Nkhotakota

Nkhotakota
Traditional mud and thatch houses on the beach of Lake Malawi in Nkhotakota
Nkhotakota Location in Malawi
Coordinates: 12°55′00″S 34°18′00″E / 12.91667°S 34.30000°E / -12.91667; 34.30000Coordinates: 12°55′00″S 34°18′00″E / 12.91667°S 34.30000°E / -12.91667; 34.30000
Country	Malawi
Region	Central Region
District	Nkhotakota District
Elevation	1,548 ft (472 m)
Population (2008)[1]
• Total	33,150
• Languages	Chichewa
Time zone	+2
Climate	Aw

Nkhotakota (formerly Kota Kota) (name derived from the Chichewa for "Corner Corner") is a town and one of the districts in the Central Region of Malawi. It is on the shore of Lake Malawi (formerly Lake Nyasa) and is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi. As of 2008, Nkhotakota had a population estimated at 33,150. The district had a population of 301.000.

History

Nkhotakota was originally a group of villages in the 19th century which later served as a market for Swahili-Arabian slave traders.^[2] David Livingstone convinced Chief Jumbe to stop trading slaves under a tree in Nkhotakota in the 19th century, which is currently in existence under a mission.^[3] Later Malawi president Hastings Banda gave speeches under another tree in Nkhotakota during the 1960s, this one ironically known as the Livingstone Tree.^[3] This town was hit by the 2001 floods, and was the worst hit area of Malawi's Central region.^[4] Today, Nkhotakota is the largest traditional African town in Malawi^[2] and bears a strong Swahili-Arab influence.^[5]

Geography

Mwaya Beach at Nkhotakota Bay on Lake Malawi

Nkhotakota lies at an elevation of 1,548 feet (472 m) on the shore of Lake Malawi.^[2] It is located on a rocky ridge overlooking a natural harbour overlooking Nkhotakota Bay, formed by a sandbar.^[2] In addition, Nkhotakota is 200 kilometres (120 mi) from Lilongwe, Malawi's capital, and 378 kilometres (235 mi) from Blantyre, Malawi's largest city.^[6]

Wildlife

Nkhotakota is home to the Nkhotakota Wildlife Reserve, where, according to Lonely Planet, one has a good chance of seeing elephants.^[7] The reserve is also home to several antelope species, buffalo, and leopards.^[8] Several large rivers cross this reserve, the largest in Malawi.^[3]

Roughly 24 kilometres (15 mi) south of Nkhotakota is the Chia Lagoon, a large bay linked to Lake Malawi by a narrow channel, crossed by a bridge near Nkhotakota's one major road.^[3]

Economy

The biggest formal 'private' employer in the districts is a sugar manufacturing company "Dwangwa Sugar corporation" (currently under Illovo). Most Locals are small holder farmers of Rice, Cassava and maize, while many others are small scale fishermen, who regularly fish along Lake Malawi, Chia Lagoon and many other rivers including; Bua, Dwangwa,Dwambazi and Chilua, using triangular nets on poles, hooks, etc. Another notable antiquity (tourist attraction) in Nkhotakota is the Mawira hot springs, an area of about 3km2 of hot water that continuously gushes from the ground since time immemorial. Mawira hot springs is situated at the central area of the district, 5 km + – from the Ntchisi/Kasungu road junction.^[3] Sungu Island (made of sand and rocks) is another fascinating place to visit in Nkhotakota central. This Island is situated inside the Lake Malawi, 1.5 km from the shores, and approximately 2 km from Kaliba station (dock), where passenger boats cruising along the lake Malawi picks or drops passengers and small scale traders.

Climate

Demographics

Population development

Languages

Chichewa is the main language spoken in this town.^[10] A Swahili settlement was also established in Nkhotakota.^[11] Several Chewa speakers live to the south of Nkhotakota,^[12] and Tonga is spoken in its north.^[13]

Facilities

Christian cemetery in Nkhotakota

Medical

There are two hospitals in Nkhotakota: Nkhotakota District Hospital and St. Anne's Mission Hospital. However, in the whole district there are 23 health facilities including 1 district hospital, 1 mission hospital, 1 government rural hospital, 1 mission rural hospital, 11 health centres, 10 private clinics and 2 dispensaries.^[14][15] In its efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the Society for Women Against AIDS in Malawi (SWAM) implemented a two-year project in Nkhotakota.^[16] Nkhotakota is also a regional hub for the [World Medical Fund] – a UK-based medical charity, whose rural outreach services provide the region's villages with basic medical care including anti-retrovirals, anti-malarial treatment and infectious disease management.

Banks

Branches of the Malawi Savings Bank Commercial Bank of Malawi and Opportunity Bank Malawi are closely located at the central point of the town, on the junction of Salima/Lilongwe and Ntchisi/Kasungu. While Standard Bank (a branch of Standard Bank South Africa) is situated 50 km away at Illovo sugar company's premises in Dwangwa, where another branch of Opportunity Bank Malawi is situated. These commercial Banks provide several banking and other financial services including; foreign currency exchange facilities for local residents and foreign tourists.

Petrol stations

There is a BP petrol station in Nkhotakota.^[3]

Transport

Nkhotakota is one of the main ports on Lake Malawi,^[17] and it is served by the ferry MV Ilala that weekly crosses Lake Malawi. The nearest airport is at Kasungu, 48 miles (77 km) away. Buses run from Salima for two hours daily.^[18] In addition, minibuses run from here to Nkhata Bay along the main road which connects these towns.^[19]

References