Mangochi

Quality 0.50 · 3 views · Updated 2 months ago

Town in the Southern Region of Malawi

title: "Mangochi" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["populated-places-in-southern-region,-malawi"] description: "Town in the Southern Region of Malawi" topic_path: "law" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mangochi" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Town in the Southern Region of Malawi ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox settlement"]

FieldValue
official_name
native_name
settlement_type
image_skylineLake_malawi_mangochi.jpg
imagesize250px
image_captionLake Malawi, on eastern edge of Mangochi
pushpin_mapMalawi
pushpin_mapsize240
pushpin_label_positionbottom
pushpin_map_captionLocation in Malawi
subdivision_typeCountry
subdivision_nameMalawi
subdivision_type1Region
subdivision_name1Southern Region
subdivision_type2District
subdivision_name2Mangochi District
unit_prefImperial
area_land_km2
population_as_of2018 Census
population_total53,498
population_blank1_titleLanguages
population_blank1Yao
population_blank2_titleReligions
timezone+2
coordinates
elevation_ft1541
blank1_name_sec2Climate
blank1_info_sec2Aw
::

|official_name = Mangochi |other_name = |native_name =
|nickname = |settlement_type = |motto = |image_skyline = Lake_malawi_mangochi.jpg |imagesize = 250px |image_caption = Lake Malawi, on eastern edge of Mangochi |image_flag = |flag_size = |image_seal = |seal_size = |image_shield = |shield_size = |image_blank_emblem = |blank_emblem_type = |blank_emblem_size = |image_map = |mapsize = |map_caption = |image_map1 = |mapsize1 = |map_caption1 = |image_dot_map = |dot_mapsize = |dot_map_caption = |dot_x = |dot_y = |pushpin_map = Malawi |pushpin_mapsize=240 |pushpin_label_position =bottom |pushpin_map_caption = Location in Malawi |subdivision_type = Country |subdivision_name = Malawi |subdivision_type1 = Region |subdivision_name1 = Southern Region |subdivision_type2 = District |subdivision_name2 = Mangochi District |subdivision_type3 = |subdivision_name3 = |subdivision_type4 = |subdivision_name4 = |government_footnotes = |government_type = |leader_title = |leader_name = |leader_title1 = |leader_name1 = |leader_title2 = |leader_name2 = |leader_title3 = |leader_name3 = |leader_title4 = |leader_name4 = |established_title = |established_date = |established_title2 = |established_date2 = |established_title3 = |established_date3 = |area_magnitude = |unit_pref =Imperial |area_footnotes = |area_total_km2 = |area_land_km2 =
|area_water_km2 = |area_total_sq_mi = |area_land_sq_mi = |area_water_sq_mi = |area_water_percent = |area_urban_km2 = |area_urban_sq_mi = |area_metro_km2 = |area_metro_sq_mi = |area_blank1_title = |area_blank1_km2 = |area_blank1_sq_mi = |population_as_of = 2018 Census |population_footnotes = |population_note = |population_total = 53,498 |population_density_km2 = |population_density_sq_mi = |population_metro = |population_density_metro_km2 = |population_density_metro_sq_mi = |population_urban = |population_density_urban_km2 = |population_density_urban_sq_mi = |population_blank1_title =Languages |population_blank1 = Yao |population_blank2_title =Religions |population_blank2 = |population_density_blank1_km2 = |population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |timezone = +2 |utc_offset = |timezone_DST = |utc_offset_DST = |coordinates = |elevation_footnotes = |elevation_m = |elevation_ft = 1541 |blank1_name_sec2 = Climate |blank1_info_sec2 = Aw |postal_code_type = |postal_code = |area_code = |blank_name = |blank_info = |blank1_name = |blank1_info = |website = |footnotes =

Mangochi is a township in the Southern Region of Malawi. Located near the southern end of Lake Malawi, in colonial times it used to be called Fort Johnston. As of 2018, it has a population of 53,498.

History

Mangochi was founded by colonial administrator Sir Harry Johnston in the 1890s as a British colonial defence post on the littoral plain of the Shire River's western shore.

David Livingstone, the Scottish missionary-explorer, visited the Mangochi area on multiple occasions. His first passage through the Shire Valley occurred in 1859 during his expeditions around Lake Nyasa (now Lake Malawi), and he returned to the region in 1861, where he observed the brutal operations of the Swahili-Arab slave trade centered in Mangochi and nearby towns.

The British gunboat Gwendolen, named after Lady Gwendolen Gascoyne-Cecil, daughter of the 3rd Marquess of Salisbury, was built in Mangochi in 1897. At 340 short ton, it was the largest ship to sail on Lake Malawi.

In 1905 Mary Hall came through here as she travelled to be the first woman to journey from Cape Town to Cairo. She had arrived on the Monteith from Liwonde.

The gunboat, operated by the Protectorate of Nyasaland, is said to have fought the first naval battle of the First World War when it defeated the German vessel Hermann von Wissmann in August 1914. The boat was scrapped shortly after World War II.

Dzimwe Community Radio station began in 1998 in Mangochi assisted by Malawi Media Women's Association, UNESCO and later USAID.

Rioting in June 2003 injured three people. From March to November 2007, roughly 480 children were rescued from child labour on tobacco farms in Mangochi. In July 2008, elephants terrorised areas around Maldeco Fisheries in Mangochi and caused several deaths and damage to property, mainly crops. The Ministry of Tourism, Wildlife and Culture proposed moving the elephants into several game reserves, although the proposal stalled when some residents said they wanted the elephants to remain.

Geography

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/93/ISS036-E-4838_-View_of_Malawi-Matewere-Malemia-Lake_Malawi-Shire_River-Mangochi-Lake_Malombe(cropped).jpg" caption="Shire River, Mangochi"] ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Mangochi_climate.gif" caption="A diagram depicting the amount of rainfall in Mangochi from August 2007 to July 2008"] ::

Mangochi is at an elevation of 1541 ft, near the southern end of Lake Malawi, between the main lakeshore road and the Shire River and 8 km south of its entrance into Lake Malombe. The town is roughly 120 mi northeast of Blantyre, Malawi's largest city. It is situated 2.2 km (1.4 mi) from Mponda, 3 km (1.9 mi) from M'baluku Laini, 23.7 km (14.73 mi) from Malindi, and 52 km (32 mi) from Chiponde, a neighboring town on the border with Mozambique.

Climate

Mangochi has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen: Aw).

|location = Mangochi |metric first = yes |single line = yes |Jan high C = 30.1 |Feb high C = 30.0 |Mar high C = 30.2 |Apr high C = 29.5 |May high C = 28.1 |Jun high C = 26.5 |Jul high C = 26.3 |Aug high C = 28.3 |Sep high C = 31.4 |Oct high C = 33.6 |Nov high C = 33.2 |Dec high C = 31.0 |year high C = 29.9 |Jan mean C = 25.5 |Feb mean C = 25.4 |Mar mean C = 25.3 |Apr mean C = 24.3 |May mean C = 22.1 |Jun mean C = 20.3 |Jul mean C = 20.1 |Aug mean C = 21.8 |Sep mean C = 24.5 |Oct mean C = 26.9 |Nov mean C = 27.3 |Dec mean C = 26.1 |year mean C = 24.1 |Jan low C = 21.6 |Feb low C = 21.5 |Mar low C = 21.1 |Apr low C = 19.8 |May low C = 16.7 |Jun low C = 14.2 |Jul low C = 14.3 |Aug low C = 15.4 |Sep low C = 17.8 |Oct low C = 20.8 |Nov low C = 22.0 |Dec low C = 22.0 |year low C = 18.9 |precipitation colour = green |Jan precipitation mm = 194.2 |Feb precipitation mm = 200.8 |Mar precipitation mm = 144.0 |Apr precipitation mm = 36.6 |May precipitation mm = 5.7 |Jun precipitation mm = 4.4 |Jul precipitation mm = 3.9 |Aug precipitation mm = 1.5 |Sep precipitation mm = 3.0 |Oct precipitation mm = 15.9 |Nov precipitation mm = 64.2 |Dec precipitation mm = 172.0 |year precipitation mm = 846.2 |Jan humidity = 78 |Feb humidity = 78 |Mar humidity = 76 |Apr humidity = 73 |May humidity = 60 |Jun humidity = 66 |Jul humidity = 62 |Aug humidity = 57 |Sep humidity = 50 |Oct humidity = 50 |Nov humidity = 59 |Dec humidity = 72 |year humidity = 65 |unit precipitation days = 0.3 mm |Jan precipitation days = 16 |Feb precipitation days = 14 |Mar precipitation days = 13 |Apr precipitation days = 6 |May precipitation days = 2 |Jun precipitation days = 2 |Jul precipitation days = 2 |Aug precipitation days = 2 |Sep precipitation days = 1 |Oct precipitation days = 2 |Nov precipitation days = 7 |Dec precipitation days = 14 |year precipitation days = 81 |Jan sun = 204.6 |Feb sun = 187.6 |Mar sun = 238.7 |Apr sun = 252.0 |May sun = 279.0 |Jun sun = 255.0 |Jul sun = 257.3 |Aug sun = 279.0 |Sep sun = 288.0 |Oct sun = 300.7 |Nov sun = 258.0 |Dec sun = 207.7 |year sun = 3007.6 |Jand sun = 6.6 |Febd sun = 6.7 |Mard sun = 7.7 |Aprd sun = 8.4 |Mayd sun = 9.0 |Jund sun = 8.5 |Juld sun = 8.3 |Augd sun = 9.0 |Sepd sun = 9.6 |Octd sun = 9.7 |Novd sun = 8.6 |Decd sun = 6.7 |yeard sun = |source 1 = NOAA{{cite web | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MW/67695.TXT | title = Mangochi Climate Normals 1961–1990 | publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201031051558/ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MW/67695.TXT | archive-date = 2020-10-31 | url-status = dead | accessdate = 8 March 2015}}

Demographics

Population development

::data[format=table] | Year | url=http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=pnan&col=dq&geo=-150 |title=World Gazetteer: Malawi: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population |accessdate=17 July 2008 |work=World Gazetteer |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927223224/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=pnan&col=dq&geo=-150 |archive-date=27 September 2007 }} | |---|---| | 1977 | 3,341 | | 1987 | 14,758 | | 1998 | 26,570 | | 2008 | 39,575 | | 2018 | 53,498 | ::

Languages and ethnicities

Yao, specifically the Mangochi dialect, is the main language spoken in this town. A Swahili settlement was also established in Mangochi. Mangochi is mainly inhabited by the Yao people.

Economy

Mangochi was developed as an agricultural centre and has marine-engineering shops. Cash crops grown in the area include tobacco, cotton, and groundnuts. Rice and maize are intensively grown along the lakeshore, and commercial fishing is also important.

Facilities

Amenities

Amenities include several shops, supermarkets, a post office and banks.

Bridges

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/77/Bakili_Muluzi_Bridge_in_Mangochi.JPG" caption="Bakili Muluzi Bridge in Mangochi crossing the river Shire."] ::

Within Mangochi there is the Bakili Muluzi Bridge, which Lonely Planet described as "scenic".

Museums

The Lake Malawi Museum houses ethnic, environmental, and historical exhibits.

Religion

Mangochi is home to a large mosque The city has the largest Muslim population in terms of percent.

Clocks

Mangochi is home to a clock tower erected in honour of Queen Victoria, dating back to the early 20th century.

Transport

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a3/Bus_in_Mangochi_Malawi.JPG" caption="Passengers boarding at the bus station"] ::

Mangochi is located just off the M3 road. All buses travelling from Monkey Bay to Blantyre stop in Mangochi. Minibuses travel to Liwonde, Zomba, and Blantyre. Matolas travel to Liwonde National Park and to the border town of Chiponde.

Tourism

Mangochi is described by Lonely Planet as having a "vaguely Swahili feel", with "palm trees, Arab-looking people and coconuts for sale in the street." There are several guesthouses and lodges for tourists in Mangochi.

References

References

  1. "2018 Population and Housing Census Main Report". Malawi National Statistical Office.
  3. (2008). "Mangochi". [[Encyclopædia Britannica]].
  4. (2024-03-05). "Origins & History of Liwonde National Park".
  5. "Mangochi, Malawi - trackstick".
  6. Janie Hampton, [http://www.historytoday.com/janie-hampton/victory-lake-nyasa "Victory on Lake Nyasa"], ''History Today'', vol 64, no. 7, 2014]
  7. Murphy, Alan. (2007). "Lonely Planet Southern Africa: Join the Safari". [[Lonely Planet]].
  8. Jane, Frederick Thomas. (1919). "Jane's Fighting Ships of World War I". [[Military Press]].
  9. Baker, Colin. (1982). "Nyasaland 1905 - 1909: The Journeys of Mary Hall, Olivia Colville and Charlotte Mansfield". The Society of Malawi Journal.
  10. (August 2025)
  11. Manyozo, Linje. (2007). "Local rural radio as a development radio: an exemplar of Dzimwe community radio in Malawi". Communication for Development and Social Change.
  12. Kalinga, Owen J. M.. (2012). "Historical dictionary of Malawi". Scarecrow Press.
  13. Simutowe, Yamikani. (2015-07-07). "Armed robbers attack ex-diplomat to UN Janet Karim, MRA official in Blantyre".
  14. "Malawi: Getting the Views of Rural Women on the Air".
  15. (29 June 2003). "Soldiers Sent To Help Quell Riots in Malawi". [[The New York Times]].
  16. (19 November 2006). "Attitudes to Child Labour Changing". [[AllAfrica]].
  17. Msiska, Karen. (7 July 2008). "Mangochi against removal of elephants". The Daily Times.
  18. "World Gazetteer: Malawi: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population". World Gazetteer.
  19. [http://www.citypopulation.de/en/malawi/cities/ Malawi: Cities, Towns & Urban Localities]
  20. Baldauf, Richard B.. (2004). "Language Planning and Policy in Africa: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa".
  21. Baldauf, p. 91
  22. (2009–2011). "The Ship". Chauncy Maples Trust.

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::

populated-places-in-southern-region,-malawi