Mayors from various African cities have gathered here in Addis Ababa recently to participate in African Mayoral Leadership Initiative (AMALI,) an initiative for promoting mutual learning and devising African solutions for African problems. The gathering of the continents mayors comes at a critical time when the issue of sound urban development policy, especially that helps ensure better urban governance is mandatory to address multifaceted problems of residents.
Addis Ababa has shouldered responsibilities beyond being the political and economic capital of Ethiopia as a seat of various regional, continental and international organizations. It is also hub of transportation, entertainment, religious institutions and cultural events.
Despite carrying all these responsibilities that keep the city very busy, it has managed to be mentioned as an example of a rapidly growing city in a developing economy. The formation of such spaces is k\ey to understanding the range of urbanization in Africa. In practical terms, this may mean looking more attentively at the impact that, for instance, the construction of streets and other infrastructure has on how the urban populace can dwell, make a living and articulate their interests.
Africa is a continent home to more than 1 billion people. It is a developing continent that still contends a lot of problems that beset its population. These challenges that are compounded under social and economic issues are like schooling, health, transportation, housing … etc.
Even though it cannot be mentioned as a panacea, various sources mention urbanization as a means to somehow address all these needs for the residents. One can go on mentioning a lot of instances for the benefits of urbanization. All these lists of advantages told about urbanization explain that cities or towns are more preferable that rural areas as they provide all these opportunities to their residents regardless of the extent or quality.
For instance one of the primary reasons for wanting to live in a city is the employment opportunities that are available there. It is very easy to find a job in a metropolitan area, whether you are currently employed or looking for new employment. You will also have the benefit of being able to save money on your rent and other living expenses.
Most cities have a lot of hospitals and doctors’ offices, and they are often quite close to one another. Because you will be less likely to have to travel far for medical care, you will save money and time. Living in the city also means that you will find the services of a dentist and other medical professionals with ease.
The main reason why many people move to the city is for better education for their children. In the city, schools are usually much closer to home and you will never be far from one. Many of the best schools are in the city.
For this reason, you ensure your children get the education that they need and that will benefit them later on in life. There is a much greater variety of entertainment options in the city. Whether you enjoy art, music, or other forms of entertainment, you find it is much easier to locate the things that appeal to you in a city than in a more remote area.
There is also the benefit of being able to enjoy many types of ethnic cuisine as compared to the village. Village life has also advantages but not more than city life. Because there is a lot less pressure to commit to things, you often find that living in the city is more enjoyable, and it can even be easier to meet people with similar interests.
In the city, you are likely to find that there is a much greater diversity of people than you would find in a more remote area. Many parents prefer to live in the city so that they can find better education for their children.
The greater diversity within the schools of a major metropolitan area can lead to significant advantages for their children, starting with a broader worldview.
Safety concerns are less of an issue in the city than in the more rural areas. There is also much more public transportation available, making it easy for you to get around safely and without having to rely on a car. Living in the city results in greater access to cultural events and venues. You will often have a greater number of cultural options where you live, and this is true with the major metropolitan areas. You will have greater access to museums and galleries, as well as to performances at musical halls and opera houses.
Because of the lower costs of living, you will find an apartment or house to rent that is considerably cheaper than one would be in a rural or less populated area. The opposite is also true in buying a home. The cost of buying a house in the city is significantly less than that in suburbs, rural areas, or small towns. Living in the city will reduce the chances that you will be a victim of crime. Because you have a higher likelihood of being seen by other passersby, criminals in the city are less likely to commit crimes.
While it is true that African cities are severely lacking all these, the bottom line for all of them is the matter of urban governance. Governance is a key issue that has the potential to settle the multifaceted problems prevaililng in urban areas. ‘Policies do not occur in a vacuum’, as the World Development Report aptly notes. They are the outcome of complex political and social settings within ever changing rules that are influenced by various actors (World Bank, 2017, 29).
As municipalities are, with few exceptions, financially and institutionally weaker than their counterparts in the global North, they often cannot plan and order urban space as urban administrations would do elsewhere. They have to engage in novel forms of governance that are not based on Western models and their history. Research on urban governance in Africa thus has turned into a fascinating field that calls for new concepts and urban theories to analyse the entanglement of the many actors that engage in and deal with cities and the urban
BY STAFF REPORTER
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 11 OCTOBER 2023
