|
Afew metres away from my house down the Lazarist
Mission alley near the Semien Mazegaja County,
three condominium apartments stand side-by-side at
the plot where the former Kebelle 13 was located for
more than a decade. About three years ago, we, as
members of the so-called 'Development Council,' were
told by Kebelle officials that a new school was to
be built on the site and that we had to make some
contributions, either in cash or in-kind, including
labour.
The contribution ratio was 3:1 (dwellers to
government). That was ridiculous. CARE ETHIOPIA was
constructing village access roads with villagers
contributing only 10pc. The same story was heard in
other neighbouring kebelles as well; some paid in
cash while others volunteered to participate
physically. What we saw in the ensuing months was
sprouting condominiums and no schools.
Were we misinformed? What happened to our
contributions?
Every time I pass by apartment building, I
appreciate the construction boom as an indicator of
economic growth and a relief of the housing problems
in the cities of Ethiopia, not to speak of job
creation opportunities. I also think of the kind and
quality of architecture of these new and other
buildings in town that dot the capital and wonder if
the designs involve the participation of the
residents or other parties within the same
perspectives.
One does not have to be a professional to discern
between alien and local taste.
Are our architects voiceless or satisfied with the
clichés that impose their uniformity on the skyline
of this young city? Even Russia has changed for the
better. Their architects are now free to express
their talents.
Architecture should not only aim at responding to
the actual technical requirements of residents, but
also reflect the cultural values and traditions of a
society living in a given period of time. A country
such as Ethiopia, which is rich in architectural
heritages like the ancient rock-hewn churches of
Lalibella and castles of Gondar, should not be
wanting for footprints to forge.
Where is the origin of these ancient designs? China?
I am serious. Go to the Woreta/Woldya gravel road
and witness the designs of the bridge rails and you
know what I am talking about.
How would the coming generation account for those
footprints a hundred years from now? I hope
friendship in globalisation will reign.
Architectural designs and their historical
implications aside, sprouting and booming buildings
have social and economic impacts. A couple of months
ago there were thousands of house-seekers registered
to get shelters. A few thousand have now cast lots
and become owners and leasers.
Were they misinforming the government officials? How
can so many people claim to have no shelters and
register only to turn out to be renting citizens at
the expense of public money? They pay rents to
private landlords and lease their studios for more
than 1,500 Br on average. Were these people
misguiding the officials?
City Hall officials are begging for public pardon
for their gross mistake of handing single lots to
multiple parties. I feel it is a grave error on the
part of the concerned incumbents not to clarify
matters before casting lots twice for the same
houses.
The simple and genuine way of rectifying the mess
would have been maintaining the principle of first
come first served, and see to it that the new lucky
ones are served right when the time comes. Better
still, they could keep the list of waiting clients
and lease them the unoccupied condominiums.
But rumour has it that the previous lot did not
include members of the security department to be
planted in each block. It sounds fine to me.
There are unfinished or unoccupied blocks standing
vacant long after they have been built, despite the
thousands of waiting residents. These same houses
had been inaugurated on the eve of the millennium
celebration amidst other projects that gave us the
impression the city was on the runway of economic
development, ready to take-off in the new millennium
mood. I may cite the new apartment blocks built on
the site of the former office of Kebelle 01, Higher
10.
Is there some kind of window dressing or self-deceit
in the game?
It may be said that the construction of new cement
factories and the starting of operations of some of
them would further enhance the booming industry and
encourage land owners or real-estate developers to
construct more residential and commercial buildings.
The big question is if the market can carry these
additional houses. Many people doubt it very much.
Many of the new buildings alongside the main streets
of the capital are fully or partially unoccupied.
When the Derg regime came to power, one of the
issues it blamed its predecessor for was the often
used and worn out useless term 'study'. The regime
paid dearly for its naivety. There is no denying the
fact that the country is poor and underdeveloped. It
is also true that we need to set out our priorities
very cautiously.
The boom in the construction industry does not
guarantee the disappearance of all our problems into
thin air just like that. Cement is not all there is
to it. We need iron and steel in the construction
process both metaphorically and earnestly speaking.
What is the use of building a house which is not
worthy of rent at any cost? |
