THE government has officially announced through Government Notices (GN) the establishment of four new regions and 19 districts with immediate effect from March 2, this year.

The Prime Minister, Mr Mizengo Pinda, noted in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that the notices which were signed by President Jakaya Kikwete on March 1, names the new regions as Geita, Katavi, Njombe and Simiyu published in GN No. 72.

According to the premier, the 19 new districts which have been published in GN No. 73 include Buhingwe, Busega, Butiama, Chemba, Gairo, Ikungi and Itilima. Others are Kakonko, Kalambo, Kaliua, Kyerwa, Mbogwe, Mkalama, Mlele, Momba, Nyang'hwale, Nyasa, Uvinza and Wanging'ombe.

Each of the new regions have their headquarters established as shown in brackets, Geita (Geita), Simiyu (Bariadi), Njombe (Njombe) and Katavi (Mpanda). The regions will be made up of the districts shown in the brackets, Geita (Bukombe, Chato, Geita, Mbongwe and Nyang'hwale), Katavi (Mlele and Mpanda), Njombe (Makete, Njombe, Ludewa and Wanging'ombe) and Simiyu (Bariadi, Busega, Maswa, Meatu and Itilima).

The headquarters of the newly formed districts will be: Buhigwe (Buhigwe), Busega (Nyashimo), Butiama (Butiama), Chemba (Chemba), Gairo (Gairo), Ikungi (Ikungi), Itilima (Lagangabilili), Kakonko (Kakonko), Kalambo (Matai) and Kaliua (Kaliua).

Others include Kyerwa (Rubwera), Mbogwe (Mbogwe), Mkalama (Nduguti), Mlele (Inyonga), Momba (Chitete), Nyang'hwale (Kharumwa), Nyasa (Mbamba Bay), Uvinza (Lugufu) and Wanging'ombe (Igwachanya). In July 2010, President Kikwete told the National Assembly of government plans to formulate four new regions and 21 districts. However, after verification of boundaries was completed, it was established that only 19 districts could be formed.