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