# Zomba District, Southern Region – Traditional authorities

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/

District · Southern Region 

# Zomba District

Zomba District is a district of Malawi in Southern Region. It had an estimated **116,797 people** in 2023 on 2,249 km² (about 52 per km²). It is divided into 11 traditional authorities. 164 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 35 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 116,797people (2023)
- 2,249km²
- 11traditional authorities
- 35mapped services

## How many people live in Zomba District?

Zomba District had an estimated **116,797 people** in 2023 — 1.3% of Southern Region, 31st of 32 districts. There are 1,047 women for every 1,000 men (below the Southern Region figure of 1,080). Spread over 2,249 km², that is about **52 people per km²**, the least densely populated of 32 districts.

34.9% of people are children under 15 and 1.5% are 65 or older; the median age is about 21 years (it is 18 across Southern Region). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 57 children and older people.

0–4 ****14,998**

5–9 ****13,059**

10–14 ****12,744**

15–19 ****13,532**

20–24 ****13,852**

25–29 ****12,271**

30–34 ****10,328**

35–39 ****7,886**

40–44 ****5,741**

45–49 ****4,043**

50–54 ****3,275**

55–59 ****1,961**

60–64 ****1,354**

65–69 ****708**

70–74 ****491**

75–79 ****289**

80–84 ****165**

85–89 ****64**

90–94 ****29**

95+ ****7**

Source: [Malawi National Statistics Office via OCHA HDX, population 2023 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-mwi).

## Where is Zomba District?

Zomba District lies in [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/), [Malawi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/). It borders 7 other districts: [Balaka District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/balaka/), [Blantyre District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/blantyre/), [Chiradzulu District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/chiradzulu/), [Machinga District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/machinga/), [Mulanje District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/mulanje/), [Phalombe District](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/phalombe/) and [Zomba City](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba-city/). By area it is the 16th largest of 32 districts in Malawi. It covers 7.4% of [Southern Region](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/). The centre of Zomba District is about 234 km in a straight line from Lilongwe, the capital. It is about 52 km from Blantyre, the main town of Southern Region. The centre point is at -15.4406° N, 35.3405° E.

Source: [National Statistics Office of Malawi via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-mwi).

## Traditional authorities of Zomba District

Traditional authority Area km² Localities Services 

[STA Ngwelero](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/sta-ngwelero/) 118 0 0 

[STA Nkagula](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/sta-nkagula/) 123 19 2 

[STA Nkapita](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/sta-nkapita/) 172 1 1 

[STA Ntholowa](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/sta-ntholowa/) 125 3 2 

[TA Chikowi](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/ta-chikowi/) 177 40 3 

[TA Kuntumanji](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/ta-kuntumanji/) 115 19 1 

[TA Malemia](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/ta-malemia/) 292 36 8 

[TA Mbiza](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/ta-mbiza/) 214 3 1 

[TA Mkumbira](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/ta-mkumbira/) 20 4 0 

[TA Mlumbe](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/ta-mlumbe/) 475 14 6 

[TA Mwambo](https://wherepedia.org/malawi/southern/zomba/ta-mwambo/) 413 29 11 

Source: [National Statistics Office of Malawi via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-mwi); [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

## Villages and localities in Zomba District

Open gazetteers list **164 villages, towns and localities** in Zomba District. Settlements here lie between about 498 m and 1,696 m above sea level (median 764 m).

- Alexander Liti
- Balakasi
- Bimbi
- Bongwe
- Burnett
- Chamande
- Chande
- Changalumi
- Chapola
- Chesenda
- Chickumbeni
- Chidote
- Chidothe
- Chidyaonga
- Chikabwereza
- Chikapa
- Chikumbeni
- Chikumbu
- Chilambe
- Chilimani
- Chilimba
- Chilombo
- Chilunga
- Chimbalanga
- Chindambo
- Chingali
- Chinguyi
- Chipanda
- Chipeta
- Chisoni
- Chitimbe
- Chiwanganya
- Chopi
- Cilasanje
- Cimwaye
- Cipwere
- Disi
- Domasi
- Forestry Housing
- Forestry Village
- Gwalangwa
- Jailos
- James
- Kachapira
- Kadewere
- Kagaso
- Kamwaza
- Kanache
- Kandulu
- Kankhomba
- Kapichi
- Kapyepye
- Kasonga
- Khaziko
- Khulume
- Kukanga
- Kumbawa
- Kumtumanji
- Kungauma
- Kuntemba
- Lambulira
- Likhakhama
- Likonde
- Likongaji
- Lungazi
- Machinjiri
- Macmaurice
- Magombe
- Magomero
- Majawa
- Makanjira
- Makawa
- Makungula
- Malajira
- Malemia
- Malika
- Malonga
- Malosa
- Manolo
- Maonda
- Masaula
- Massaula
- Matapi
- Matuta
- Maulana
- Mbisa
- Mbwana
- Mchenga
- Mdumu
- Mikuyu
- Mindano
- Mkagula
- Mkolama
- Mkusagombe
- Mkwanda II
- Mlenga
- Mlolo
- Mpalawere
- Mpanda
- Mphuhuwa
- Mpinda Table
- Mponda
- Mpukhuwa
- Msangeni
- Mseula
- Msosa
- Mtaja
- Mtambo
- Mtandilo
- Mtanga
- Mte
- Mtima
- Mtokoma
- Mtwice
- Mtwisi
- Muruma Settlement
- Mwamafumu
- Mwambo
- Mwenyali
- Nachuma
- Nakhwala
- Namabalu
- Namadingo
- Namakhwa
- Namakoka
- Namalindi
- Namasalima
- Namatunu
- Nambera
- Nambesa
- Namonde
- Namwere
- Nangwale
- Nansasala
- Napwanda
- Nawanga
- Ndela
- Nseula
- Ntala
- Ntamba
- Ntonda
- Nyamuna
- Nyamwelo
- Nyani
- Nyanya
- Nyundo
- Onga
- Pirimiti
- Saenda
- Saiti
- Salimukanga
- Samuel
- Sangala
- Savula
- Selemani
- Siyabu
- Songani
- Sonkho
- Sululu
- Tabu
- Tawakale
- Thomas Matopa
- Thondwe
- Thulamela

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of Zomba District

Named natural and historic features inside Zomba District, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

40 rivers and streams.

- Chifule
- Chingali
- Chitimambeta
- Domasi River
- Lifani
- Likangala River
- Lintipe River
- Lisanjali
- Mafuzi
- Makoko
- Makungulu River
- Mapolo
- Matawali River
- Matudzi
- Mirale
- Mirale River
- Mkazi-Msika
- Mkosa
- Mlungusi
- Msakasaka
- Mulunguzi Dam
- Muruma
- Mwanje River
- Naisi River

…and 16 more.

### Hills and mountains

23 hills; 17 mountains; 7 peaks.

- Nowimbe · 2,051 m
- Malosa Mountain · 1,979 m
- Chifundi · 1,719 m
- Mlunguzi · 1,710 m
- Malosa · 1,599 m
- Mwenji · 1,438 m
- Zomba Mountain · 1,438 m
- Tisani Hill · 1,372 m
- Ntonya Hill · 1,314 m
- Amika · 1,225 m
- Ntondwe · 1,214 m
- Wichinga Musi · 1,145 m
- Dimbi · 1,046 m
- Nsala · 1,037 m
- Nswaswa · 1,020 m
- Namilongwa Hill · 1,008 m
- Nambalu · 1,007 m
- Nsungwe · 999 m
- Ulumba · 973 m
- Ulumba Hill · 973 m
- Mbeza · 972 m
- Michereni · 938 m
- Molombo · 937 m
- Manana · 916 m

…and 23 more.

### Forests and nature

2 forest reserves.

- Malosa Forest Reserve
- Zomba Forest Reserve

### Estates

29 estates; 1 estate.

- Amika Estate
- Chanda
- Chikomwe
- Chimpeni Estate
- Chimwalira
- Dalveen
- Gala Estate
- Kasimu II
- Likwenu
- Linjidzi Estate
- Luana
- Lundu
- Matiti
- Mbala Estate
- Mbidi Estate
- Mpalanganga Estate
- Mtengelajilo Estate
- Mwanakandeya
- Namabalo Estate
- Namadidi Estate
- Namitembo Estate
- Namitembo Extension
- Nsomba Estate
- Nswasa Estate

…and 6 more.

### Getting around

1 airfield.

- Zomba Airport

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in Zomba District and the best time to visit

In Zomba District, the warmest month is Nov (average 27 °C) and the coolest is Jul (18 °C). About 1,245 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Jan (343 mm) and the driest Aug (8 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **April to November**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 24 343 

Feb 24 227 

Mar 23 189 

Apr 22 60 

May 20 18 

Jun 19 16 

Jul 18 28 

Aug 20 8 

Sep 24 8 

Oct 27 17 

Nov 27 94 

Dec 25 238 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Hospitals, banks and other services in Zomba District

Places mapped inside Zomba District in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals10
- Hotels7
- Schools11
- Colleges and universities4
- Restaurants2
- Police stations1

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown.

## Quick answers

- Where is Zomba District?In Southern Region, Malawi
- What is the population of Zomba District?116,797 (2023 estimate)
- What is the median age in Zomba District?About 21 years (2023 estimate)
- What is the population density of Zomba District?About 52 people per km²
- What borders Zomba District?Balaka District, Blantyre District, Chiradzulu District, Machinga District, Mulanje District, Phalombe District and Zomba City
- How many villages are in Zomba District?164 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of Zomba District?Settlements lie between 498 m and 1,696 m
- What is the highest point in Zomba District?Nowimbe (2,051 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit Zomba District?April to November
- How many hospitals are in Zomba District?10 mapped
- What is the P-code of Zomba District?MW303 (OCHA common operational dataset)