Sumve

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Sumve's Sunday Market
Sumve's Sunday Market

Sumve, Tanzania is located in the Kwimba District of the Mwanza Region, at 2°44′50″S, 33°13′40″E. Sumve's residents are predominantly from the Wasukuma tribe, the largest in Tanzania, but some of Sumve's institutions employ Wahaya, Wajita, Wakerewe, Wanyamwezi and others from neighboring tribes. Therefore, many of the residents speak Kisukuma along with Kiswahili, the national language. The population is 12,359 (2002 TZ National Census), making it the 15th most populous ward in the Kwimba district.

The primary economic activity in the village of Sumve is the farming of corn and cotton, often at the subsistence level. Sumve hosts the Kwimba district hospital despite having no electricity (a generator is often used at night and during operations) and the Sumve College of Nursing and Midwifery collaborates in training the staff. Two secondary schools, Sumve Girls Secondary School (O-level) and Sumve High School (O and A-level) are located in the village along with several primary schools. Many of the residents are Roman Catholic, and a large Catholic church built by the "White Fathers" of The Netherlands nearly 100 years ago still remains in Sumve today.

Sumve is approximately 45 km Southeast of Mwanza, the regional capital. Though very rural, plans exist to bring electricity and running water to Sumve's residents in the near future. Sumve is accessible via railroad (3 times a week) and private vehicles, but most visitors and residents take a daily bus to and from Mwanza called 'Mungu Hana Choyo' (meaning: 'God doesn't have greed').