Mbeya in Tanzania: challenges and opportunities

Mbeya in Tanzania: challenges and opportunities

Mbeya in Tanzania: challenges and opportunities. Mbeya, a town in Tanzania, presents interesting problems that could create opportunities.

By Leon Louw founder of WhyAfrica and editor of the WhyAfrica magazine.

On day 24 of last year’s WhyAfrica Road Trip through South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Kenya we drove from Lotus Resources’ Kayelekhara project in Malawi to the trading town of Mbeya in southwestern Tanzania.

The total distance is about 210km and it took us four hours to drive, including a very smooth border crossing at Songwe between Malawi and Tanzania.

The road from Mzuzu to Songwe in Malawi offers spectacular views of the lake but over the mountain pass the road has disintegrated and resembles a potholed checkers board.

The landscape in Tanzania from Songwe to the town of Mbeya is scenic with large tracks of land being used for agriculture.

Mbeya receives enough rainfall and boast fertile soil which enable it to be the largest producer of maize, rice, bananas, beans, potatoes (Irish and sweet potatoes), soya nuts and wheat in the entire country.

Strategically located

Mbeya is the capital of the surrounding rural Mbeya region and sits at an altitude of about 1,700m above sea level, surrounded by beautiful mountains and scenic landscapes.

The city enjoys a temperate climate due to its elevation, with cooler temperatures compared to most other parts of Tanzania.

The city is strategically located along the road that connects Tanzania to Zambia, and it serves as a key transportation link for trade between the two countries.

Following the 1906 gold rush, Mbeya was founded as a gold mining town in the 1920s. The railway later attracting farming migrants and small entrepreneurs to the area. Some gold is still mined in the rural Chunya District by small scale miners.

Infrastructure challenges

Despite being a key commercial and transportation hub, Mbeya still experiences challenges related to inadequate infrastructure. Roads, water supply systems, electricity, and sanitation services are often insufficient or poorly maintained, hindering economic growth and quality of life.

Deforestation, soil erosion, and overgrazing are significant concerns in the Mbeya region, impacting local agriculture, biodiversity, and water resources. Sustainable land management practices are needed to address these issues.

After a day in Mbeya, I headed into the sunrise to Tanzania’s capital city of Dodoma, about 590km northeast of Mbeya. A drive that would take us more than 10 hours.

Mbeya in Tanzania: challenges and opportunities