From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Simbu, fomerly known as Chimbu, is a highland province in Papua New Guinea. The province has an area of 6,100 km² and a population of 259,703 (2000 census). The capital of the province is Kundiawa. Mount Wilhelm, the tallest mountain in Papua New Guinea, is on the border of Simbu.

Contents 1 Geography 2 Education 3 Politics 4 Districts 5 References

Simbu in the local dialect really means Sipuuuu, which means thank you. Simbu, is located in the Central Highlands, which is in the center of Papua New Guinea. It shares geographic and political boundaries with 5 provinces namely; Western Highlands Province, Eastern Highlands Province, Southern Highlands Province, Gulf Province and Madang Province. It is home to organically produced coffee and Mount Wilhelm, the highest mountain in Papua New Guinea.

Simbu, a province with almost no natural resources is the home to the most rugged and unbearable mountains. It has progressed slowly over the years.

Simbu, although lacking natural resources is able to contribute more in human resources and can now boast to have some of the country's top brains. Simbus are working in world renowned institutions world wide, from the United States to the United Kingdom. There are three Secondary Schools in the province, namely; Kondiu Rosary Secondary School, Yauwe Moses Secondary School and Kerowagi Secondary School.

The province is headed by a Governor, elected by the people through the democratic process of voting. The current governor, Hon. Peter Launa, who hails from Chuave District won under the new voting system, Limited Preferential Voting System (LPV). The Governnor is the provincial head. The provincial bureaucracy is headed by the Provincial Administrator. The current Acting Administrator is Joseph Kunda Naur, a former educationist. He is from the Endugla/Naur Tribe.

The provincial headquarter is Kundiawa, which hosts the nearest airport. Air Niugini make three flights to Kundiawa each week. There are many guest houses within the proximity of Kundiawa town.

There are 6 districts in the province and each district is represented by a Member of Parliament in the National Parliament. The districts are as follows. Kerowagi, Kundiawa/Gembog, Sinesine/Yongumug, Chuave, Gumine and Karimui/Nomane.

The current member of Parliament are:

1. Hon. Mathew Siune (Kundiawa/Gembogl) - Minister for Agriculture and Livestock,
2. Hon. Alphonse Willie Moroyag (Kerowagi) - Chairman of Tourism Promotion Authority,
3. Hon. Nick Kuman (Gumine) - Opposition,
4. Hon. Posi Menai (Karimui/Nomane) - Minister For Correctional Service,
5. Hon. Jeffery Nape (Sinesine/Yongumul) - Speaker of National Parliament,
6. Hon. David Ango (Chuave) - Opposition,
7. Hon. Peter Launa (Simbu Regional Seat) - Governor of Province

Kerowagi is located geographically towards the Western part of the province and shares common administrative, political, economic and geographic features with Western Highlands Province. It is in the famous Whagi Valley with Digine-Kubor Range to the South and Drekore Range to the north. It is regarded as one of the fertile vallies where cash crops are grown in abundance. The native people speak the Kuman language, which is their original dialect. The original tribes of the Kerowagi District are; Siambugla-Waugla, Kombuku, Gena, Bandi, Kumai, Endugla No. 2, Bindeku, Graiku, Siglku, Kamaneku, Paglau and Dagle.

The current member of Parliament is Hon. Willie Alphones Moroyagl, who hails from the Gena Tribe and is curretly the Chairman for Tourism Promotion Authority. There are 2 secondary schools with a couple of many top up primary school, which are feeder schools to the two Secondary Schools in the District; Kondiu Rosary and Kerowagi. The almost all the locals are either self-employed or engaged themselves in some little economic activities. The district has some of the provincial best road networks. One of the road network was sealed recently in 2004. Of all the districts in Province, Kerowagi is said to be developing at a much faster rate then the others. This is basically due to the fertility of the valley and its locality to excess to infrastructure, improved and established road networks, change in mindset of the people and community. Most of the locals are coffee growers and have blocks of coffee. The coffee season starts from as early as March to end of June and this period is normally referred to as six-mun. They are really beneficiary of this current (2005) world-wide increases in the price of coffee. Apart from coffee, they are also engaged in spice, common local market produce for local consumers. The biggest health clinic in the District is St. Joseph Mingende Rural Hospital. Its status has been changed from Health center to Rural Hospital in 2000, with a full time medical Doctor.

• Deck, D. Sipu-u-u-u to Simbu, Paradise Magazine

Provinces of Papua New Guinea
Central | Eastern Highlands | East New Britain | East Sepik | Enga | Gulf | Madang | Manus | Milne Bay | Morobe | New Ireland | North Solomons (Bougainville) | Oro (Northern) | Sandaun (West Sepik) | Simbu (Chimbu) | Southern Highlands | Western | Western Highlands | West New Britain | National Capital District