Zanzibar City or Mjini District, often simply referred to as Zanzibar (Wilaya ya Zanzibar Mjini or Jiji la Zanzibar in Swahili), 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 (literally: "The Other Side"); 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.Kevin Shilligton, Encyclopaedia of African History vol. 3, p. 1710 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.Britannica, Zanzibar , Encyclopædia Britannica, USA. Retrieved January 5, 2020 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 (1813–1873) 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 (Köppen climate classification Am). 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.Britannica, Tanzania , Encyclopædia Britannica, USA. Retrieved January 5, 2020 There are also Christian churches and temples: Roman Catholic Diocese of Zanzibar (Catholic Church), Anglican Church of Tanzania (Anglican Communion), Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (Lutheran World Federation), Baptist Convention of Tanzania (Baptist World Alliance), 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:National Bureau of Statistics Tanzania (web).

Nr. Ward (Shehia) Population2012 Parliamentary Constituency1Shangani 3,886 Mji Kongwe2Mkunazini 3,308 Mji Kongwe3Kiponda 1,654 Mji Kongwe4Malindi 3,204 Mji Kongwe5Mchangani 2,211 Mji Kongwe6Vikokotoni 1,872 Mji Kongwe7Mwembetanga 2,610 Mji Kongwe8Kisiwandui 1,590 Kikwajuni9Kikwajuni Juu 2,408 Kikwajuni10Kikwajuni Bondeni 2,257 Kikwajuni11Kisima Majongoo 2,615 Kikwajuni12Miembeni 6,095 Kikwajuni13Kilimani 2,911 Kikwajuni14Migombani 7,164 Mpendae15Mpendae 13,252 Mpendae 16Meya 5,777 Mpendae17Jang'ombe 6,122 Jang'ombe 18Urusi 7,532 Jang'ombe19Matarumbeta 2,711 Jang'ombe20Kwaalinato 5,438 Jang'ombe21Mwembeshauri 1,933 Rahaleo 22Rahaleo 1,950 Rahaleo23Mlandege 2,070 Rahaleo24Muembe Ladu 2,954 Rahaleo25Gulioni 2,488 Rahaleo26Makadara 5,048 Rahaleo27Kwaalamsha 3,479 Kwahani 28Mikunguni 2,984 Kwahani29Kwahani 4,815 Kwahani30Kidongo Chekundu2,290 Kwahani31Muungano 5,304 Kwahani32Sogea 4,801 Magomeni 33Magomeni 6,165 Magomeni34Nyerere9,657 Magomeni35Kwa Wazee 6,454 Magomeni36Sebleni 5,102 Amaani37Amaani6,156 Amaani38Kilimahewa Bondeni 5,116 Amaani39Kilimahewa Juu 4,714 Amaani40Kwamtipura11,572 Kwamtipura41Mkele 7,140 Kwamtipura42Shaurimoyo 8,335 Kwamtipura43Chumbuni 10,925 Chumbuni 44Karakana 8,610 Chumbuni45Muembe Makumbi8,354 Chumbuni TotalZanzibar Urban 223,033

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

Wards

Amani Chumbuni Jang'ombe Kikwajuni Kilimahewa Kwaalinathoo Kwahani Kwamtipura Magomeni

Makadara Mchangani Meya Miembeni Mkele Mkunazini Mpandae Muungano Mwembe Makumbi Nyerere Rahaleo

Demographics

See also Timeline of Zanzibar City 2008 Zanzibar power blackout Stone Town Michenzani Zanzibar University

References

Bibliography

External links