Matengo Highlands

The Matengo Highlands are located in the western part of the mountainous area of Mbinga District, Ruvuma Region in southern Tanzania.

[2] Its subvillages include Kindimba, Kitanda (or Kitunda), Mkanya, Mutugu, Ndembo, Torongi, Walarzi (or Waranzi).

However, after the Ngonis' invaded Matengo territory, the Matengos' political hierarchy also evolved into an administrative system comprising a paramount chief followed by three chiefs, senior headman and two levels of headman, in the descending order of their importance in the hierarchy.

However, subsequent to independence of Tanzania in 1961, the patronymic unit (kilau) is retained only for the purpose of naming the family siblings.

The pit cultivation practice is a unique farming system on the highlands' steep slopes referred to as ngolo.

Composting is created in the pits by mixing the loosened soil with cut grass, and then plant seeds in the light.

However, the limiting factors noted in this practice are non availability of labour force to work on the fields and inadequate supply of composting fertilizers.

[10] Elevations lower than 1,400 m (4,600 ft) are characterized by open woodlands of miombo trees, dominated by Caesalpinioideae.