Kembata Zone is a zone of Ethiopia’s Central Ethiopia Region, administered from Durame. It is the homeland of the Kambaata people and covers about 1,356 square kilometres of densely farmed highland south-west of Addis Ababa. The zone carries its present name and boundaries only since 2023: it was called Kembata Tembaro Zone, and earlier Kembata, Alaba and Tembaro Zone, before Alaba left in 2002 and Tembaro left in 2023.
| Region | Central Ethiopia |
| Administrative centre | Durame |
| Former name | Kembata Tembaro Zone (to 2023) |
| Woredas | 8, including the Durame town administration |
| Population (2007 census) | About 575,000 in the present boundaries |
| Main language | Kambaata |
Woredas (Districts)
Kembata is divided into eight districts. Damboya and Adilo Zuria were created after the 2007 census by splitting older woredas, so their people were counted within their parent districts and no separate census figure exists for them.
| Woreda | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Kacha Bira | 113,687 | 169,895 |
| Hadero Tunto | 98,375 | 160,666 |
| Kedida Gamela | 89,391 | 122,753 |
| Angacha | 88,083 | 124,035 |
| Doyogena | 78,634 | 111,623 |
| Damboya | Counted within parent district | Not published |
| Adilo Zuria | Counted within parent district | Not published |
| Durame town | 24,472 | 65,852 |
Major Towns
| Town | Woreda | Population (2022 proj.) |
|---|---|---|
| Durame | Town administration | 65,900 |
| Hadero | Hadero Tunto | 48,000 |
| Shinshicho | Kacha Bira | 38,400 |
| Damboya | Damboya | 21,800 |
| Angacha | Angacha | Not published |
| Doyogena | Doyogena | Not published |
| Adilo | Adilo Zuria | Not published |
Geography
Kembata is highland country, most of it between 1,800 and 2,700 metres, and one of the most densely populated rural areas in Ethiopia. Three mountains stand over the zone: Ambaricho, Kataa and Datoo. The Lagabora River drains the centre, and hot springs rise at Motokoma.
The zone borders Wolayita Zone to the south, Dawro Zone to the south-west, Tembaro Special Woreda to the west, Hadiya Zone to the north and north-west, and Halaba Zone to the east.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 680,837 people in the Kembata Tembaro Zone of that date, 336,676 men and 344,161 women, at a density of 502 people per square kilometre. Tembaro’s 105,573 residents left the zone in 2023, which puts the 2007 count for the present boundaries at about 575,000. Adding the CSA’s published 2022 projections for the remaining districts gives roughly 755,000, and the true figure is higher because Damboya and Adilo Zuria are not projected separately.
At the 2007 census Kambaata was the first language of 61.48% of the zone’s residents and Tembaro of 26.46%, with Hadiya at 5.56% and Wolayta at 1.29%. Those shares reflect the pre-2023 zone; Kambaata is the dominant language in the present boundaries. Protestant Christianity was reported by 83.6%, Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity by 6.55%, Catholicism by 5.94% and Islam by 3.07%.
Economy & Local Life
Enset is the staple and underwrites food security on very small holdings, often under half a hectare. Coffee is the leading cash crop, grown in the mid-altitude belt around Hadero and Kacha Bira, and wheat, barley, teff, maize and potatoes fill out the rotation. Doyogena is known for its sheep. Land shortage pushes many young people to seasonal work in Wolayita and Hawassa or to migration abroad. Weekly markets at Durame, Hadero and Shinshicho handle grain, coffee and livestock. The zone had about 217 km of all-weather roads when last surveyed.
Getting There
Durame is about 275 km south-west of Addis Ababa. The common route runs through Butajira, Halaba Kulito and Hosaena, then south on the paved road to Durame, a five-hour drive with daily bus service. Durame also connects south to Wolayita Sodo and west to Hadero and Mudula. Hosaena, 60 km north, is the nearest large town. The closest scheduled airport is Wolayita Sodo, roughly 90 km south.
FAQ
Where is Kembata Zone?
In the Central Ethiopia Region, in the highlands about 275 km south-west of Addis Ababa.
What is the capital of Kembata Zone?
Durame.
Is it called Kembata Zone or Kembata Tembaro Zone?
Kembata Zone. The name changed in 2023 when Tembaro became a separate special woreda and the Central Ethiopia Region was created. Older sources still use Kembata Tembaro, and Kembata, Alaba and Tembaro before Alaba split off in 2002.
How many woredas are in Kembata Zone?
Eight, including the Durame town administration.
What language is spoken in Kembata Zone?
Kambaata, a Highland East Cushitic language. Amharic is the common second language.
What is grown in Kembata Zone?
Enset as the staple, with coffee as the main cash crop, plus wheat, barley, teff, maize and potatoes.