View source for Dedza

{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox settlement 
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<!-- Basic info ----------------> |official_name = Dedza
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|pushpin_map_caption = Location in Malawi
<!-- Location ------------------> 
|subdivision_type = Country 
|subdivision_name = {{flag|Malawi}} 
|subdivision_type1 = [[Regions of Malawi|Region]]
|subdivision_name1 = [[Central Region, Malawi|Central Region]]
|subdivision_type2 = [[Districts of Malawi|District]] 
|subdivision_name2 = [[Dedza District]] 
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|population_as_of = 2018 Census<ref name="Census2018">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsomalawi.mw/images/stories/data_on_line/demography/census_2018/2018%20Malawi%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Main%20Report.pdf|title=2018 Population and Housing Census Main Report |publisher=Malawi National Statistical Office |accessdate=25 December 2019}}</ref>
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|population_total = 30,928
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|elevation_m = 1590
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|blank1_name_sec2 = [[Köppen climate classification|Climate]]
|blank1_info_sec2 = [[Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb)|Cwb]]
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[[File:Malawi-Dedza.png|left|115px|Location of Dedza in Malawi]]
[[File:Dedza Altitude.JPG|thumb|Altitude marker of Dedza in Malawi]]
'''Dedza''' is the main township of [[Dedza District]] in the [[Central Region, Malawi|Central Region]] of [[Malawi]].

==Description==
Dedza is located about 85&nbsp;km south of Malawi's capital, Lilongwe, off the M1 road to Blantyre at a point where a trans-African highway from Johannesburg enters the country.

At an altitude of 1590m it is the highest town in Malawi.  In June and July it can be chilly, especially in the mornings and evenings.

The town is based around a bypass loop of tarmac road connected to the M1. At the northern end of the town centre there is a bus station, Town Assembly offices, sports stadium, police station, banks and petrol station. At the southern end there is a hospital and large market. There are many shops and businesses along the road and a parallel [[dirt road]]. Two other petrol stations are located on the M1.

Accommodation is available at the Dedza Pottery,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://nyasalodges.com|title=Index of /|website=nyasalodges.com|accessdate=19 February 2018}}</ref> Panjira Lodge, Rainbow Resthouse and other local resthouses. There are a number of bars and cafes in the town centre, such as the Boiz Club and Golden Dish and a cyber-café – AY Business Cafe. The Dedza Pottery Coffee Shop is 1&nbsp;km along a dirt road near the M1 northern junction.

The Dedza Pottery sells a wide range of ceramics and there are a number of craft shops along the dirt road to it. A walk up to the top of [[Dedza Mountain]] (2198m) is possible on a maintenance road for the communication aerials.

The main industries of the town are Paragon Ceramics, which makes floor and roof tiles, etc., located at the Dedza Pottery and the WICO Sawmill on the opposite side of the road.

The offices of the various departments of the Dedza District Assembly are located in the township. So also are offices for several NGOs operating in the district, such as Save the Children, Concern Universal and the Red Cross. The town has several primary schools, Mchisu day secondary school and Umbwi and Dedza Secondary boarding schools.

Dedza is linked with Norwich, England by the Norwich-Dedza Partnership,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.norwich-dedza.org|title=Norwich - Dedza Partnership : Home|website=www.norwich-dedza.org|accessdate=19 February 2018}}</ref> a UK-based charity. The partnership supports education, health, agriculture, tourism development and public sector organisations in Dedza District through volunteer workers, supply of computers and other materials and small scale funding.

The eye clinic at Dedza District Hospital is supported by Norwich charity Far Sight which has provided training and equipment.

==Climate==
Dedza has a [[Oceanic climate#Subtropical highland variety (Cfb, Cwb)|subtropical highland climate]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cwb'') with cool to warm temperatures year round. The rainy season runs from November to April, and the dry season runs from May to October.

{{Weather box
|location = Dedza, Malawi (1961-1990)
|metric first = yes
|single line = yes
|Jan high C = 23.0
|Feb high C = 23.0
|Mar high C = 23.0
|Apr high C = 22.5
|May high C = 21.2
|Jun high C = 19.4
|Jul high C = 19.0
|Aug high C = 20.5
|Sep high C = 23.3
|Oct high C = 24.9
|Nov high C = 24.9
|Dec high C = 23.5
|year high C = 22.3
|Jan mean C = 18.7
|Feb mean C = 19.0
|Mar mean C = 18.5
|Apr mean C = 17.6
|May mean C = 15.9
|Jun mean C = 14.0
|Jul mean C = 13.6
|Aug mean C = 15.2
|Sep mean C = 17.8
|Oct mean C = 19.7
|Nov mean C = 20.0
|Dec mean C = 19.1
|year mean C = 17.4
|Jan low C = 15.5
|Feb low C = 15.4
|Mar low C = 15.0
|Apr low C = 13.9
|May low C = 11.7
|Jun low C = 9.5
|Jul low C = 9.1
|Aug low C = 10.6
|Sep low C = 13.2
|Oct low C = 15.0
|Nov low C = 15.9
|Dec low C = 15.7
|year low C = 13.4
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 288.6
|Feb precipitation mm = 233.9
|Mar precipitation mm = 179.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 67.0
|May precipitation mm = 10.6
|Jun precipitation mm = 4.1
|Jul precipitation mm = 3.7
|Aug precipitation mm = 1.3
|Sep precipitation mm = 4.0
|Oct precipitation mm = 11.9
|Nov precipitation mm = 74.1
|Dec precipitation mm = 231.0
|year precipitation mm = 1109.8
|Jan humidity = 84
|Feb humidity = 86
|Mar humidity = 83
|Apr humidity = 81
|May humidity = 72
|Jun humidity = 67
|Jul humidity = 66
|Aug humidity = 60
|Sep humidity = 55
|Oct humidity = 57
|Nov humidity = 65
|Dec humidity = 80
|year humidity = 
|unit precipitation days = 0.3 mm
|Jan precipitation days = 20
|Feb precipitation days = 17
|Mar precipitation days = 13
|Apr precipitation days = 6
|May precipitation days = 2
|Jun precipitation days = 2
|Jul precipitation days = 3
|Aug precipitation days = 2
|Sep precipitation days = 1
|Oct precipitation days = 2
|Nov precipitation days = 6
|Dec precipitation days = 15
|year precipitation days = 89
|Jan sun = 151.9
|Feb sun = 142.8
|Mar sun = 182.9
|Apr sun = 213.0
|May sun = 248.0
|Jun sun = 246.0
|Jul sun = 241.8
|Aug sun = 269.7
|Sep sun = 288.0
|Oct sun = 288.3
|Nov sun = 225.0
|Dec sun = 164.3
|year sun = 2661.7
|Jan percentsun = 38
|Feb percentsun = 41
|Mar percentsun = 49
|Apr percentsun = 61
|May percentsun = 71
|Jun percentsun = 73
|Jul percentsun = 69
|Aug percentsun = 75
|Sep percentsun = 80
|Oct percentsun = 75
|Nov percentsun = 59
|Dec percentsun = 41
|source 1 = NOAA<ref name= NOAA>{{Cite FTP | url = ftp://ftp.atdd.noaa.gov/pub/GCOS/WMO-Normals/TABLES/REG__I/MW/67689.TXT
| server = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration]]
| title = Dedza Climate Normals 1961–1990
| accessdate = 8 March 2015}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{| class="wikitable" 
! Year
! Population<ref>[http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=pnan&col=dq&geo=-150 World Gazetteer: Malawi: largest cities and towns and statistics of their population] {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20070927223224/http://www.world-gazetteer.com/wg.php?x=&men=gcis&lng=en&dat=32&srt=pnan&col=dq&geo=-150 |date=27 September 2007 }}</ref><ref name="Census2018">{{cite web|url=http://www.nsomalawi.mw/images/stories/data_on_line/demography/census_2018/2018%20Malawi%20Population%20and%20Housing%20Census%20Main%20Report.pdf|title=2018 Population and Housing Census Main Report |publisher=Malawi National Statistical Office |accessdate=25 December 2019}}</ref>
|-
| 1977
| 5,448
|-	
| 1987
| 16,899
|-
| 1998 
| 15,408
|-	
| 2008 
| 20,241
|-
| 2018
| 30,928
|}

==See also==
*[[Dedza District]]
*[[Chongoni Rock Art Area]]
*[[Roman Catholic Diocese of Dedza]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|14|22|S|34|20|E|region:MW_type:city|display=title}}

[[Category:Populated places in Central Region, Malawi]]