Is Addis Abeba on the Brink?

What was in the minds of Menelik, his advisors and Generals when they settled Addis Ababa to be their capital? After defeating and subjugating his rivals in the north Menelik was more interested in expanding his kingdom to the south. Menelik used Addis Abeba as a consolidating scheme to develop his military defense and civil convenience. His basic plan was centered in reducing travel times for his invading army to south and north. Two main rivers flowed through the location to provide water and sewage disposal, Kebena and Filwuha ( Finfine). The flat and extensive fertile plain was favored by many of the generals and close counsels as potential reward for their loyalty that in turn expanded their land ownership. In those days land alone was considered as a measurement of power and influence in the kingdom. The lager the land the person owns, the higher position of power he held in the kingdom. By the same token closeness land locations to the palace indicated royal heritage or the degree of influence the owner enjoys in the royal circles. As the result of these arrangements immediate location of land near to the palace was usually distributed, without consideration of the forecast of logical assessment for future development needs. The Generals, Royal "Balemewals" and the "Agafaris," considered to be most powerful names in the kingdom, was awarded land closer to the palace based on their official status. Thus all land arrangement and early settlement activities followed the essence of schemes to satisfy the immediate needs of the kingdom and royalties. Following the footsteps of Minelik, (Zewuditu, whose term was short-lived) Hailesilassie, the father of the Ethiopian modernization, laid out some streets at right angles, in the form of a square grid with irregular width and length. Some bridges were also constructed including the first and only centralized sewage systems and running water later improved by Italian aggressors. Modern electricity was introduced following urban or village planning models. The city life of Addis Abeba expanded attracting many settlers from all corners of the nation. It homogenized the many cultures into one. (Language excluded) Addis Abeba, the capital city of the only free nation in Africa became a model and the vanguard of the freedom movement on the continent and elsewhere in the world. Hence origination of the Rasta's community in Jamaica, its expansion in North and Latin America, Britain and the replication of the three distinct colors of the Ethiopian flag by several nations of Africa after independence is a living proof of that history. The beautiful Addis Abeba however did not enjoy for long, the over confident urban planners of the time failed to use a number of quantitative tools to forecast impacts of the fast paced urbanization on available sources and its potential, including water, electricity, energy, infrastructure to predict capacity, impacts of urban development, preplan alternative models to predict safety nets help reduce effects of urban over flow. As a result of years of cumulative inactions and negligence Addis Abeba is now turning into capital city of overpopulation, poverty, corruption, indecency, where the majority of its people remain unemployed. The rapid urbanization has also resulted in a significant amount of slum habitation in the major part of the city, particularly in part of the city where poverty is on the rise. It is long overdue that significant demand for planning resources and strategies be addressed. NGOs and community activists are calling for increased attention particularly the residents who are struggling with basic living needs, like water, electricity and sufficient food. The government has promised improvement in the area of water shortage. It can be temporarily solved through the creation of reservoir to store water, to areas that needs it, and gaining access to underground supplies of water. However many problems related to water in Addis Abeba will remain chronic for years to come due to the geographic location of the city, subject to high cost of construction and maintenance of water dams. The other chronic problem in water conservation is sustainability and duration of service of dams, due to the nature of the soil and factor of erosion that contribute in rapid built up of silt. It is not different in the area of energy and electricity. New dams are being built in several locations away from the capital and the government is planning to create a centralized distribution system promising full supply of electricity to Addis Abeba as apriority. (Local residents of Addis Abeba are rationed water and electricity 3 days a week, only those who can afford the high cost) New roads, high rise, suburbanization and new factories are some of the ventures being developed in Addis Abeba to ease overcrowding and the housing problems. Does these all save Addis Abeba from being overcrowded? Does it alleviate poverty? Does it make it a better place to live? One simple example of the absurdity of the current development project, the city does not have enough water to supply on the ground located building and the solution is to construct 12 story building. The city is running out of electric power, the solution; construct a new car factory south of the city. Overcrowded, bring in more people from outside and create suburban Addis. What paradox? (Source 100% summarized from government info)

Unfortunately like their predecessors the urban planners of Addis Abeba have completely ignored the warning signs of the overburdened capacity of the natural resources that supplies the city. The vacuum effect of Addis Abeba is so out of balance, referring to the non-existing natural resources bordered by very high demand of the populace. Its rapidly growing consumption is sucking the economic air from the rest of the country, 7 % of the population consuming more than 50 % of country's production. The current band aid solution of maintenance undertaken by the government would soon run out of esteem unless the root cause of the problem is addressed in a timely and skillful manner. Its result is mute from initiation. The longevity and rational of its usage is compromised due to lack of comparative assessment. In the circumstance a responsible and successful government should come up with comprehensive reform program that has the people's interest as its central and primary objectives. A program that would balance all sided growth between the urban and rural economy, that is complimentary to each other and minimizing conflicts. Some of the healthy sign of such vision and activities are: localizing new development projects and increase in productivity and growth in the rural area, gradual localization of concentrated factories and industries to rural areas, encouraging skilled professionals to be localized, develop infrastructure and services in rural areas, incentivize and encourage private investors to localize their ventures, slim down government employment to the necessary minimum, make investment credit available to local economic development, encourage and incentivize graduates to work in rural areas, no big cumbersome universities but effective learning centers, minimize west and eliminate corruption, improve transparency in governance. Government and the private sector should be committed towards more economic and political empowerment of the poorer section of the rural populace and increase their social capital. All of these should work towards the reduction of rural poverty and, through its positive spillover effects, urban poverty as well. Poverty is generally defined here as an inability to attain a minimum standard of living and indicates deprivation of certain basic necessities of life, the most obvious being food.
Evaluate and analyze periodically the consistency and the effectiveness of the program.

This activity as suggested doesn't eliminate any other alternates. It is open to consider change in perception and attitude fostering the interests of the people who are the ultimate stake holders. More citizens calling to the discussion for democratic planning and development processes would play a huge role in allowing the public to make important and informed decisions. Ethiopians in the Diasporas, who plan to invest in the mother land, could play a huge role in the way, how and where development occurs. Addis Abeba, the freedom capital of the continent should not crumble into dust because of neglect and abuse. We the people should adopt a system that allows it to grow just like a new flower, cultivate it in moderation. Too much of everything has already proven toxic to its natural process.