Mirab Shewa Zone

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Mirab Shewa (or "West Shewa") is one of the 12 zones of the Oromia Region in Ethiopia. This zone takes its name from the kingdom or former province of Shewa.

Mirab Shewa is bordered on the south by the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, on the southwest by Jimma, on the northwest by Misraq Welega, on the north by the Amhara Region, on the northeast by Semien Shewa, and on the southeast by Misraq Shewa. Its highest point is Mount Wenchi. Towns and cities in Mirab Shewa include Alem Gena, Ambo, Holeta Genet and Waliso.

[edit] Demographics

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, this zone has an estimated total population of 3,294,232, of whom 1,625,107 were males and 1,669,125 were females; 403,776 or 12.3% of its population are urban dwellers. With an estimated area of 21,551.98 square kilometers, Mirab Shewa has an estimated population density of 152.85 people per square kilometer.^[1]

Communities speaking one of the numerous Gurage languages, a branch of the South Ethiopian Semitic languages, are scattered throughout this Zone.

According to a May 24, 2004 World Bank memorandum, 35% of the inhabitants of Mirab Shewa have access to electricity, this zone has a road density of 29.2 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers (compared to the national average of 30 kilometers),^[2] the average rural household has 1.4 hectare of land (compared to the national average of 1.01 hectare of land and an average of 1.14 for the Oromia Region)^[3] and the equivalent of 0.7 heads of livestock. 31.8% of the population is in non-farm related jobs, compared to the national average of 25% and a Regional average of 24%. 66% of all eligible children are enrolled in primary school, and 28% in secondary schools. 89% of the zone is exposed to malaria, and none to Tsetse fly. The memorandum gave this zone a drought risk rating of 406.^[4]