Community Profile of Mikindani, Mtwara

The origin of the name Mikindani is still unclear until now. Some say that the town was named after a man from the Makonde tribe who killed the sister of the first immigrants from the Makonde Plateau. An alternative, and more likely story is that Mikindani was named for the young palm trees (mikinda) that have been grown around the town. Mikindani is a fascinating old town with winding streets and an interesting blend of thatched mud houses and coral houses influenced by Arabic architecture.

The first settlers to the area were members of the Makonde tribe who settled in the north west of the lagoon. They were joined, in the 9th century, by Arab immigrants from the Arabian Peninsula who settled on the southeast edge of the bay. A further influx of Arabs settled in Mikindani in the late 17th century and early signs of Arab inhabitation still exist in Mikindani; Arab graves and mosques can be seen. In Mikindani, it was customary to mark the grave of a Sultan with a baobab tree planted at each end of the grave. These would eventually grow together, as now seen near the mosque at Mitengo near Mikindani.

From the mid-18th century, large numbers of slaves were exported from Mikindani to present-day Reunion, the Seychelles and Comoros. This trade continued well into the 19th century, until the British government, under pressure from notables such as Dr. Livingstone, banned slave trading and encouraged other countries to do the same. Dr. Livingstone set out from Mikindani on his final expedition.

During the 19th and early 20th centuries, Mikindani expanded and the residential links between the earlier settled areas were consolidated. The German colonial authorities constructed administrative and residential buildings around the Mnaida area, underneath Bismarck Hill. These include the old fort, the Governor's House and a commemorative "Slave Market". This period was also characterized by the construction of fine coral rag houses. These often had delicate balconies on the upper floor. Flat roofs and finely carved ornate doorways are evidence of Arab architectural influence. Prosperous Asian business families also built houses with balconies, under which would be the ground floor shop front.

By the late 1880s, the Germans had established an administrative presence in Mikindani and started to exploit the natural resources of the area including rubber, sisal, coconuts and oil seeds. Oyster pearl fishing took place in the outer Mikindani Bay. Trade also prospered with an influx of commercially minded families from the Indian sub-continent. In 1895, the Boma was built as a fort and Southern Province Head Quarters.

After Germany's defeat in the First World War, Britain took control of Tanganyika. Mikindani remained an important administrative post until 1947 when the British administration started the development of the port in neighbouring Mtwara to be the export point for the peanuts grown on the infamous Groundnut Scheme. Business and administration subsequently shifted to Mtwara and the fortunes of Mikindani declined until it was little more than a large fishing village. Fishermen still now make their living on fishing from dugout canoes and dhows in the deep outer bay.

3.0. LAND, PEOPLE AND CLIMATE

3.1. Geographical Location

Mikindani is situated at the bottom of a natural, protected bay. It is only 9 kms from Mtwara Town, which is the regional capital. Mikindani lies between latitudes 10o and 11o south of the Equator. It borders the Indian Ocean to thee east, Msijute Village to the north and Mtwara town to the south. To the west it borders Mkangala and Mbae Villages. Mikindani is easily accessible, as the coastal tarmac road from Dar es Salaam to Mtwara runs through this small town.

3.2. Land Area
Mikindani has a very small area. It occupies 56 sq. kms, which is about 34% of the Mtwara Municipal total land area of 163 sq. kms. Mikindani is divided between 5 wards; the largest is Mtonya ward with 34 sq. kms and the smallest is Magengeni, which occupies 0.3 sq. kms only.

3.3. Administrative Units
Administratively Mikindani is a division of Mtwara Mikindani Municipal Council. It is subdivided into 5 wards of Jangwani, Mtonya, Magengeni, Kisungule and Mitengo. Because Mikindani is in the urban set up, the wards have been formed by streets. Each ward has the Ward Executive Officer and a Councillor who represents a ward to the Municipal Council. At the divisional level there is a Divisional Officer who works under the Central Government system.

3.4. The Population of Mikindani
The most dominant group who form the majority of the Mikindani residents identify themselves as either Wamaraba or Waswahili. The population of Mikindani according to 2002 National Population Census is 14,207 people. 6,895 are men and 7312 are women. The population of Mikindani is 15.3 percent of the total population of Mtwara Mikindani Municipal Council, which is 92,602.

3.5. Climate and Soils

Prevailing winds are critical in determining the climate of Mikindani, which borders on the Indian Ocean. During the periods of November/December to April/May the dominant winds are from the north-east. They bring a hot humid rainy season to the area of Mikindani and to the whole area of Mtwara Town. When they blow from south-east the area becomes dry, cooler and less humid.

The rainy season of November/December to April/May is single peaked, the peak being reached in January but occasionally in February or March. The mean annual precipitation ranges from 800mm to 900mm.

Likewise temperatures vary from 270 as the highest monthly mean at the coast of Mikindani in December to 230 C in July. Relative humidity goes from 87% in March to 79% in October. Geologically Mikindani lies at the coastal sedimentary formation extending from the Indian Ocean to the edge of the upper hills in the west. This zone produces deep, well drained, sandy soils of low fertility and low moisture holding capacity. They are produced from sandstones. Further, coastal limestones produce red, well drained, heavy textured soils.

3.6. Topography and Drainage
Being a coastal town, Mikindani is characterized by a flat topography, the coastal plain with its complexity of landforms. It is generally low level with isolated rocky hills on the west and the northwest. During high tides water from the Indian Ocean flows off to the settlements and the larger part of the houses become surrounded by water. The existing drainage systems built during the colonial period have not been renovated since then.

4.0. ECONOMY
Like the rest of Tanzania, Mtwara region is predominately agricultural. The main occupation of the inhabitants of the region is farming. In Mikindani about 70 percent of the population is engaged in agriculture, apart from other activities like fishing, and small-scale industries. Approximately 80 percent of the total area is arable land although less than 20 percent of this is under cultivation. The average farm size per rural household is estimated at 1.5 ha. Farm mechanization and oxenization are still far from realization. The hand hoe is the common farming tool. Major food crops include cassava, millet and sorghum. Only recently has maize gained popularity. Cashewnuts is the predominant cash crop in the area. Livestock keeping is not traditional in this area. Mining is mainly done from coral stones. The coral stones are excavated along the Indian Ocean shoreline for the production of lime, which is largely, used in house construction.

The historical sites in Mikindani have many of the characteristics required for them to be developed as the tourist destination and providing an important catalyst for stimulating local economic development within the area. The tourism sector may thrive and generate adequate benefits to communities in the form of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities if effectively promoted.

5.0. BASIC SOCIAL SERVICES:
5.1 EDUCATION:
It is only in recent years that pre-school education has gained popularity. In Mikindani there are only 2 nursery schools that serve to all five wards. The area has four primary schools owned by the community and the average number of pupils per school is 286.

Until 2005, there was no any secondary school in Mikindani. Currently there are two secondary schools, Mikindani Secondary School was the first to be established in 2005 and Mitengo Secondary School has just opened in 2007. There is also one private owned secondary school in the area, which was opened in 2006.

5.2. HEALTH
There is only one government dispensary in Mikindani, which provides health services to the people of Mikindani. However, the services are still not adequate compared to the population that makes other people go to the Regional Hospital in Mtwara Town for treatment. The most common diseases in Mikindani include Malaria, diarrhoea and Cholera. Others are meningitis, syphilis, dysentery and HIV/AIDS.


5.3. WATER SUPPLY
One of the two major sources of water supply in Mtwara-Mikindani Municipality is the spring source of Mchuchu in Mikindani. The Mchuchu springs produce some 300,000 litres per day and supplies the Mikindani area. The water source is more reliable through out the year and the population of Mikindani depends on this source for clean and safe water supply.

6.0. CONCLUSION
Mikindani is a perfect destination and a wonderful example of a traditional coastal Swahili towns in Tanzania with a blend of African, Arabic and European culture. It has many of the characteristics required for it to be developed as a heritage sensitive destination that would provide an important catalyst for stimulating local economic development within this area and Mtwara region in general.

However, there is still a challenge on how the local community in Mikindani would be able to efficiently utilize the available resources. The historical ruins of the old slave market, the old prison, Dr. Livingstone’s House and the House of Bazaar are some of the tourist attractions, which can be exploited for tourism and generate adequate benefits to communities in the form of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities.