Ntcheu District

Ntcheu is a district in the Central Region of Malawi. It borders with the country of Mozambique. The district headquarters known as BOMA in local language is located in Village Headman Yeneya and the place is commonly called Mphate. The district covers an area of 3,424 km.² and has a population of 474,464 according to 2008 Malawi population Census. Out of that 226,567 are males and 247,897 are females. It lies half way between Malawi's majors cities of Blantyre and Lilongwe the capital city.

Cities and towns

• Ntcheu is the largest town or city in Ntcheu District.
• Nsipe lies 20km on the way to Blantyre.
• Kasinje lies on the Lakeshore road toward Salima district.
• Lizulu is the headquarters of the Ngoni people who are dominant in the district.
• Mphepozinai lies 15 km on the Kasinje road.
• Mulangeni lies on the edge of the Mozambique border.
• Tsangano is the main cultivating place of apples and Irish potatoes.

Culture

Most of the occupants of Ntcheu District are of Ngoni people, and are therefore descendants of the Maseko of Swaziland's Amaswati people and the Zulu. They are thus connected to the Ngoni of mzimba district in the northern part of Malawi. The paramount Chief is Inkosi yamakosi Gomani and the traditional Authorities are Njolomole, Kalumbu, Kwataine, Ganya, Makwangwala, Chakhumbira, Mpando, Champiti, Phambala and Masasa

Places of Interest

Mama's restaurant is a popular destination for people in Ntcheu.^[1]

Inkosi ya Makosi Gomani 2

Gowa Mission School

Demographics

According to 2008 Malawi population census, people aged 18 and over distributed by Traditional Authority were as follows: Phambala 55,168; Mpando 50,528; Kwataine 41,338; Sub Chief (S/C) Champiti 15,790; Njolomole/Kalumbu 54,527; Chakhumbira 25,659; S/C Goodson Ganya 106,910; Masasa 24,691; and Mphate 14,680.

Resources

The district is well known for its vegetable production like cabbages, tomatoes and Irish potatoes at Njolomole, Lizulu and Tsangano turn off. Most of the people travelling between the two main cities of Lilongwe and Blantyre always make a stop over to purchase these products. Apart from this main road of M1, Ntcheu district is also well connected with other districts on the Lake shore using Kasinje road (M5) to the Lake shore road going through Golomoti, Chipoka, Nkhota Kota and Nkhata bay districts.

Politics

With the dawn of multiparty politics in 1994 in Malawi, Ntchewu District may be regarded as a swing district as regards to the three major parties in Malawi, these are: Alliance for Democrancy (AFORD), United Democratic Front (UDF) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP).

Education

The arrival of the religious missionaries within the district in the 19th Century establishing, Gowa Mission, Mlanda Mission, Muluma Mission and Dombole Mission provided the early advantage of village education to the rural areas within the district. The district has provided the Malawi nation with some of the brightest nationals. Private schools in the area include New Era Girls Secondary School.

Notable Malawians from Ntcheu

• Academics: Brown Chiphamba
• Government: Saulos Chilima, Loti Dzonzi, Focus Gwede, Sam Mpasu, Percy Kachipande, Kelly Zidana
• Entertainmeners: Angela Mizinga "Tigris".
• Business: Nathan Kalumbu.

References

Regions and districts of Malawi Northern Region Chitipa Karonga Likoma Mzimba Nkhata Bay Rumphi Central Region Dedza Dowa Kasungu Lilongwe Mchinji Nkhotakota Ntcheu Ntchisi Salima Southern Region Balaka Blantyre Chikwawa Chiradzulu Machinga Mangochi Mulanje Mwanza Neno Nsanje Phalombe Thyolo Zomba

Coordinates: 14°45′S 34°45′E / 14.750°S 34.750°E / -14.750; 34.750