggest malls in the country. Tanzania Breweries Limited has a brewery in Mwanza
Fishing
One major occupation of the inhabitants along the shores of Lake Victoria in Mwanza region is fishing, and there are five fish processing plants in the area. The Nile perch were previously introduced to the lake, and are exported in large quantities. The consequences of the Nile perch industry are the subject of the Academy Award nominated documentary Darwin's Nightmare by Hubert Sauper.
Water supply coverage is at 75% and sewerage at 23.7%. Projects to increase coverage including the UN Habitat Lake Victoria Water and Sanitation project. Water is managed by the Mwanza Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Authority, established in 1996 and wholly owned by the government of Tanzania. The authority covers Mwanza City, Kisesa Township in Magu District, Misungwi town and Nyahiti Village in Misungwi District, Geita, Sengerema and Nansio, and Lamadi in Simiyu Region. Mwauwasa operates a wastewater treatment plant in Butuja Ilemela
Tourism
National Parks
is located on a rocky island in Lake Victoria, 500 meters from Capri Point in the centre of Mwanza. The westernmost gate of Serengeti National Park is located at around 150 kilometres by road from Mwanza town. Day trips to Serengeti National Park are organised by several tour operators in Mwanza. Rubondo Island National Park can be reached by road and boat, or by a direct flight from Mwanza. It is located around 110 kilometres west of Mwanza town.
Culture
The Sukuma Museum is located in Bujora, just east of Mwanza near Kisesa. It gives an overview of the history, architecture, culture and language of the Sukuma tribe, which are the tribe that the majority of the native population originate from.
Education
is the main university in Mwanza. The University extends over in the Nyegezi-Malimbe area 10 km south of Mwanza City. It lies 4 km off the main Mwanza- Shinyanga road on the south eastern shores of Lake Victoria. The University is a half-hour's drive from Mwanza by car or by bus.
Mwanza features a tropical savanna climate under the Köppen climate classification. Temperatures are relatively consistent throughout the course of the year, tempered by the city's altitude. Thus, the climate is not quite as hot as one might expect, given the city's location near the equator. Average temperatures in Mwanza is roughly throughout the year. The city features a lengthy wet season which runs from October through May and a short pronounced dry season that covers the remaining four months. Mwanza receives on average roughly of precipitation annually.
Transport
Airport
Mwanza is served by the Mwanza Airport, which is designated as a regional airport. Fastjet offers flights to Dar es Salaam. Precision Air has daily flights to Mwanza, including from Nairobi, and Air Tanzania also flies to the city.
Railway
The city is connected by rail with Shinyanga on a branch of Tanzania's Central Railway. Twice a week the train departs to Dar es Salaam, via Dodoma, Tabora and Kigoma.
Buses
Nyegezi bus station is located in Nyamagana district. Buses going to the south and west leave from Nyegezi, as well as international services. Buzuruga bus station is located in Ilemela district. Buses going to the east, North and the Kenyan border depart from Buzuruga bus station.
Ferry
In December 2014 the regular ferry service between Mwanza, Bukoba and Kampala was halted whilst the ferry boat MV Victoria underwent major maintenance.
