Chókwè District

Chókwè District is a district of Gaza Province in south-western Mozambique. Its principal town is Chokwe. The district is located in the south of the province, and borders with Mabalane District in the north, Guijá District in the east, Chibuto, Xai-Xai, and Bilene Macia Districts in the southeast, Magude District of Maputo Province in the south, and with Massingir District in the west. The area of the district is 2,466 square kilometres (952 sq mi).[1] It has a population of 187,422 (2007).[2]

Chókwè
District
Aerial view of Chókwè
Chókwè District on the map of Mozambique
Country	Mozambique
Province	Gaza
Capital	Chokwe
Area
• Total	2,466 km^2 (952 sq mi)
Population  (2007 census)
• Total	187,422
• Density	76/km^2 (200/sq mi)

It is regarded as the economic capital of Gaza Province. Chokwe District has one of the most extensive health networks in Mozambique. It is inhabited by Tsonga-shangaan speaking people. However, in the post independence period it has seen an influx of people from other ethnic groups. Chokwe, being in the Limpopo Corridor, is also home to many Zimbabwean immigrants. It has banks, a community radio station (Radio Vembe), and a train station.

In 2013, singer Stewart Sukuma, National Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF Mozambique, visited flood victims at the Chiaquelane accommodation center in Chókwè District, evacuated due to flooding of the Limpopo River.[3][4][5]

Geography

The whole district is flat, with the maximum altitude below 100 metres (330 ft) above the sea level, and located in the valley of the Limpopo River, which traverses the district from northwest to southeast. A major right tributary of the Limpopo is the Olifants River.[1]

The climate is tropical semi-arid, with the average annual rainfall ranging 500 millimetres (20 in) and 800 millimetres (31 in).[1]

Demographics

As of 2005, 44% of the population of the district was younger than 15 years. 54% of the population spoke Portuguese. The most common mothertongue among the population was Tsonga. 58% were analphabetic, mostly women.[1]

Administrative divisions

The four administrative divisions (posto administrativo) are:[1]

• Chókwè, capital (one locality)
• Lionde (three localities, includes Conhane and Malau)
• Macarretane, (three localities, includes Matamba and Machindo).
• Chilembene, (three localities, includes Chiduachine and la villa Chilembene).

Economy

Agriculture

In the district, there are 31,000 farms which have on average 2.1 hectares (0.0081 sq mi) of land. The main agricultural products are corn, cassava, cowpea, peanut, sweet potato, and rice.[1]

Transportation

There is a road network in the district of the total length of 510 kilometres (320 mi), including a 160 kilometres (99 mi) of national roads.[1] The bridge over the Limpopo River on the road connecting Caniçado and Chokwe was destroyed by Rhodesian forces in 1978, and a new bridge was only completed at the end of 2007.[6] The Limpopo Railroad (Southern System) runs through the district, connecting Maputo and Chicualacuala.[1]

References

1. "Perfil do Distrito de Chókwè" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Ministry of State Administration. 2005. Retrieved 28 October 2016.
2. "População da Provincia de Gaza". Censo 2007 (in Portuguese). Instituto Nacional de Estatística. Archived from the original on 2008-02-22. Retrieved 2008-03-19.
3. "Stewart Sukuma, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, visits flood victims in Mozambique". UNICEF Mozambique - Voices. 2013-01-27. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
4. "Fleeing the Floods in Mozambique". UNICEF USA Blog. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
5. "Visiting Chiaquelane's Medical Tent - Mozambique". ReliefWeb. 2013-01-31. Retrieved 2014-06-08.
6. "Mozambique: Guebuza Inaugurates Bridge Over Limpopo". AllAfrica. 2007. Retrieved 25 October 2016.