Chizumulu

Chizumulu
	Islands Chizumulu (l.) And Likoma (r.)
Waters	Lake Malawi
Geographical location	12 ° 1 '30 " S , 34 ° 37' 30" E Coordinates: 12 ° 1 '30 " S , 34 ° 37' 30" E
length	4.5 km
width	2.4 km
surface	3 km²
Residents	3000 ; 1000 inhabitants / km²

Chizumulu is a small island in Lake Malawi . It belongs to Malawi , but is an enclave with its neighboring island Likoma in the territorial waters of Mozambique .

geography

Chizulumu is administratively part of the Likoma District and is part of the Northern Region . The island is about 18 km from the mainland of Mozambique. The two islands are 10 km away and mainland Malawi is 48 km away, but the closest port in Malawi, Nkhata Bay , is 35 miles away. Chizumulu is just over 100 m wide at its narrowest point and around 4.5 km across a corner in its longest extension. The approximately 3 km ² large island extends in a northerly direction, almost parallel to the sister island. The highest point on the island is Mount Chingohi (or Chingole ).

View of Chizumulu from Likoma

population

Chizumulu currently has around 3,000 inhabitants (2009). As on Likoma, the population is made up of different ethnic groups , but unlike on the neighboring island, they come from Nkhata Bay, Mozambique and Tanzania . Tonga is the most widely spoken language, but nyanja is used in schools and in religious gatherings . 99 percent of the population are Christians and until 1980 belonged mainly to the Anglican Church , which opened its first mission on the island of Likoma in 1903. Other churches are now also represented.

Food supply

Almost the entire population of the island lives from fishing. The boys start at the age of 14 and learn very quickly from their fathers how to feed their families with fishing. The men's pride in their daily work is understandable. The owner of a net can earn up to 40,000 Kwacha on a good day of fishing. The fish is sold to fishmongers who, in turn, sell the fish on the mainland in Malawi. Cassava , baobabs and mangoes complete the food supply.

Locals with boat

Infrastructure

The island can only be reached by water. The aged-looking steamer Ilala from Malawi Lake Services comes by twice a week, berths in Mambala Bay, supplies the island with everything it needs and transports passengers to and from Malawi and Tanzania. The island has a tiny network of unpaved roads. From Same Bay , from the narrowest part of the island, small boats operate with the neighboring island of Likoma.

economy

Apart from fishing and very modest tourism, the island has no other sources of income. Since the island can only be reached by ship and guests who would land in Likoma by plane would also have to accept an arduous journey in a small boat, it is not to be expected that tourism will grow strongly in the foreseeable future becomes.

Individual evidence

↑ Based on information from: National Statistic Office, Zomba: Population and Housing Census ; September 2008. Stéphane Helleringer et al: The Likoma Network Study: Context, data collection, and initial results ; in: Demographic Research, 21, Article 15, pp. 427-468; Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Rostock, October 9, 2009.
↑ ^a ^b ^c L. C. Tchoka: Get to know Chizumulu Island ; NAO Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 3; National Audit Office, Lilongwe, October / November 2006.
^ District Education Plan (DEP) 2008 / 09–2001 / 11 ; Likoma District Assembly, Likoma; December 2007.

[1] Based on information from: National Statistic Office, Zomba: Population and Housing Census ; September 2008. Stéphane Helleringer et al: The Likoma Network Study: Context, data collection, and initial results ; in: Demographic Research, 21, Article 15, pp. 427-468; Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research; Rostock, October 9, 2009.

[nao-2] L. C. Tchoka: Get to know Chizumulu Island ; NAO Newsletter, Volume 1, Issue 3; National Audit Office, Lilongwe, October / November 2006.

[3] District Education Plan (DEP) 2008 / 09–2001 / 11 ; Likoma District Assembly, Likoma; December 2007.