Information for this community profile predominantly came from Key Informant Interviews.

Maringanha can be considered a suburb of Pemba and is found close to the main tourist area of Wimbe beach where many foreign workers and investors are based. Despite its proximity to the city of Pemba, the roads are poor and it is not as accessible as one may believe despite the proximity.

According to the general population census 2007, there are about 4000 inhabitants of Maringanha, and approximately 142,000 people within the wider Pemba urban area. The predominant ethnicities are Macuas and Kimuani. Many residents are migrants from other coastal districts such as Mecúfi, Macomia and Mocímboa and Nampula province.

In the past Maringanha was a single district of Pemba but recently because of rapid population growth and occupation of spaces was necessary to divide the district into three units: Wimbe, Nanhimbe and Maringanha, and all these units belong to the new neighborhood called Eduardo Mondlane.

In Maringanha itself there is a local health center for the community. Closer to the Pemba, community members can go to Chuiba. For serious illness or injury the residents have access to the main hospital in Pemba.

In Maringanha there are two schools including a Full Primary School level one and a full Primary School level two, there is also a public university Universidade Lúrio.

Water is supplied to Maringanha through Pemba urban water system piped to homes and 6 wells with hand pumps. Some houses in Maringanha have a personal sewage system (type of septic tank). Others have conventional and unconventional latrine in the backyard, while some inahabitants use the beach as a toilet or washroom.

Maringanha is connected to the Mozambican national grid but some inhabitants have difficulties accessing electricity due to financial considerations.

There is a local Mozambique woman association (MWO), OJM Community courts and community policing that ensures the safety of the local community. Inhabitants of Maringanha are predominantly Muslim and there are religious schools for children. Existing political parties active in Maringanha are FRELIMO and RENAMO, and more recently MDM.

There is no bank in Maringanha, and a trip to Pemba is required by any residents wishing to open account or conduct other financial transactions. There is one ATM machine in Maringanha, in the restaurant Kauri that is most often used by tourists, but can also be accessed by residents of Maringanha.

Beaches are very important here and provide important cultural services for both residents and tourists through swimming, practicing certain rituals and where fish can be landed and traded and invertebrates or weeds collected. There is also small-scale agriculture practiced in Maringanha and some livestock is kept. Much of the population had to sell their farms to tour operators for the construction of hotels and for people to build housing.

The main activities undertaken by the community are agriculture, small trade stores (primarily selling food), keeping livestock (goats and chickens), mechanics (for cars) ,masons, security guards and fishing. Foreign residents are employees of natural gas exploration and those involved in tourism activities for those coming from South Africa and Europe.

Gears:  Spear guns, hook and line, beach seines, fish traps, Gleaning.

Boat type: Sail boats and canoes for one-two persons. Some larger dhows are present

Regulations: No mosquito nets (most are aware of these rules)

The fisherman must pay the annual taxes for the boats for the Maritime Administration.

Historical changes and seasonality: Quantities of fish are thought to be decreasing due to continuous increase in fishing effort and numbers of fishers. Mid July to December is high season whilst January to June, the fish stocks are less.

Fishers do not have a specific place to process fish that is landed; sometimes it is processed on the beach, and the fish traders come to buy fresh fish to sell in the town or along the beach. There is not a specific fish market associated directly with Maringanha.

Number of traders: Unknown as some from Maringanha are on the register as fish traders but many come from the city and are not on the register.

Fishing land facilities: no constructed facilities, the fish are landed by the lighthouse and the kumbuny and patakhala (local names)

There are no mangroves in Maringanha but mangrove poles are bought from Pemba city and are used to construct houses.

There are hotels, lodges, guesthouses, restaurants and bars already operating and others are under construction. The crystalline hot water ocean and the tropical temperature in the beautiful beaches are the attractions. High season is towards the end of the year for international tourists. The local community benefits very little from tourism as only few are hired from the community to work as helpers or in the construction of hotels. Many people who work in hotels are contracted in the city of Pemba and others come from outside the province. Only the owner of the restaurant Kauri is considered to have helped the local community. Tourism in Maringanha has improved access to clean water and electricity.[:pt]” width=”593″ height=”333″ /> [/caption]Demographics

According to the general population census 2007, there are about 4000 inhabitants of Maringanha, and approximately 142,000 people within the wider Pemba urban area. The predominant ethnicities are Macuas and Kimuani. Many residents are migrants from other coastal districts such as Mecúfi, Macomia and Mocímboa and Nampula province.

In the past Maringanha was a single district of Pemba but recently because of rapid population growth and occupation of spaces was necessary to divide the district into three units: Wimbe, Nanhimbe and Maringanha, and all these units belong to the new neighborhood called Eduardo Mondlane.

In Maringanha itself there is a local health center for the community. Closer to the Pemba, community members can go to Chuiba. For serious illness or injury the residents have access to the main hospital in Pemba.

In Maringanha there are two schools including a Full Primary School level one and a full Primary School level two, there is also a public university Universidade Lúrio.

Water is supplied to Maringanha through Pemba urban water system piped to homes and 6 wells with hand pumps. Some houses in Maringanha have a personal sewage system (type of septic tank). Others have conventional and unconventional latrine in the backyard, while some inahabitants use the beach as a toilet or washroom.

Maringanha is connected to the Mozambican national grid but some inhabitants have difficulties accessing electricity due to financial considerations.

There is a local Mozambique woman association (MWO), OJM Community courts and community policing that ensures the safety of the local community. Inhabitants of Maringanha are predominantly Muslim and there are religious schools for children. Existing political parties active in Maringanha are FRELIMO and RENAMO, and more recently MDM.

There is no bank in Maringanha, and a trip to Pemba is required by any residents wishing to open account or conduct other financial transactions. There is one ATM machine in Maringanha, in the restaurant Kauri that is most often used by tourists, but can also be accessed by residents of Maringanha.

Beaches are very important here and provide important cultural services for both residents and tourists through swimming, practicing certain rituals and where fish can be landed and traded and invertebrates or weeds collected. There is also small-scale agriculture practiced in Maringanha and some livestock is kept. Much of the population had to sell their farms to tour operators for the construction of hotels and for people to build housing.

The main activities undertaken by the community are agriculture, small trade stores (primarily selling food), keeping livestock (goats and chickens), mechanics (for cars) ,masons, security guards and fishing. Foreign residents are employees of natural gas exploration and those involved in tourism activities for those coming from South Africa and Europe.

Gears:  Spear guns, hook and line, beach seines, fish traps, Gleaning.

Boat type: Sail boats and canoes for one-two persons. Some larger dhows are present

Regulations: No mosquito nets (most are aware of these rules)

The fisherman must pay the annual taxes for the boats for the Maritime Administration.

Historical changes and seasonality: Quantities of fish are thought to be decreasing due to continuous increase in fishing effort and numbers of fishers. Mid July to December is high season whilst January to June, the fish stocks are less.

Fishers do not have a specific place to process fish that is landed; sometimes it is processed on the beach, and the fish traders come to buy fresh fish to sell in the town or along the beach. There is not a specific fish market associated directly with Maringanha.

Number of traders: Unknown as some from Maringanha are on the register as fish traders but many come from the city and are not on the register.

Fishing land facilities: no constructed facilities, the fish are landed by the lighthouse and the kumbuny and patakhala (local names)

There are no mangroves in Maringanha but mangrove poles are bought from Pemba city and are used to construct houses.

There are hotels, lodges, guesthouses, restaurants and bars already operating and others are under construction. The crystalline hot water ocean and the tropical temperature in the beautiful beaches are the attractions. High season is towards the end of the year for international tourists. The local community benefits very little from tourism as only few are hired from the community to work as helpers or in the construction of hotels. Many people who work in hotels are contracted in the city of Pemba and others come from outside the province. Only the owner of the restaurant Kauri is considered to have helped the local community. Tourism in Maringanha has improved access to clean water and electricity.Maringanha (Moçambique) text