Back in the days, most toddlers and youths of Addis alike used to flock to the fresh rivers of Addis for wild swimming. A prominent Ethiopian singer, Tsehaye Yohannes, with his song, Kebena, romanticized his childhood delights at one of the rivers called Tenses, probably the headwater of River Kebena. Here goes translation of couplet from his lyric:
Sitting on a saddle though time gallops
My River unties the knot of childhood memories
Tenses, Aba Nigussie, Fwafwate, Dube Bahir are some of the rivers along river and could only be compared to lap pools that nature offered to the youths to engage in swimming and wadding.
Addis’ rivers as well irrigate vast plots of land that people grow vegetable and supply to nearby markets. The city’s health officials, however, frequently warn residents from consuming the fresh produce due to health risks including lead pollution.
For over two decades, however, the rivers of Addis have become hotbeds of residents’ poor health. Reckless individuals’ latrines and selfish industrialists’ liquid waste utterly contaminated the waters of the rivers.
Now a grand project worth 29 billion has come to rescue of two of the rivers. The initial project covers 50 hectares of land, around Sheraton Addis. Addis Ababa City Administration installed a 2.5-billion Birr budget to assist the realization of the pilot project.
This specific project is an initiative of Prime Minister Dr. Abiy Ahmed.
The prime minister’s visit to China, at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation on April 28, 2019, also won supports to the “development of a plaza and 12km of the ‘Beautifying Sheger’ riverbank project.”
At the sidelines of the event, the premier “visited the China Urban Construction Design and Research Institute to review and discuss the proposed design and development plan [of the Beautifying project]. He appreciated the efforts made by the engineers to contextualize to the needs of the city, and provided direction for the development to commence.”
The government of Italy and other international partners also offered supports to the project.
The Rivers could stretch 23.8kms and 27.5kms respectively from Mt. Entoto in the north section of the capital to Akaki south of the city.
In three years, Addis riversides will get cycling path, jogging space, cafes, restaurants, city tours, and greenery, water treatment plant, what have you.
“The facilities that will take shape as a result of the project “will provide various historical and nature-based activities as well as areas of respite for visitors,” Office of the Prime Minister disclosed.
The project is also said to “increase the real estate value of current and future property development alongside the rivers project. Enhance the green coverage and build the image of Addis Ababa as a city reflecting its name- New Flower.”
A dinner event hosted by the premier himself raised the city’s residents are expected to raise over five million Birr on voluntary basis.
Water treatment plant of the project will also allow residents to engage in fruit and vegetable production.
When seeing the light of day, residents and visitors of the city will once again enjoy the Rivers of Addis.
The Ethiopian Herald July 12/2019
BY STAFF REPORTER
