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Addis Abeba is located in a magnificent setting: a
high valley with natural hot springs surrounded by
mountains and traversed by many rivers. It is
blessed with a wonderful climate where fruits,
vegetables and flowers can grow and bloom in
abundance all year long. In fact, Addis is the ideal
location for the most liveable city in Africa and
one of its best tourist destinations.
But before this will happen, a few changes need to
be made. The city has very few green spaces and
little tree cover that can provide respite for
people and a habitat for the wonderful endemic
birds. The air is heavily polluted by the exhaust of
old vehicles and smoke from burning garbage or
cooking outdoor fires.
The rivers and streams are littered with garbage and
are the dumping ground for industrial waste and
sewage. Less than five per cent of dwellings are
connected to a municipal sewage system. Most
residents use pit latrines and septic tanks which,
in a city of five million, certainly affects the
quality of ground water and water sources.
The pedestrian experience in Addis is generally
unsafe and unpleasant. Sidewalks are often non
existent or inadequate. Many of the streets and
ditches are littered with garbage. The constant
presence of beggars on the street is bound to be
intimidating for any foreign visitor.
Addis Abeba has a lot of potential to become a great
place to live, work and visit. Developing the
economy of Addis has to be done together by
providing a healthy and beautiful living
environment, and both are related to the expansion
of tourism. This means taking measures to protect
the air, water and soil from pollution. It also
means creating pedestrian-friendly public spaces.
It is true that some solutions such as the provision
of adequate water and sewage systems are expensive
to implement. However, there are also ways to clean
and beautify Addis that would not require a lot of
expense.
For example, providing free garbage collection to
each household would help stop the burning of
garbage and illegal dumping in public spaces. This
would replace the private collection service for a
fee that many poor households cannot afford. The
push-cart garbage collection would be paid by the
city rather than directly by households.
Hiring people to clean the ditches and remove
garbage along the river banks and in the rivers
would create jobs and give the message that it is
not acceptable to dump garbage in public spaces.
Public education and enforcing regulations against
industrial dumping in rivers would go a long way to
help clean Addis and save lives.
Reforesting the river banks would prevent erosion,
decrease the cost of water purification as well as
lower the risk of flooding. Once cleaned, the rivers
could become an asset to the city rather than a
liability. New development could integrate views and
access to rivers with public pathways.
Several initiatives could lower air pollution.
Introducing composting, recycling and free garbage
collection would reduce the amount of garbage and
the incidence of its burning.
The gradual implementation of vehicle pollution
restrictions would reduce pollution generated from
motor vehicles. Replacing the use of biomass fuels,
particularly wood, charcoal and animal dung with
electricity would also help clean the air of Addis.
Creating great public spaces helps define the
character of a city. They are symbols of a community
and its history. Currently, Addis has no memorable
public spaces. Thought should be given to developing
pedestrian friendly streets and to accommodating
pedestrians along with vehicles.
The city could also require that all new development
provide public gardens and contribute land or money
for parks to increase the tree cover of the city.
Renovating heritage buildings and finding new use
for them would enhance the character of Addis.
Addis' rich natural and cultural heritage provides a
powerful potential for it to become the most
liveable city in Africa and one of its best tourist
destinations. One day, the city will have the money
and the determination to tackle these issues. When
this happens, Addis will be a jewel and one of the
best places to live in the world.
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