Gardula Zone is a zone of the South Ethiopia Region with its capital at Gidole. It was known as Dirashe until 2023, and it took both its present name and its zonal status when the region was created in August that year. The 2007 census recorded 142,758 people in 1,487.38 square kilometres, and the 2022 projection is about 204,000.
Gardula is an old name for the Gidole area, revived for the new zone. The unit itself is long-established: it was the Dirashe special woreda, joined the Segen Area Peoples Zone in 2011, and was promoted to a zone at the 2023 reorganisation.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Gidole |
| Former name | Dirashe special woreda |
| Region | South Ethiopia (since August 2023) |
| Area | 1,487.38 km² |
| Population | 142,758 (2007 census) |
| Projection | about 204,000 (2022 CSA projection) |
Woredas (Districts)
| Woreda | Note |
|---|---|
| Dirashe | Rural woreda covering the whole zone outside the capital |
| Gidole town | Town administration, seat of the zone |
The 2007 census counted the zone as a single special woreda, so the figure of 142,758 covers both units together.
Major Towns
| Town | 2007 census | 2022 projection |
|---|---|---|
| Gidole | 13,184 | 35,500 |
Gidole is the only town of any size. Rural centres recorded in the zone include Gardula itself, Bussa, Mashile, Zokzik, Gireshi, Ongeyde and Mekiyo.
Geography
The zone sits on hill country on the western side of the Rift Valley, above the Segen River basin. Gidole stands on a ridge at around 2,000 metres, high enough to be cool and green while the valley floor to the east is dry thorn scrub. The land falls away northeast towards Lake Chamo.
Gardula borders Gamo Zone to the north, Ale Zone to the west, Konso Zone to the south, and Amaro and Burji zones to the east, with Lake Chamo on the northeastern edge.
Demographics
The 2007 census recorded 142,758 people, 70,111 men and 72,647 women, of whom 13,184 or 9.24 per cent lived in Gidole. Population density was 95.98 per square kilometre. The 2022 projection of about 204,000 is a Central Statistical Agency estimate, not a count.
The zone is mixed. The Dirashe people are the largest group at 45.01 per cent, and Dirashe is spoken as a first language by 47.51 per cent of residents. Gawwada follows at 27.43 per cent, Bussa at 9.09 per cent and Oromo at 4.82 per cent. That spread of Cushitic languages within one small zone is unusual even by southern Ethiopian standards.
Economy & Local Life
Gardula is a farming zone. Cereals are the food crops, and khat is the main cash crop, grown on the middle slopes and trucked north and east to market. Sorghum, maize and enset are grown according to altitude, and cattle and goats are kept on the drier ground. Like their Konso neighbours to the south, farmers here terrace steep slopes with stone walls to hold soil against heavy seasonal rain. Gidole’s market is the trading point for the whole zone.
Getting There
Gidole is 54 kilometres from Arba Minch and 175 kilometres from Wolaita Sodo, reached by road from Arba Minch heading southwest. The road continues south to Konso, which links onward to South Omo and to the Kenyan border. The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Arba Minch.
FAQ
Where is Gardula Zone?
In the South Ethiopia Region, in the hills west of the Rift Valley, 54 kilometres southwest of Arba Minch.
What is the capital of Gardula Zone?
Gidole, projected at about 35,500 people for 2022.
Is Gardula the same as Dirashe?
Yes. The unit was the Dirashe special woreda, and was renamed Gardula and made a zone when the South Ethiopia Region was created in August 2023.
How many woredas are in Gardula Zone?
Two: Dirashe woreda and the Gidole town administration.
What language is spoken in Gardula?
Dirashe is the largest first language at 47.51 per cent, followed by Gawwada at 27.43 per cent and Bussa at 9.09 per cent.
How many people live in Gardula Zone?
142,758 at the 2007 census, with about 204,000 projected for 2022.