Zanzibar City


Zanzibar City or Mjini District, often simply referred to as Zanzibar, is one of two administrative districts of Mjini Magharibi Region in Tanzania. The district covers an area of. The district has a water border to the west by the Indian Ocean. The district is bordered to the east by Magharibi District. The district seat is in Stonetown. The city is the largest on the island of Zanzibar. It is located on the west coast of Unguja, the main island of the Zanzibar Archipelago, north of the much larger city of Dar es Salaam across the Zanzibar Channel. The city also serves as the capital of the Zanzibar Urban/West Region. In 2022 its population was 219,007.
Zanzibar City comprises two main parts, Stone Town and Ng'ambo ; the two areas were historically divided by a creek since filled in, with the street on the Stone Town side of the creek originally called Creek Road but later renamed to Benjamin Mkapa Road. Stone Town is the historical core of the city, the former capital of the Zanzibar Sultanate; because of its unique architecture and culture, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2000. Ng'ambo is a much larger, modern area that developed around Stone Town after the Zanzibar Revolution, with office buildings and large apartment blocks such as those of the Michenzani neighbourhood. Zanzibar City is served by a number of international and domestic airlines via Abeid Amani Karume International Airport.

History

In 1592, the first English ship arrived in port. In 1824, Said bin Sultan, Sultan of Muscat and Oman established the capital of his kingdom in the city. The city was a high place of slavery, one of the main ports of East Africa for the slave trade. The famous slave trader Tippu Tip lived there. In 1846, the island had 360,000 enslaved for 450,000 inhabitants. In 1866, the British explorer David Livingstone stayed in Zanzibar to prepare his last expedition to Tanzania. In 1892, Zanzibar was declared a free port.

Climate

Zanzibar City has a tropical climate, very similar to whole Unguja island, and slightly hotter than what is found in Pemba. This climate is classified as a tropical monsoon climate. The average temperature in Zanzibar City is. The average annual rainfall is. The monthly average temperatures are usually between. There are two rain seasons, with most rainfall coming between March and May and smaller rain season coming between November and December. Drier months are January - February, and a longer drier season between June and October.

Places of worship

The places of worship in the city are predominantly Muslim mosques. There are also Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar, Anglican Church of Tanzania, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania, Baptist Convention of Tanzania, Assemblies of God.

Constituencies

For parliamentary elections, Tanzania is divided into constituencies. As of the 2010 elections the area for Zanzibar City District had ten of the nineteen constituencies in the region:
  • Amani Constituency
  • Chumbuni Constituency
  • Jangombe Constituency
  • Kikwajuni Constituency
  • Kwahani Constituency
  • Kwamtipura Constituency
  • Magomeni Constituency
  • Mji Mkongwe Constituency
  • Mpendae Constituency
  • Rahaleo Constituency

Wards

The Zanzibar Urban District is administratively divided into 45 wards:
Nr.Ward Population
2012		Parliamentary
Constituency
1Shangani3,886Mji Kongwe
2Mkunazini3,308Mji Kongwe
3Kiponda1,654Mji Kongwe
4Malindi3,204Mji Kongwe
5Mchangani2,211Mji Kongwe
6Vikokotoni1,872Mji Kongwe
7Mwembetanga2,610Mji Kongwe
8Kisiwandui1,590Kikwajuni
9Kikwajuni Juu2,408Kikwajuni
10Kikwajuni Bondeni2,257Kikwajuni
11Kisima Majongoo2,615Kikwajuni
12Miembeni6,095Kikwajuni
13Kilimani2,911Kikwajuni
14Migombani7,164Mpendae
15Mpendae13,252Mpendae
16Meya5,777Mpendae
17Jang'ombe6,122Jang'ombe
18Urusi7,532Jang'ombe
19Matarumbeta2,711Jang'ombe
20Kwaalinato5,438Jang'ombe
21Mwembeshauri1,933Rahaleo
22Rahaleo1,950Rahaleo
23Mlandege2,070Rahaleo
24Muembe Ladu2,954Rahaleo
25Gulioni2,488Rahaleo
26Makadara5,048Rahaleo
27Kwaalamsha3,479Kwahani
28Mikunguni2,984Kwahani
29Kwahani4,815Kwahani
30Kidongo Chekundu2,290Kwahani
31Muungano5,304Kwahani
32Sogea4,801Magomeni
33Magomeni6,165Magomeni
34Nyerere9,657Magomeni
35Kwa Wazee6,454Magomeni
36Sebleni5,102Amaani
37Amaani6,156Amaani
38Kilimahewa Bondeni5,116Amaani
39Kilimahewa Juu4,714Amaani
40Kwamtipura11,572Kwamtipura
41Mkele7,140Kwamtipura
42Shaurimoyo8,335Kwamtipura
43Chumbuni10,925Chumbuni
44Karakana8,610Chumbuni
45Muembe Makumbi8,354Chumbuni
TotalZanzibar Urban223,033-

As of 2012, Mjini District was administratively divided into 20 wards.

Wards

  1. Amani
  2. Chumbuni
  3. Jang'ombe
  4. Kikwajuni
  5. Kilimahewa
  6. Kwaalinathoo
  7. Kwahani
  8. Kwamtipura
  9. Magomeni
  10. Makadara
  11. Mchangani
  12. Meya
  13. Miembeni
  14. Mkele
  15. Mkunazini
  16. Mpandae
  17. Muungano
  18. Mwembe Makumbi
  19. Nyerere
  20. Rahaleo