Mpanda District Council was established in 1983 and is headquartered in Rukwa Region. In 2012, Mpanda district was divided into Mlele and Mpanda districts. Katavi Region was established in 2012 after the division of the Mpanda District Council into 3 districts and 5 district councils. The districts are the Mpanda district which includes two local councils, Mpanda District Council and Nsimbo District Council.
Mlele County has two councils, Mlele District Council and Mpimbwe District Council. Tanganyika region has one council which is Mpanda Council (Mother Council).
Mpanda District is one of the two districts of the Katavi Region of Tanzania. Its administrative seat is the city of Mpanda. The district is bordered to the northwest by the Kigoma Region, to the northeast by the Tabora Region, to the east by the Mbeya Region, to the southeast by the Sumbawanga Urban District, to the southwest by the Nkasi District and to the west (for a small portion) by Lake Tanganyika.
According to the 2002 Tanzania National Census, the population of the Mpanda District was 412,683
Prior to 2012, Mpanda District was administratively divided into thirty wards: After the 2012 reorganization, Mpanda District had eighteen wards.
2002 census wards
Ikola
Ilela
Ilembo
Ilunde
Inyonga
Kabungu
Karema
Kashaulili
Kasokola
Katuma
Kibaoni
2012 census wards
Ikola
Ilembo
Kabungu
Kakese
Kapalamsenga
Karema
Kashaulili
Katuma
Kawajanse
Makanyagio
Mishamo
Misunkumilo
Mpanda Hotel
Mpanda Ndogo
Mwese
Nsemulwa
Shanwe
Sibwesa