Mbezi River

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Mbezi River
Native nameMto Mbezi (Swahili)
Location
CountryFlag of Tanzania.svg  Tanzania
Region Dar es Salaam Region
District Ubungo &
Kinondoni
Wards Kwembe, Msigani,
Mbezi, Saranga,
Goba, Makongo,
Mbezi Juu & Kawe
Physical characteristics
Source 
  location Kwembe, Ubungo MC
  coordinates 6°48′27.72″S39°4′54.48″E / 6.8077000°S 39.0818000°E / -6.8077000; 39.0818000
Mouth Zanzibar Channel
  location
Mbezi Beach, Kawe, Kinondoni MC

Mbezi River (Mto Mbezi in Swahili) is located in Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. It begins in Kwembe ward in Ubungo MC and eventually drains into Zanzibar Channel at Kawe ward of Kinondoni MC. With several neighborhoods and two wards bearing its name, the river has a long history in Dar es Salaam. [1] [2]

Contents

Threats

Metal contamination

Like all the rivers in the city, the Mbezi River has faced environmental degradation over decades. Geo-accumulation index, contamination factor, degree of contamination, modified degree of contamination, potential contamination index, and environmental toxicity quotient have all indicated that sediments from Dar's rivers are polluted, with Msimbazi and Kizinga river sediments being more polluted. This is true even though enrichment factor indicates varying contamination status of heavy metals in rivers. [3]

Metal contamination levels for Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Al, Mn, Fe, and Zn were assessed using sediments from the Kizinga, Mbezi, Msimbazi, and Mzinga coastal rivers. Most of the higher concentrations of Cd, Pb, Cr, Al, Mn, Fe, and Zn were found in the Msimbazi River. While higher Ni and Cu concentrations were found in the Kizinga River, higher Mn concentrations were found in the Mbezi River. Except for Mn, Mzinga River has the lowest amounts of most metals. Mn concentrations were lowest in the Kizinga River. [4]

Erosion

Residents of the historic hamlet living in the river plain near the outlet in the informal settlement of Ukwamani. The area was declared a flood danger zone by the government, and habitation or construction was outlawed there. The authorities began relocating the citizens; owners were given compensation, but the majority rejected the transfer. This region's river serves as a garbage disposal site, agriculture, and backyard. The most abrupt event among river behaviors, unexpected floods frequently affect the residents of Ukwamani. [5]

Quarry mining

The middle and lower reaches of the river are home to seasonal sand miners. Sand is removed from the dried riverbed and sold as the primary ingredient in brickmaking. Although mining is a lucrative river-related industry, it has been made illegal to safeguard the banks. The practice's outlawry resulted in the establishment of criminal enterprises that now run the industry. [6]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kariakoo</span> Ward of Ilala District, Dar es Salaam Region

Kariakoo is an administrative ward of the Ilala Municipical Council of the Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. Jangwani ward and Mchafukoge ward form the ward's northern and eastern boundaries. The Gerezani and Mchikichini wards border the ward on the south and west, respectively. The ward is the home of the Simba Sports Club. The name derives from the swahilization of the British colonial occupation's "Carrier Corps", that used to be based in the area. Today, Kariakoo is mainly known for its large market, that spans several city blocks. According to the 2012 census, the ward has a population of 13,780.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dar es Salaam Region</span> Region of Tanzania

Dar es Salaam Region is one of Tanzania's 31 administrative regions and is located in the east coast of the country. The region covers an area of 1,393 km2 (538 sq mi). The region is comparable in size to the combined land and water areas of the nation state of Mauritius Dar es Salaam Region is bordered to the east by Indian Ocean and it is entirely surrounded by Pwani Region. The Pwani districts that border Dar es Salaam region are Bagamoyo District to the north, Kibaha Urban District to the west, Kisarawe District to the south west and Mkuranga District to the south of the region. The region's seat (capital) is located inside the ward of Ilala. The region is named after the city of Dar es Salaam itself. The region is home to Tanzania's major finance, administration and industries, thus the making it the country's richest region. The region also has the second highest Human Development Index in the country after Mjini Magharibi. According to the 2022 census, the region has a total population of 5,383,728 and national census of 2012 had 4,364,541. The region has the highest population in Tanzania followed by Mwanza Region.

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Kinondoni District, officially the Kinondoni Municipal Council is one of five districts of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. The district is bordered to the north by Bagamoyo District and Kibaha of Pwani Region, to the east by the Indian Ocean, the west by Ubungo District, and to the south by the Ilala District. The district covers an area of 269.5 km2 (104.1 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of Malta. The administrative seat is Ndugumbi. The district is home to one of the best preserved Medieval Swahili settlements, Kunduchi Ruins, headquarters for the National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA) and Makumbusho Village Museum. Considered the cultural center of Dar es Salaam, Kinondoni District is also regarded the birthplace of the musical genre of Singeli. In addition the district is one of two districts in Dar es Salaam that has a National Historic Site, namely the Kunduchi Ruins.The 2012 National Tanzania Census states the population for Kinondoni as 1,775,049.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam</span> District of Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania

Ubungo District, officially the, Ubungo Municipal Council is one of five districts of the Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania. The Kinondoni District and Kibaha of the Pwani Region border the district to the north; the Kisarawe District of Pwani Region borders it to the west; and the Ilala District borders the it to the south and east. The district covers an area of 269.4 km2 (104.0 sq mi). The district is comparable in size to the land area of St. Kitts and Nevis. The administrative seat is Kwembe. The district is home to the University of Dar es Salaam, The Magufuli Bus Terminal, the largest in the country, and Pande Game Reserve the largest protected land area in Dar es Salaam Region. In addition, the district is home to the largest natural gas powered power station, the Ubungo Thermal Power Station and the headquarters of the Tanzania Electric Supply Company Limited (TANESCO). The 2012 National Tanzania Census states the population of the district as 845,368.

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Kawe is an administrative ward in Kinondoni District of the Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. The north is bordered by Wazo and Kunduchi. The Indian Ocean borders the ward on its eastern side. The ward is bordered by Msasani and Mikocheni to the south. The ward is bordered to the west by the wards of Mbezi Juu and Makongo. The Mbezi River mouth is located at the Mbezi Beach neighborhood in Kawe ward. According to the 2012 census, the ward has a population of 67,115.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbezi</span> Ward of Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam Region

Mbezi is an administrative ward in Ubungo District of the Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. Mabwepande and Wazo of Kinondoni MC border the ward to the north. The ward is bordered to the east by the wards of Saranga and Goba. South of here is Msigani. The westernmost wards are Kwembe, Kibamba, Maili Moja, and Pangani, the latter two of Kibaha. The ward is home to the majority of Pande Game Reserve's area. The ward is named after the Mbezi River, which passes through it. According to the 2012 census, the ward has a total population of 73,414.

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Mbezi Juu is an administrative ward in Kinondoni District of the Dar es Salaam Region in Tanzania. The ward is surrounded by the wards of Goba of Ubungo District to the west, Makongo to the south, and Kawe to the east. Last but not least, the ward is bordered to the north by Wazo and Kunduchi wards. The ward is named after the Mbezi River, which runs through it towards Kawe. In 2012, the ward had a population of 41,340.

The Pande Game Reserve is a protected area located in Mabwepande ward of Kinondoni District and Mbezi ward of Ubungo District in Dar es Salaam Region of Tanzania that covers an area of 15.39 km2 (5.94 sq mi). It was established as a Forest Reserve in 1952 under the British colonial occupation.

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References

  1. Justin, Mhina Given, et al. "Mapping the gap of water and erosion control measures in the rapidly urbanizing Mbezi river catchment of Dar es Salaam." Water 10.1 (2018): 64.
  2. Mhina, G. J., et al. "Suitability of storm water runoff for water supply in fast urbanizing cities: The case of Mbezi River catchment in Dar es Salaam City, Tanzania." Journal of Building and Land Development 21.1 (2020): 1–13.
  3. Mihale, Matobola J. "Metal contamination in sediments of coastal rivers around Dar es Salaam, Tanzania." Huria: Journal of the Open University of Tanzania 27.2 (2021).
  4. Mihale, Matobola J. "Metal contamination in sediments of coastal rivers around Dar es Salaam, Tanzania." Huria: Journal of the Open University of Tanzania 27.2 (2021).
  5. "When the River Crosses a City: Dar es Salaam and the Mbezi" . Retrieved 4 August 2023.
  6. "When the River Crosses a City: Dar es Salaam and the Mbezi" . Retrieved 4 August 2023.