Kishapu District

Kishapu District is one of the districts in the Shinyanga Region of Tanzania, located in the northwestern part of the country. Below are detailed insights into the district:

General Information

• Country: Tanzania

• Region: Shinyanga Region

• Capital (Headquarters): Kishapu

• Area: Approximately 4,334 square kilometers

• Population: Around 272,000 (based on 2022 census)

• Languages: Kiswahili (Swahili), Sukuma (widely spoken local language)

Geography

• Kishapu is bordered by:

  • Meatu District (Simiyu Region) to the east

  • Maswa District (Simiyu Region) to the north

  • Shinyanga Rural and Urban Districts to the west and southwest

• The district has a mixture of savannah plains, scattered hills, and semi-arid climate conditions.

Economy

• Agriculture is the backbone of the economy:

  • Main crops: maize, cotton, sorghum, millet, rice

  • Livestock keeping (especially cattle and goats) is also significant

• Mining: Kishapu hosts part of the Williamson Diamond Mine (also known as Mwadui mine), one of the oldest and largest open-pit diamond mines in the world.

Administrative Structure

• The district is divided into divisions, wards, and villages.

• It has more than 20 administrative wards, including:

  • Mwadui Luhumbo

  • Kishapu

  • Ukenyenge

  • Mwakipoya

  • Masanga

  • Bubiki

  • Shagihilu

Infrastructure & Services

• Roads: Mostly unpaved; improvements ongoing under rural development programs

• Health: Several health centers and dispensaries serve the district population

• Education: Numerous primary and secondary schools; access to higher education is limited and often requires travel to Shinyanga or Mwanza

Challenges

• Water scarcity, especially during the dry season

• Limited healthcare access in remote villages

• Youth unemployment and underemployment

• Climate variability affecting agriculture