L.Victoria Rept - UN-Habitat

3. MUSOMAA: BASIC CITY INFORMATION:City/Country:City AuthorityMusoma, TanzaniaMusoma Town Council, TanzaniaMusoma Town Council covers an area of 6,300 hectares and is composed of plains with small, scatteredhills. It lies between latitude 1 0 30' south of equator and 28 0 48' East of Greenwich. It lies betweenaltitudes 1,140 and 1,320 meters above the sea level. The highest peak is 1,320 meters. Scattered hillsare found mostly in the west and south of Musoma Town. The whole town area is a peninsula east ofLake VictoriaCity population: 120,000 with 51% Males and 49% Females (1999 projections).City main function:Economic/ Povertyprofile:Administrativestructure:The Council’s main functions include:• To maintain and facilitate the maintenance of peace, order and good governance within its area ofjurisdiction.• To promote the social welfare and economic well being of all• persons within its area of jurisdiction.• In accordance with the national policies, urban and rural plans;• To carry out development activities to promote economic and social development within its area ofjurisdiction.• To take necessary measures to protect and enhance the• environment in order to promote sustainable development.• To enhance meaningful decentralization in political, financial• and administrative matters at all levels of local government• authority.• To promote and ensure democratic participation by the people.• To establish and maintain reliable sources of revenue and other resources enabling the council toperform other functions effectively and to enhance financial accountability of the council to its membersand employees.1.5% of the population employed in public services and 98.5 are in private/informal sector. The per capitaincome for Musoma residents’ isTZS.67, 000 per annum. Low incomes in the formal sector push employees toengage in part-time jobs in the informal sector like petty business, fishing, etc. The unemployment rate is40% of total population.Musoma Town Council falls under the administration of 57 hamlets (Mitaa), 13 wards namely Buhare, Bweri,Iringo, Kitaji, Kigera, Kamunyonge, Mukendo, Mwigobero, Makoko, Mwisenge, Nyakato, Nyasho, andNyamatare. The town has one division and one parliamentary constituency.Each Mtaa is represented by a Mtaa leader while there are 13 elected Councillors from each ward and 5nominated Councillors representing minority and other special groups, e.g., women.Cities Development Strategies for Improved Urban Environment and Poverty Reduction in the Lake Victoria Region61