Mzuzu

{{historical populations|11=1977|12=16,108|13=1987|14=51,904|15=1998|16=86,980|17=2008|18=133,968|19=2018|20=221,272|percentages=pagr|footnote=source:{{Cite web|url=http://www.citypopulation.de/en/malawi/cities/|title=Malawi: Regions, Major Cities, Towns & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information|website=Citypopulation.de|access-date=22 November 2021}}|align=right}}

{{bar box

|title=Ethnic Groups in Mzuzu City (2018 Census)

|titlebar=#ddd

|left1=Ethnic Groups

|right1=percent

|float=right

|bars=

{{bar percent|Tumbuka|darkgreen|51.71}}

{{bar percent|Chewa|purple|13.51}}

{{bar percent|Ngoni|red|8.09}}

{{bar percent|Tonga|black|7.36}}

{{bar percent|Nkhonde|orange|4.08}}

{{bar percent|Lambya|darkblue|3.75}}{{bar percent|Yao|green|3.59}}

{{bar percent|Lomwe|maroon|3.54}}

{{bar percent|Sukwa|darkgray|1.07}}

{{bar percent|Sena|gray|0.66}}

{{bar percent|Mang'anja|tan|0.38}}

{{bar percent|Nyanja|lime|0.28}}

{{bar percent|Other|Violet|2}}

}}

According to the 2018 census, the Tumbuka people are the largest ethnic group in the city, composing 51.71% of the population. The largest minority ethnic group is the Chewa, making up 13.51% of the population. Other minor ethnic groups include the Ngoni (8.09% of the population), Tonga (7.36%), Nkhonde (4.08%), Lambya (3.75%), Yao (3.59%), Lomwe (3.54%), Sukwa (1.07%), Sena (0.66%), Mang'anja (0.38%), and Nyanja (0.28%). Additional ethnic groups constitute 2% of the population.{{cite web|url=http://www.nsomalawi.mw/images/stories/data_on_line/demography/census_2018/2018%20Malawi%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Main%20Report.pdf|title=2018 Population and Housing Census Main Report |publisher=Malawi National Statistical Office |access-date=25 December 2019}}

{{Pie chart

| thumb = right

| caption = Religions in Mzuzu City (2018 Census)

| label1 = Church of Central Africa Presbyterian

| value1 = 28.01| color2=#36A

| label2 = Catholic

| value2 = 17.28| color1=#6A5

| label3 = Seventh-day Adventist/Baptist/Apostolic

| value3 = 16.27 | color3=#FF33AC

| label4 = Pentecostal

| value4 = 6.62 | color4=#1A9

| label5 = Anglican

| value5 = 1.58| color5=#E17720

| label6 = Other Christian

| value6 = 22.21 | color6=#F0FF00

| label7 = Muslim

| value7 = 4.06 | color7=#64ECDF

| label8 = Traditional

| value8 = 0.1| color8=#36A

| label9 = Other

| value9 = 3.59| color9=#6A5

| label10 = No Religion

| value10 = 0.28 | color10=#FF33AC

}}

The largest religious denomination in Mzuzu is Church of Central Africa Presbyterian (28.01%). The largest minority religion is Catholicism (17.28%). Other minor religions include Seventh-day Adventist, Baptist, and Apostolic (16.27% combined), Pentecostal (6.62%), Anglican (1.58%), other Christian denominations (22.21%), Islam (4.06%), Traditional (0.1%), other religions (3.59%), and no religion (0.28%) of the city.

The name comes from a mispronunciation of the word 'Vizuzu' by the white settlers. Vizuzu are plants that grow along the Lunyangwa River. These plants were spotted near the present Mzuzu Government Secondary School, also known as Area 1A where the tung planters settled.

The city was developed around the Commonwealth Development Corporation's Tung Oil Estate in 1947 and received city status in 1985.

The culture of the city is an amalgam of other cultures of the northern region. Tumbuka is widely spoken in Mzuzu but other languages such as Chewa, Tonga, Swahili, Ngonde are also spoken. Mzuzu is also home to a museum, opened in 1986, showcasing artifacts from various cultures in the northern region.{{cite journal |last1=Lusaka |first1=Mwayi |date=4 Jan 2023 |title=Curating the nation: Collections, ethnographic representations and heritage production at Museum of Malawi |journal=Cogent Arts & Humanities |volume=10 |doi=10.1080/23311983.2022.2160577 |s2cid=255631526 |doi-access=free }} Popular foods include {{lang|tum|sima}} (either made from maize, locally called {{lang|tum|sima ya ngoma}}, or made from cassava, locally called {{lang|tum|sima ya mayagho}}), rice, locally called {{lang|tum|mpunga}}, and {{lang|tum|batala}} fish (a bottle-nosed mormyrid, Mormyrus longirostris). Batala comes from the nearby Lake Malawi waters in Nkhata Bay. Other common foods include: maize, bananas, plantains, cocoa, cassava and sweet potatoes.

Mzuzu City is home to the Mzuzu Central Hospital, one of four hospitals in the country. The city is also serviced by the Mapale Health Center located at the city centre next to the city's main shopping mall, Shoprite. There are also several CHAM hospitals such as St. Johns, St. John of God Mental Hospital, and Nkhorongo SDA Clinic. The city also has private clinics such as Katoto MASM MEDI Clinic and Mumbwe, Kandindindi Evergreen. Furthermore, the pharmaceutical manufacturing company Kentam Products Limited is based in Mzuzu.

{{Weather box

|location = Mzuzu (1961–1990)

|metric first = Yes

|single line = Yes

|Jan high C = 25.5

|Feb high C = 25.6

|Mar high C = 24.8

|Apr high C = 23.5

|May high C = 22.1

|Jun high C = 20.4

|Jul high C = 20.3

|Aug high C = 21.9

|Sep high C = 25.1

|Oct high C = 27.2

|Nov high C = 27.2

|Dec high C = 26.1

|year high C = 24.1

|Jan mean C = 19.9

|Feb mean C = 20.0

|Mar mean C = 19.5

|Apr mean C = 18.7

|May mean C = 16.4

|Jun mean C = 13.9

|Jul mean C = 13.1

|Aug mean C = 14.0

|Sep mean C = 16.7

|Oct mean C = 19.4

|Nov mean C = 20.5

|Dec mean C = 20.1

|year mean C = 17.7

|Jan low C = 16.1

|Feb low C = 16.5

|Mar low C = 16.0

|Apr low C = 14.9

|May low C = 11.6

|Jun low C = 7.9

|Jul low C = 6.5

|Aug low C = 6.6

|Sep low C = 8.7

|Oct low C = 11.7

|Nov low C = 14.2

|Dec low C = 15.9

|year low C = 12.2

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation mm = 203.3

|Feb precipitation mm = 179.5

|Mar precipitation mm = 224.1

|Apr precipitation mm = 213.0

|May precipitation mm = 58.8

|Jun precipitation mm = 29.5

|Jul precipitation mm = 30.1

|Aug precipitation mm = 11.8

|Sep precipitation mm = 10.4

|Oct precipitation mm = 35.4

|Nov precipitation mm = 95.7

|Dec precipitation mm = 197.0

|year precipitation mm = 1288.6

|Jan humidity = 82

|Feb humidity = 82

|Mar humidity = 85

|Apr humidity = 86

|May humidity = 85

|Jun humidity = 84

|Jul humidity = 83

|Aug humidity = 77

|Sep humidity = 67

|Oct humidity = 62

|Nov humidity = 70

|Dec humidity = 80

|year humidity = 79

|unit precipitation days = 0.3 mm

|Jan precipitation days = 20

|Feb precipitation days = 18

|Mar precipitation days = 20

|Apr precipitation days = 19

|May precipitation days = 9

|Jun precipitation days = 6

|Jul precipitation days = 6

|Aug precipitation days = 3

|Sep precipitation days = 2

|Oct precipitation days = 3

|Nov precipitation days = 9

|Dec precipitation days = 18

|year precipitation days = 133

|Jan sun = 145.7

|Feb sun = 137.2

|Mar sun = 164.3

|Apr sun = 171.0

|May sun = 217.0

|Jun sun = 219.0

|Jul sun = 238.7

|Aug sun = 275.9

|Sep sun = 288.0

|Oct sun = 300.7

|Nov sun = 252.0

|Dec sun = 176.7

|year sun = 2586.2

|Jand sun = 4.7

|Febd sun = 4.9

|Mard sun = 5.3

|Aprd sun = 5.7

|Mayd sun = 7.0

|Jund sun = 7.3

|Juld sun = 7.7

|Augd sun = 8.9

|Sepd sun = 9.6

|Octd sun = 9.7

|Novd sun = 8.4

|Decd sun = 5.7

|yeard sun =

|source 1 = NOAA{{cite web

| url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MW/67489.TXT

| title = Mzuzu Climate Normals 1961–1990

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = 10 August 2016}}

}}

File:Reserve Bank of Malawi Mzuzu.jpg branch in Mzuzu]]

The commercial hub of the region has coffee, timber, fruit, milk and honey production. Manufacturing includes medication, cosmetics and timber. Through Mzuzu University, the city has a skilled labor force. Mzuzu has arable land but is still developing its electricity industry towards a sufficient and reliable state. A 2022 case study on Mzuzu funded by the European Union outlined areas of strength and possibilities for economic growth.{{Cite web |last=Delbridge |first=Victoria |date=July 19, 2022 |title=Enhancing the financial position of cities: evidence from Mzuzu |url=https://unhabitat.org/sites/default/files/2021/11/fsud_report_case_studies_mzuzu.pdf |url-status= |archive-date= |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=UN-Habitat}} Small businesses provide telecommunication services, internet cafes, and multipurpose stores. National chains include Chipiku, Peoples Trading, and A.C Opticals. The city is the home base of national companies [https://www.mzuzucoffee.org/ Mzuzu Coffee], Kentam Products Limited, Mzupaso Paints Limited and Northern Life magazine. Mzuzu has two major markets, including Taifa Market, which sells fruits, clothes, cellphones, shoes and other products.

The city is home to Mzuzu University, founded in 1999. The university has five faculties namely: Tourism and Hospitality Management, Education, Health Sciences, Environmental Sciences and Information and Library Science. Mzuzu Technical College, which was founded in 1958 by the White Fathers, is located in Mzuzu.{{cite web|url=http://mzuzutech.50webs.com/|title=301 Moved Permanently|access-date=9 June 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120310093006/http://mzuzutech.50webs.com/|archive-date=10 March 2012|url-status=dead}} It is home to leading high schools in the north, including Marymount Secondary School, Wukani private Secondary School, Mzuzu Government Secondary School, Katoto Secondary School, Zolozolo Community Day Secondary School Viphya Schools and Mzuzu Academy.{{cite web|url=http://www.mzuzuacademy.org|title=Homepage|publisher=mzuzuacademy.org}}

The city also has several primary schools, including Wukani, Trust Academy, Wongani private primary school (run by MIC Catholic Sisters), Beehive and Hilltop schools.

Mzuzu is situated in wooded, hilly terrain. Miombo woodland predominates around the city. North and south of the city, the Viphya Mountains are home to montane grasslands and forests. The Viphya Plantation in the mountains south of the city is claimed to be the largest man-made forest in Africa.

The weather in Mzuzu is chilly in the cold season.

The center agricultural region and the area surrounding the city specializes in tea, rubber, and coffee cultivation.

{{Tone|date=June 2024}}

Lake Malawi and Nyika National Park, Malawi's largest park, are tourist destinations. Entertainment venues include the Mzuzu hotel and O Seasons, formerly known as Key Lounge. Other entertainment venues include Mzuzu Golf Club, Villa Kagwentha (which hosts discos on Saturday nights) and the Squirrels Park. There are also recreation centers such as Lake View Lodge and the Mzuzu Sanctuary. Mzuzu Botanic Gardens is located Zolozolo. Mountain hiking can take place at the nearby Kaning'ina mountains. Gulliver Dam, which supplies water to Mzuzu City and the surrounding areas, offers hiking as well.

The 1st Poulner Scout Group (UK) maintains a Scout Campsite just outside of Mzuzu called the Kavuzi Campsite.{{Cite web |url=http://www.campingmalawi.com/ |title=Kavuzicampsite |access-date=19 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170706065004/http://www.campingmalawi.com/ |archive-date=6 July 2017 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.1stpoulnerscouts.org.uk/malawi/kavuzi-campsite/ |title=1st Poulner Scout Group - Kavuzi Campsite |access-date=19 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703092919/http://1stpoulnerscouts.org.uk/malawi/kavuzi-campsite/ |archive-date=3 July 2016 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}

File:MzuzuMalawi.JPG in Mzuzu]]

Mzuzu City is served by the Mzuzu Airport. In June 2015, Malawi Ministry of Public Works and Transport announced plans to develop a new airport, but a 2022 update suggested that building has not yet begun.{{Cite web |date=June 22, 2024 |title=Mzuzu Orton Chirwa International Airport |url=https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/newairports/mzuzu-orton-chirwa-international-airport |access-date=June 22, 2024 |website=CAPA - Centre for Aviation}}

Mzuzu is on Malawi's M1 highway, which runs the length of the country from north to south. It is the northern terminus of the M5 highway, which runs eastwards through a gap in the Viphya Mountains towards Nkhata Bay, and then south along the shore of Lake Malawi.

==Sports==

Football is a popular sport in Mzuzu. Two teams, Moyale Barracks FC and Mzuni represent the city in the Malawi's top-flight league. Mzuzu Stadium (maximum 15,000 capacity) is the city's sole stadium, built around 1970 by prison labor. The city has two major basketball teams, Nkhulande and the Pistons.

• Shepherd Bushiri, founder of the Enlightened Christian Gathering, is from Mzuzu. Bushiri is also the founder of PSB Network{{Cite web|url=http://www.mypsb.co.za/|title=PSB Network | The Mobile Network That Cares|website=Mypsb.co.za|accessdate=22 November 2021}} and the Prophetic Channel.
• Tusayiwe Mkhondya is from Mzuzu. She operates a school and an operation called "You are not alone" in nearby Dunduzu.{{Cite web |last=Manevski |first=Darko |last2=News |first2=Zenger |date=2022-05-18 |title=Meet the Woman, 23, Who Runs 3 Schools and Fosters Over 30 Children |url=https://www.newsweek.com/meet-woman-23-who-runs-3-schools-fosters-over-30-children-1707907 |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Newsweek |language=en}}

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{{Mzimba Municipality}}

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{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mzuzu}}

Category:Populated places in Northern Region, Malawi

Category:Categories by city in Malawi

Category:Cities in Malawi