Pemba South Region (Swahili: Mkoa wa Kusini Pemba) covers the southern half of Pemba Island, the northern of the two main islands of Zanzibar, roughly 50 km north of Unguja. The 2022 census counted a population of 271,350 in an area of 332 km2, a density of 817 people per square kilometre. The regional headquarters sits at Mkoani, a ferry port on the south-west coast, while Chake Chake is the largest town and the commercial centre of the whole island.
Districts of Pemba South Region
The region is divided into two districts, each run by its own council.
| District | Council type | Population (2022 census) |
|---|---|---|
| Chake Chake | District council | 136,298 |
| Mkoani | Town council | 135,052 |
| Total | 271,350 |
Towns and Villages in Pemba South Region
The list below covers 358 recorded towns, villages and hamlets, grouped by district and listed alphabetically. Chake Chake, Mkoani, Mtambile, Wesha and Vitongoji are the largest settlements.
Chake Chake District
- Banani
- Barawa
- Birikau
- Boma
- Chake Chake
- Changani
- Chanjani
- Chaoni
- Chombeo
- Chonga
- Chumvini
- Chundani
- Chununi
- Daya
- Domokaya
- Dongoni
- Finyeuso
- Foraha
- Hurumuzi
- Jamvini
- Jitenge
- Jojo
- Kaole
- Kendwa
- Kibokoni
- Kiburunzi
- Kibuyuni
- Kichange
- Kichungwani
- Kichuwani
- Kidemeni
- Kigongoni
- Kigope
- Kijangani
- Kikongwe
- Kilewajuni
- Kilimani
- Kilindi
- Kilulu
- Kinyasini
- Kipange
- Kipapo
- Kisiwani
- Kitambuni
- Kitutui
- Kiwaa
- Komboni
- Kopole
- Koveni
- Kulilia
- Kungeni
- Kungumoga
- Kunguni
- Limanda
- Limani
- Limbolimboni
- Mabaoni
- Maboyoni
- Magogoni
- Magome
- Magonini
- Majinoni
- Makaange
- Makaani
- Makafara
- Mambosasa
- Manamancha
- Mangweni
- Manyaga
- Mavungwa
- Mbaleni
- Mbuzini
- Mchanga
- Mchangani
- Mchekeni
- Mfikiwa
- Mgogoni
- Miburani
- Michakaini
- Michingani
- Mifuni
- Mikongweni
- Minazini
- Mipopooni
- Misherefu
- Misooni
- Misufini
- Mitamani
- Miulani
- Miungoni
- Mjananza
- Mkanjuni
- Mkonga
- Mkonobagi
- Mombakau
- Msalabani
- Mtafika
- Mtakahoja
- Mtakata
- Mtangu
- Mtemani
- Muhamidiwa
- Mustarehe
- Mvumoni
- Mwembeduka
- Ndagoni
- Ngambwa
- Ngelema
- Ngoma Kazingwa
- Njanyanza
- Njuguni
- Nyali
- Nyanjale
- Pagali
- Papani
- Pondeani
- Pujini
- Pwana
- Semewani
- Shigiwana
- Shungi
- Sitarani
- Siwamoja
- Taandani
- Tondooni
- Uchangani
- Ujinga
- Uleni
- Umungani
- Utaani
- Uvumbi
- Uwani
- Vitongoji
- Vumba
- Wawi
- Welene
- Wesha
- Ziwani
Mkoani District
- Amani
- Bagamoyo
- Bandani
- Bogoa
- Chabure
- Changani
- Changaweni
- Changowi
- Chanjani
- Chikaraku
- Chokocho
- Chole
- Chuini
- Chunguziko
- Chwale
- Fueni
- Fufuni
- Fumbani
- Giriama
- Gombani
- Gongomali
- Govazani
- Hawana
- Jaani
- Jafarini
- Jambangome
- Janza
- Jeni
- Jinga
- Jomvu
- Jondeni
- Juamoja
- Jundamiti
- Junga
- Jungani
- Kaani
- Kadificheni
- Kangani
- Kaole
- Katomeni
- Kazimbani
- Kengeja
- Kiaigoni
- Kichaka
- Kichange
- Kichenge
- Kichokoni
- Kidunguli
- Kidutani
- Kifung’we
- Kigongo
- Kigongoni
- Kiguweni
- Kihanunini
- Kihogoni
- Kijiweni
- Kijogooni
- Kikokoni
- Kilimani
- Kilimeza
- Kimbini
- Kimbuni
- Kimia
- Kinazini
- Kindani
- Kipigini
- Kiriluni
- Kisiwani
- Kitunduini
- Kitwea
- Kivomoni
- Kivoruga
- Kivumoni
- Kiwani
- Kizungu
- Kombeni
- Kongo
- Kukuu
- Kungoni
- Kuyuni
- Kwezani
- Kwoguni
- Magombani
- Mahyaga
- Makomingoni
- Mambani
- Matele
- Matumbirini
- Maunguni
- Mawani
- Mbiji
- Mchakweni
- Mchangani
- Mchicheni
- Menonji
- Meongu
- Meza
- Mgimbini
- Mgini
- Miburani
- Michenzani
- Mikaratieni
- Mikindani
- Mikinduni
- Minazini
- Mipoponi
- Misufini
- Mitatuni
- Mitundavumoni
- Mjananza
- Mkanyageni
- Mkoani
- Mkumbe
- Mkungu
- Mkwajuni
- Mlolo
- Mobwani
- Mowongoni
- Mperani
- Msalani
- Msambe
- Mtaju
- Mtakakaa
- Mtakuja
- Mtambile
- Mtandashi
- Mtangani
- Mtemani
- Mtomkuu
- Mtondoni
- Mtoni
- Mtungu
- Mugo
- Mwambani
- Mwambe
- Mwambeni
- Myunji
- Mzizima
- Nanguji
- Nazua
- Ndambani
- Ngambwa
- Ngomani
- Ngulu
- Ngwachani
- Njoni
- Nzishiwe
- Oka
- Pamgogo
- Pang’ombe
- Pembeni
- Perani
- Pungua
- Sanani
- Shamiani
- Shangafu
- Shidi
- Shitwi
- Shukeni
- Sinuzi
- Sipwese
- Sisimizini
- Sitahabu
- Sitarehe
- Takao
- Tamleni
- Tanga
- Tangani
- Tasini
- Temi
- Tomondwe
- Tondo
- Tondooni
- Tongoni
- Topeni
- Tovukuu
- Tuli
- Tumbini
- Ukutini
- Ulenge
- Utaani
- Uwelini
- Vizuke
- Vulehi
- Waleni
- Wani
- Weleni
- Zawardini
- Zimtini
- Zuiani
Other localities
GeoNames records these places in the region without a district assignment.
- Bageza
- Gawani
- Jamia
- Kijawi
- Kijimwili
- Kikangoni
- Kilundooni
- Kingoji
- Kionwa
- Kiuli
- Kiweni
- Kwamanga
- Mabundini
- Mahodja
- Mambosiji
- Matufalini
- Matumbwe
- Mchua
- Mgojeni
- Mguli
- Milangoni
- Mkomani
- Mkowacha
- Mtamweni
- Muoka
- Mwenda Shofi
- Mzamborauni
- Ngagu
- Pakiza
- Tondoni
Geography
The region occupies 332 km2, ranking 29th of Tanzania’s 31 regions by area. The Indian Ocean lies to the south and east, Pemba North Region to the north, and the Pemba Channel to the west. That channel is about 50 km wide and deep enough to keep Pemba biologically separate from the mainland shelf.
Pemba is hillier and more fertile than Unguja. Low ridges of red clay soil run down the middle of the island and carry most of the farming; coral rag and mangrove line the indented eastern shore. Chamgindo, at 78 metres, is the highest point in the region. Misali Island, west of Chake Chake, sits inside the Pemba Channel Conservation Area and is a nesting site for green turtles.
Economy and Local Life
Cloves pay the bills. Pemba carries about 3.5 million clove trees, the densest concentration anywhere in Zanzibar, and the harvest in the hills behind Chake Chake and Mkoani sets the rhythm of the year. Smallholders also grow rice, cassava, coconuts, bananas and red beans, known locally as maharagwe.
Fishing is the second pillar. The Pemba Channel is one of the most productive grounds on the Swahili coast, and dhows work out of Mkoani, Wesha and the creeks around Chake Chake. Women farm seaweed on the shallow eastern flats. Markets at Chake Chake and Mkoani handle fish, fruit and imported goods landed at the ferry terminal.
Chake Chake is the oldest of Pemba’s three towns and the seat of its main hospital, secondary schools and government offices. The remains of Nanzim Fort stand at the top of the town, and 10 km to the east the ruined stone stronghold at Pujini, built for the ruler remembered as Mkame Ndume, dates from the fifteenth century. Mkoani is a smaller place built around the ferry berth, with the customs shed, market and bus stand within a few minutes’ walk of each other. Between the two, village life runs on the clove calendar: picking from July to September and again around December, drying on mats along the roadside, then the long quiet months of weeding and rice planting.
Getting There
Pemba Airport, also called Karume or Wawi Airport, lies just outside Chake Chake and connects the island to Zanzibar City, Dar es Salaam and Arusha. Passenger ferries from Zanzibar City and Dar es Salaam berth at Mkoani, the island’s main port. One tarmac trunk road runs the length of Pemba from Mkoani through Chake Chake to Wete and Konde in the north; feeder roads to the coastal villages are graded murram and slow after rain.
FAQ
How many districts are in Pemba South Region?
Two: Chake Chake District and Mkoani District. Mkoani is a town council and Chake Chake a district council.
What is the population of Pemba South Region?
The 2022 census recorded a population of 271,350, up from 195,116 in 2012.
What is the capital of Pemba South Region?
Mkoani is the regional headquarters. Chake Chake, further north, is the larger town and handles most of Pemba’s trade.
What towns and villages are in Pemba South Region?
The region records 358 settlements. Chake Chake, Mkoani, Mtambile, Wesha, Vitongoji, Kengeja, Chokocho and Wawi are among the best known.
How do you get to Pemba South Region?
Fly into Pemba Airport at Chake Chake, or take the ferry from Zanzibar City or Dar es Salaam to Mkoani.