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CHAPTER THREE

3. THE REGIONAL CONTEXT: FINFINE (ADDIS ABABA)

REGIONAL METROPOLITAN SYSTEM

3.1. Introduction

This chapter presents the broader context of the study area from the regional scale to the

local level circumstances. The study of fringe areas surrounding a city requires an understanding

of spatial relations between the broader metropolitan region containing the core city and the

fringe zones. In this connection in order to have clearer understanding about the geographical

setting and relationships between the three spatial units (i.e. metropolitan region of Finfine

[Addis Ababa) , the Finfine (Addis Ababa) city proper and the SZOSF as fringe area]. Because

there is a strong geographical and historical affiliation between Finfine city and the surrounding

areas, more attention is given to how the city and the fringe areas were in interaction and

developments underway in the contemporary urbanization and investment development scenario

of an expanding Finfine city to the SZOSF.

3.2. History of Urbanization and Origin of Towns in Ethiopia: An Overview

Ethiopia has long history of urbanization despite lack of permanent city until the

foundation and final consolidation of the rulers at Finfine (Addis Ababa) in 1887.There were

significant towns established in the then Ethiopian Empire (Abyssynia) like the oldest cities of

Axum, Gondar, Asmara in the northern part. Archaeological and historical evidences witness the

existence of towns since the Axumite period. The birth of a number of important earlier

Abyssinian towns Axum, Gondar and Asmara was attributed to political and commercial

situations in the northern Ethiopia during those days.

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Ezana (2013) quoting Mesfin (1976) explains that the process of urban development in

Ethiopian is known for its extremely slow and sporadic progress. This is in part a result of the

fact that pre-twentieth century Ethiopian urbanization was intimately linked with political

capitals. After the abandonment of Aksum as a capital, Ethiopian kings have for centuries

practiced a tradition of roving capitals because of political, military, and environmental reasons.

Menilik’s decision to make Finfine (Addis Ababa) a permanent capital represented an end to this

longstanding practice.

According to R.J Horvath (1966) who studied the role of small towns around the capital,

urbanization in Ethiopia has undergone fundamental metamorphosis during the twentieth

century. A system of towns existed in the historic Ethiopia whose establishment and functions

were quite different from the towns we observe today. Sixty years back a study conducted by

Messing (1957) showed that the towns in the northern Ethiopia had their origin within the feudal

social organization of the Amhara society where as the southern towns were trading centres.

The Italians promoted urbanism significantly by founding towns and expanding the

economic base of the existing towns. After the departure of Italians towns were founded and

grew at unprecedented rate. The towns in the southern Ethiopia served as important commercial,

and political centres, most of them were therefore, the result of politico-military development of

the Emperor. As one of the ‘southern’ towns, Finfine (Addis Ababa) fundamentally owes its

growth to these developments.

However, regarding the impetus for urbanization in Ethiopia, Getahun (2000) asserted that

there is a continuous debate among scholars of Ethiopia on whether urbanization in Ethiopia was

the result of Menelik’s conquest or the result of local social, economic and cultural dynamics

which impacted the growth of towns. The debate focus on whether urban growth during the

period was attributed to internal developments or external factors. Getahun in his paper entitled

‘A History of Addis Ababa from Its Foundation in 1886 to 1910 (2000)’ has revealed that even if

these two debating cases existed, recent research has clearly supported the fact that pre-existing

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social, economic and cultural factors in the conquered regions made significant contribution to

the evolution of Menelik’s garrison in to towns. It was in this fashion that Finfine emerged from

a small settlement grown to one of the biggest metropolis in Africa.

Horvath divided the evolution of towns in Ethiopia into three periods the classification

which largely portrays the functional bases of the towns. The pre-Italian period (the period

covers long time before the Italian Occupation of Ethiopia i.e., before 1936). The second period

is the period of Italian Occupation of Ethiopia (1936-1941). The third period is the post-Italian

occupation, which means from 1941 onwards.

During the first period i.e., before the 1936, the majority of the towns in the country were

formed by the military occupation of the internal power, Menelik. After the foundation of Finfine

(Addis Ababa) as a city, which took geographic advantage being centrally located in the heart of

both the former Abyssinian and the newly incorporated southern Ethiopian territory, there

emerged towns like Holota Gannat which are located closer to the seat of the Emperor. The

Emperor has been using the nearby towns and rural areas as a source of resources to depend on.

Around 1915 the nuclei of four towns were established by the company building Addis Ababa –

Djibouti railroad. Kaliti, Akaki, Galan, Dukam stations were established along the railroad and

were located in the closer distance from Finfine (Addis Ababa). These towns existed till today

though their growth is not as such highly appreciated (Horvath 1966). Towns like Harar, Dire

Dawa, Bonga and Jimma were among the oldest towns in the ‘southern’ region even before the

conquest of Menelik.

Finfine (Addis Ababa) was a small village when it was occupied by Menelik in the 1886. It

grew up to metropolitan centre passing through different phases of growth. Establishment of the

city did not follow any conscious urban planning, rather it reflected the pattern of the traditional

military camp, and the nobles were granted land on strategic hilltops of the city that encouraged

clustering around the nobles’ compounds (Ezana, 2013).

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Figure 3.1: Finfine (Addis Ababa) in 1900: A “Collection of villages” that was capital of An

Empire

Source: Eduardon Byrono

3.3. A Retrospective Study of Finfine (Addis Ababa)

3.3.1. The Founding of the city

The city was established in 1887 when Menelik moved his palace from Entoto to the hill

around the hot springs in the Finfine. Menelik’s occupation of Finfine was not a sudden decision

rather it was a long time ambition of his predecessors to colonize the Oromo in Shawa whose

centre is Finfine. The history of Finfine (Addis Ababa) reflects the manner the Oromo people

were conquered, robbed off their land and properties, reduced to serfs and slaves, and kept under

inhuman subjugation. Prior to colonization of Oromia by the domestic colonizers of the then

feudal Amharas, the present day Addis Ababa had an Oromo name – Finfine. Even if they tried

much to destroy the name and the history the Oromo community retained it till today. The name

attests the abundance of hot springs (“Hora Finfinnee” in Afaan Oromo) at the heart of the city,

where cattle flourished. The area was solely inhabited by Oromo clans of Gulale, Eekka, Galan,

Abbichu and was divided into twelve counties or districts: Each district was being administered

by the local clan chiefs: like Tufa Muna and Dula Harra’and others, Jima Jatani, Guto Wasarbi,

Jima Tikse, Abeebe Tufa, Waree Golole, Tufa Araddo and Mojo Boxora (Tarekegn 2004).

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Figure 3.2: ‘Hora Finfinnee’ (Hot springs of Finfine), 1900

Source: Re-extracted from Mikyas T.A (2011)

During the late 18th

and early 19th

century, the neighbouring Amhara community were

wedging continuous predatory raids and looting expeditions against the Oromo people. Some of

these brutal raids were documented by Major W. C. Harris a British diplomatic mission in his

book "The Highlands of Aethiopia (1844)". In one of his vivid description Harris wrote as

follows;

…rolling on like the mighty waves of the ocean, down poured the Amhara host among the

rich glades and rural hamlets, at the heels of the flying inhabitants—tramping underfoot the

fields of the ripening corn, and sweeping before them the vast herds of cattle which grazed

untended in every direction. When far beyond the range of vision, their destructive progress

was still marked by the red flames that burst forth in turn from the thatched roofs of each

village... they poured impetuously down the steep side of the mountain, and swept across the

level …the troops, animated by the presence of the monarch, now performed their bloody

work with a sharp and unsparing knife—firing village after village until the air was dark with

their smoke mingled with the dust raised by the impetuous rush of man and horse. The

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unfortunate inhabitants, taken by surprise, had barely time but to abandon their property, and

fly [flee] for their lives…The spear of the warrior searched every bush for the hunted foe.

Women and girls were torn from their hiding to be hurried into helpless captivity Old men

and young were indiscriminately slain and mutilated among the fields and groves; flocks and

herds were driven off in triumph, and house after house was sacked and consigned to the

flames (Major W.C Harris quoted in Tarekegn, 2004).

The Oromo land was distributed among royal family, the church and the military personnel

and the Oromo were forced to serve them as serfs on their own land. At the height of Haile

Selassie’s regime, the royal family and the nobility owned over 50% of Oromo land and 33%

belonged to the Ethiopian Orthodox church (Tarekegn, 2004). The author further explains that

such acts continued albeit at differing degrees by all the successive leaders of that country against

the indigenous people that fell under their repressive rule. Sahle Selasie, Haile Melekot, Menilik

and those after Menilik all committed this similar inhuman deed against Oromo people in

Finfine. Sources indicate that King Sahle Selassie once had prophesized that “at this place

[Finfine/Addis Ababa] my children’s children will reign” (Mirror of Addis Ababa 1942).

Menelik, Sahle Selassi’s grand son was able to do [occupied the Oromo land of Finfine and its

surroundings] what Sahle Selasie failed to accomplish (Mekuria, 2013).

One of the surprising things in the history of foundation of Finfine as a city is the fact that

many non-Oromo Ethiopian writers are refraining from writing the genuine history of the Oromo

- Finfine relations before Menelik and his wife, Tayitu, took over the Oromo land. Even

historians who are thought to write historical facts are undermining the genocide made to the

indigenous Oromo community who had lived in Finfine .Therefore, many of the sources about

the founding history of Finfine is depended on account left by foreign observers and writers of

the day (such as Peter P. Garretson, Richard Pankhurst, Ronald J. Horvath, Major W.C. Harris

and others). Many of the non - Oromo scholars in Ethiopia are not interested to write about this

fact nor they are interested to see the name ‘Finfine’ written representing the native name of the

present ‘Addis Ababa’. But it is difficult to deny historical reality and, thus contemporary Oromo

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writers bear the responsibility of uncovering some of the realties and restore some lost historical

facts names and native names of places through researching. It is in such cases that geography

and history strongly wed in order to narrate the implications of historical changes on the current

developments. How many of us know that including the name of the metropolitan city which was

changed from Finfine to Addis Ababa and all the district names of the city are having native

Oromo names?

3.3.2. Spatio - Temporal Growth Trend of the city

Like any other cities of the world the emergence and growth of Finfine city has passed

through development phases. Finfine (Addis Ababa) has started as a military camp. In 1887

Menelik, conqueror of the Oromo land, Finfine, a historical, social, cultural centre of the Oromo

community from the remote past, allocated all the land surrounding his new settlement after

displacing the indigenous community, to his personal accomplices and the rest of the land of the

then existing boundary to his officials and their unknown number of ‘Naftagnas’, but

occasionally to group of servants and soldiers (sources indicate that there were 31 ‘Rases’ and a

number of ‘Dejazmaches’ who were higher officials who deserved land). The structure and

layout of Finfine (Addis Ababa) was characterized by centrally located palace encircled by the

ruling elites and military officials.

The following section presents an overview of historical development of the city of Finfine

in a chronological outline of events which laid a foundation for the later developments (1887 –

2000). The early development period that took place from 1887 to 1936 is known for its

fragmented, haphazard and extended settlements of military camps and the landlords’ occupation

of large compound as localities (‘sefer’). The extended area was between Gulale and Yeka West

to East and Entoto and Bekulo-Bet North to South. In this period, the total built up area was

1863.13 hectares. Assuming constant growth in each year the average growth of the built up area

was 37.26 hectares per annum (AAMPRO, 2002).

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The physical expansion of the built-up area of the city during the period 1937 to 1975 was

characterized by a compact type of development. One of the development features during this

period was infill developments. The expansion was held to the west and largely to the south

(Akaki, Kaliti, Nefas-Silk, Makkanisa, Alert, Burayu, and Bole Kotebe). Due to this fact many

farm households were evicted for the sake of expansion of the city to Bole area.

During the period 1976 to 1985 the total built-up area of the city had reached 10,838

hectares with an overall increment of 4,788 hectares. Expansion to south wards and south west

continue during which Bole, Kotebe, Makkanisa, Gulale and part of Kolfe, Alert to Rephi and

Nifas-Silk (which comprises of Akaki and Kalitii district) are major sites brought under the built

up areas of the city. Urban settlement was extended to the periphery evicting the rural farming

community. Within nine years period huge amount of rural lands were incorporated in to the city

boundary with no rules and regulations and no appropriate planned expansion of settlements onto

farmlands. Probably, one of the factors for rapid expansion of settlements during this period was

due to radical political and economic changes that took place in the country since 1974.

Particularly, it seems that the nationalization of the urban land with loose control and

management system opened free movement for squatters and speculators. However, it was in this

period that the housing shortage in the city was most acutely felt and the government encouraged

large-scale construction of dwelling units through the established housing cooperatives.

It was in 1984 that the boundary of the city was redefined by including (annexing) some

peasant associations (PAs) from the surrounding Oromia region. These PAs are later used as

expansion areas of the city .The area of Finfine city reached 53115.8 hectares out of which

24777.9 hectares was built-up already by 2000 (AAMPRO, 2002).

Another development period was from 1986 to 1995. Similar to the 1975 -1984 period, this

is also a nine years period in which the total built-up area of the city has reached 13,763.3

hectares with an increment of 2,925.3 hectares. The annual average built up area in this period

was 325 hectares, which is higher than the first and the second periods but less than the third.

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The expansion of the city took place to the West to Ayar Tena, Kolfe Keraniyo and Asko; to the

South to Makkanisa and Kalitti; and to the East to Kotebe, Bole Garji and Bole Yerer; and to the

North of French Embassy. This was the period when the Derg regime became weak and a

change of government occurred. In the transition period squatter settlement increased more and

contributed to the physical expansion of the city.

During the most recent period of physical expansion, between 1996 and 2000, the physical

built-up area of Finfine (Addis Ababa) increased by 909.4 hectares, reaching a cumulative total

of 14,672.7 hectares. Expansion of the city was characterized by the development of scattered

and fragmented settlements in the peripheral areas of the city, with both legal residents and

squatters. In 2000, the city had an estimated total of 60,000 housing units with squatter

settlements. This figure accounted for 20 per cent of the total housing stock of the city and the

total area occupied by squatter settlements was estimated at 13.6 per cent of the total built-up

area (Minwuyelet, 2005). The expansion took place to the east to Kotebe area (for residence and

industries); to the south Kalitti and Makkanisa area (dominantly planned for both residence and

industry), to the West along the road to Jimma and Keraniyo (mainly housing both formal and

informal), and along the road to Ambo (mainly formal housing in the Asco area). Though the

increment decreased from the previous period, it is still high with scattered and fragmented

settlement. During this period a number of peasant associations (as much as 23 PAs) from the

surrounding Oromia region were annexed (incorporated) into the city boundary. There were

series of conflicts being observed between the residents of the Finfine city and the surrounding

farm communities, the source of the conflict being on land use issue. The boundary between the

Finfine administration and the surrounding special zone of Oromia remained fluid and in the

future also it poses potential conflicts between the residents of the two entities.

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Table 3.1: Finfine (Addis Ababa’s) Area increment since 1961

Period( years) Area in Hectares Area increment in Hectares

1961 21800 -

1984 22200 400

1994 53014 30814

2000 53014 -

2005 54000 986

Source: Source: Feyera (2005) citing OPHCC (1987: 9); CSA (1995:11, 1999:13, 2004: 24); ORAAMP (1997: 19)

Table 3.2: Growth Trend of Built-up areas of Finfine city

Period Average Area

covered (Hectare)

Total built-up

area (Hectares)

Annual

growth rate (%)

1886 - 1936 1863.13 1863.13 -

1937 - 1975 4186.87 6050.0 3.1

1976 – 1985 4788.0 10,838.0 6.0

1986 - 1995 2925.3 13,763.3 2.4

1996 - 2000 909.4 1.6

2001 - 2010 Nd*. Nd. Nd.

* No data Source: ORAAMP (2002)

Statistical evidences are none at all but some historical records portray that Emperor

Menelik later reformed the land tenure system whereby in the newly reformed tenure he

arbitrarily allotted the land again to more than 250 warlords, nobles, chiefs and their followers.

Such concentration of urban land in the hands of few individuals, feudal landlords shows not

only the feudal structure of distribution of land based on lease-hold system, but also it shows how

this withholding of both serviced and underserviced and the leasehold system of land allocation

affects the housing systems and the development of urban planning system.

One peculiar characteristics of the rulers before the 1974 Ethiopia was the fact that church

and state were two sides of the same coin. Thus construction of churches was one of the factors

for inappropriate use of land in the history of the city. The land occupied by the International

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diplomatic offices (Embassies) of different countries is one of the reasons for uneconomical land

planning and use. This legacy has left the city to be one of inappropriately planned cities in

Africa.

3.3.3. History of Urban Planning and the Master Plans of Finfine (Addis Ababa)

The modern master plan for the city of Finfine (Addis Ababa) first emerged during the

Italian occupation. However, there were some attempts made even before the arrival of the

Italians. During the Italian period of master plan development a segregation of the local people

from the Europeans was reflected in the planning (Mikyas, 2011). The Addis Katama was

developed for the indigenous people and the market was moved from Aradda to the new place

where Markato stands today. During this short stay of the Italians two plans were prepared for

the city. The first one was by Le Corbusier - which was a conceptual plan and the plan did not

take into account the topography of the area and hence it did not get acceptance. The second plan

was prepared by Guidi and Valle – a plan which had two main commercial political axes parallel

to each other and the gridiron plan for Addis Katama and the other two axes remain other strong

elements of the Addis Ababa city plan until today.

In the history of city planning of Ethiopia the period 1945-1956 is a land mark in that

during this period a plan was prepared by Sir Patrick Abercrombie without an accurate

topographic map but partly depending on the earlier plan attempted by Regulatore plan. In 1946

a major step for the development of Addis Ababa took place with the Organization for African

Unity (OAU) established it’s headquartering in Addis Ababa. This led the then Emperor, Haile

Selassie, to invite Sir Patrick Abercrombie, the famous planner, to prepare a master plan for this

African capital. The plan provided a park system basic framework of the present roads system,

general land use plan, residential areas designed up to 1984 for 460,000 people in adequately

serviced neighbourhood units and proposed creation of 4 satellite (Kaliti, Kotebe, Gefersa,

Walate suk (along Alam-Gana Sabata road) and two semi-satellite towns (Yeka and Kolfe) 25 -

45 kilometres radius to accommodate a total of 300,000 more inhabitants (Getahun 2000). But

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with the exception of the implementation of some of the proposed road networks, the proposal

lacked government endorsement and hence encountered actual implementation problem.

However, Abercrombie’s idea introduced new type of environmental considerations in the

planning of the city (plan for green areas).

In 1959, a British consulting group, Bolton Hennessy & Partners made another master plan

which more or less modified the plan of Abercrombie. The plan presented by the consulting

group envisaged the future of the city as that of the seat of government and trade centre and it

proposed urban renewal schemes.

In 1965, a French team led by L.de Marien reviewed all the previous master plans and drew

yet another master plan. One of the proposals of the French team was the extension of the city

southwards, the building of superhighways ring roads and the removal of the freight railway

station from its present location (Lagare) to Kaliti. However, it lacked awareness of the socio-

economic problems of the city and the main constraints of the previous proposals (Getahun,

2000). During the Derg Regime (Ethiopian Socialist government) also master plan development

continued with the plan prepared by Hungarian professor C.K Polonyi who introduced the

concept of open space (the revolutionary square in Addis Ababa).

The 1986 master plan, intended to serve for a period of 20 years, was prepared by the

Addis Ababa master plan project office established through the Ethio-Italian cooperation .The

core concept of the plan was to develop a balanced urban development system for the growing

Finfine (Addis Ababa) and to integrate the city with its surrounding regions and hence to provide

modern metropolitan feature. Decentralization of city service was the target of the plan. Sources

indicate that regardless of its wonderful proposal for the ever increasing population and space

requirement of people, the delay for its approval which lasted for 8 (eight) solid years paved a

way for unplanned urban sprawl, fragmentation of services and public areas and unplanned

development that affected the intended structure and urban form of the city.

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The latest developed master plan is the Revised Addis Ababa Master Plan (ORAAMP)

which was prepared in 2002/003 (Local Development Plans, LDP) and its main focus is on

reorganization of the 1986 master plan. But recently, in the year 2013 the Addis Ababa city

Government is announcing that it has again revised the existing master plan even though it is not

yet publicised. This work is under progress by the recently established city based office known as

The Addis Ababa City Planning Project Office (AACPPO).

In general, it is possible to infer from the master plan experience of the city that it has

passed through a number of challenges from the foundation of the city to the present. Series of

master plans developed during the different regimes has introduced new concepts which are

requirements for any master plan. During the previous periods the master plans largely focused

on physical aspects only and were inconsistent. The recent master plans however, incorporated

the socio-economic circumstances in their planning proposal. Despite that, still the majority of

the developments carried out in the city are not complying with the master plan proposals. The

city government is largely looking for more space for the horizontal expansion of settlements and

industry to accommodate the ever increasing population contributed both by natural increase and

migration to the city. This condition perpetuated a continuous expansion of the city over the

fertile agricultural lands in the vicinity of Finfine. Except in very few cases, all the plans were

barely implemented because of the reasons mainly attributed to bureaucratic bottlenecks. On the

other hand, all the previous planners had underestimated the dynamics of population growth and

hence the basic resources and the social infrastructures that accompany population growth.

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Figure 3.3: Expansion trend of Finfine city (1886-2000)

Source: AAMPRO (2002)

3.4. Finfine (Addis Ababa) Today

Located in the foothill of Entoto mountain, Finfine is bounded by some of the well-known

ridges and high mountains in south east (Yerer mountain), in the west within few kilometres of

distance (Wacaca mountain), in the southwest (the Furi) and in fact, the Entoto in the north, part

of which is put under the urban informal settlement. Except part of Entoto the others for the

moment are located outside the boundary of the city but within the SZOSF. The physiography

generally shows that in northern part the city is located over 3000 meters elevation and the

elevation drops to 2300m when we go southwards. Entoto ridge is a natural check to urban

expansion in the northern part. But some industries and settlements have leap-frogged to the

SZOSF crossing the mountain ridge.

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Figure 3.4: Physiography of Finfine city and its Surroundings

Source: A.Codat2 (2012)

Finfine (Addis Ababa) is situated in the central part of the country and is the nerve centre

of social, economic, political and administrative matters of the country’s population in general

and the Oromo people in particular. It is a rapidly expanding city even though the status

urbanization of Ethiopia is low even in African standard. But the day -to- day expansion of

activities both the ‘good’ and the ‘evils’ made it one of the largest cities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Its population increases annually by 4-6 per cent which can partly be attributed to the natural

population growth of nearly 2.4 per cent and the high migration of population from villages and

rural areas to the city. Government's population growth figures for Finfine (Addis Ababa)

precariously underestimate the number of people coming in from poor rural areas in search of a

better life. The CSA, the process owner of statistical issues for the country many a times

underestimate the population size of the country in general and of the city in particular. For

example, when we see population size of Finfine by the year 2007, the Census result of the same

shows 2,739,551 (CSA 2007). When we look at some research papers for the same year they

have put the population of the city sub-city wise and the aggregate population size to be 2.9

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million just citing the same source, CSA. In the same manner UN-HABITAT (2007) report put

the population size of Finfine was 4 million. What is the source of such discrepancies? This

needs another separate investigation. However, given this data problem, the official report of

CSA is largely used. Thus, the population of Finfine as projected from the 2007 for the year 2012

is about 4 million and even recently the city administration has more than 4 million. Finfine

(Addis Ababa's) population could swell from 4 million today to more than 7 million within a

matter of few years, far more than the government's existing housing and infrastructure plans

could cope up with.

The city of Finfine (Addis Ababa) has the status of both a city and a state, with a charter

endorsed by the federal government. The Mayor is the chief executive of the city government.

The second tier of government refers to the Sub-Cities. The city is divided into 10 Sub-Cities

with significant responsibilities regarding municipal and non-municipal services. The lowest tier

of government is the Kebele (the lowest administrative unit). Each sub-city has on average about

10 Kebeles under it, and hence the City is divided into more than 100 Kebeles. However, the city

possesses multiple identities which may in the future create some administrative problems with

the surrounding Oromia region.

Imbalances between the housing demand and supply, lack of capacity of efficient services

provisions, good governance, system of solid waste management, environmental costs of rapid

urban growth, inappropriate land administration and management and some others are among the

major bottleneck problems for the proper and sustainable land development of the city.

Finfine (Addis Ababa) is a primate city where historical and geographical advantages

helped it to gain the status. It is in fact, unique from other cities of Africa in that it was guided by

indigenous plans during its early developments until the Italian occupation of Ethiopia during

which foreign plans stated to emerge for Finfine. The other unique feature of the city is that its

primacy was not a colonial legacy unlike most African cities.

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The city dominated the urban history of Ethiopia in all aspects (demographic, social,

economic, administrative and cultural). It has the highest share of urban population of the

country and of course, as a city it has significant share of the total population of Ethiopia (nearly

25 per cent of the urban population and 5.5 per cent of total population of Ethiopia is contributed

by Finfine). On the other hand the growth and development of regional towns in the country was

highly affected due to the reason that the past governments have been giving more attention to

the development of the capital city than the other towns in the country. This situation has affected

the development of other towns. But recently there is an attempt to boost the growth and

development of regional towns which may influence the primacy of the capital and contribute to

fair distribution of resources and population to all other towns and cities of the country.

Finfine is the hub of Ethiopian urban economy. The GDP of the city accounts for a

significant share of the national GDP. Service sector contributes for more than two-third of the

GDP (76.5 per cent), industry (23.3 per cent) and 0.2 per cent comes from agriculture (M. Addis

Codatu2 2012). Both formal and informal sector economy is contributing for employment of the

city’s population. The city is well connected to all parts of the country via the five major outlets

with road transportation. Its central location made it to have a major transportation hub of the

country.

Figure 3.5: The Rank-Size distributions of towns and cities in Ethiopia as of July 2011.

Source: Wondimu R. KTH, Stockholm (2011)

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According to the CSA 2007 report, there are about 973 settlements designated as urban

(with population size of 2000 and more) in Ethiopia and the number of towns and cities is

tremendously increasing from time to time. However, there are only 12 towns whose population

size is more than 100000. Finfine is the only city which has more than 1 million populations.

Therefore, its primacy is unquestionable and now it is 10 times more than the second largest ton,

Dire Dawa, in population.

Table 3.3: Population Weight of the Finfine out of Ethiopia’s Population (1950-2015)

Population (000s) Finfine’s per cent of

Ethiopian population

Year

Finfine Finfine annual Ethiopia Total Urban

change Total Urban

Absolute Rate per

100

1950 392 18434 848 2.1 46.2

1960 519 12.7 2.85 22771 1465 2.3 35.4

1970 730 21.1 3.47 28791 2477 2.5 29.5

1980 1182 45.2 4.94 36375 3813 3.2 31.0

1990 1793 61.1 4.25 48093 6461 3.7 27.8

2000 2639 84.6 3.94 62565 11042 4.2 23.9

2010 4070 143.1 4.43 79944 18271 5.1 22.3

2015 5095 205.0 4.59 90947 23441 5.6 21.7

Source: Antonio Golini (n/d‡)

Finfine’s share of the national urban population declined from a high of 46.2 per cent in the

1950 to low of 22.3 per cent in the 2010.This means that its primacy is gradually declining away

as a result of faster growth rate of the towns in most of other parts of the country.

‡ No date

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3.5. Metropolitan Planning Region of Finfine (Addis Ababa)

3.5.1. The Metropolitan Region: Oromia Regional State and Finfine city

Metropolitan region is a planning area around the city which encompasses some important

sources of urban supply, services and infrastructures. In Ethiopia it is rare to observe a

metropolitan area structure as there is only one city which is to the level of having metropolitan,

other cities (towns) being smaller in size. The majority of Ethiopian population lives in rural

areas and less than a quarter of the country’s population is residing in urban areas.

Metropolitan Region of Finfine (Addis Ababa Metropolitan Region) was proposed some 30

years back during which it was planned to create ‘Greater Addis Ababa’. Metropolitan Region of

Finfine (Addis Ababa) is located between 8o 22’N and 9

o30’57” N latitudes and 38

o24’East and

39o21’E longitudes. The plan was proposed to connect Finfine (Addis Ababa) city with the city

of Adama some 100 kilometres south east of Finfine. It is a wide region incorporating the

surrounding six districts of the Oromia National Regional state and the ten sub-cities of Finfine

city which further aimed at making metropolis self-sufficient with agricultural products.

The Metropolitan region is proposed to comprise the rural districts and towns within a 40-

50 kilometres radius from the core and the city itself, to include the area where urban-rural

interaction is more intense than in the other parts of the region. To the south and south-east part

of Finfine, the length of the metropolitan area stretches up to 100 kilometres (along the Finfine -

Adama corridor). The natural resources for supplying the whole area with fuel wood fresh

vegetables, milk and dairy products are located here together with major infrastructures

providing for water, electricity, sewerages, waste treatment, transport, parks and recreation. This

region has a total area of 5493 square kilometres with a population of more than 4 million (now

actually the population is estimated at 7 million (Zegeye, 2009) when the population of Special

Zone of Oromia is included.

103

Neither the boundary of Finfine nor those of its hinterlands are clearly defined, partly

because administrative boundaries frequently change associated with administrative reforms and

reclassifications and partly because most of the agricultural commodities pass through Finfine

either to be traded or transported to other areas in Ethiopia or the Djibouti port as major export

location. The key position of Finfine in the heart of the country is historically and strategically

grown as a result of the highly centralized governance structure. It is very recently that reforms

and policy decentralization has begun and still it is not strongly grounded to change the

concentration of functions in Finfine.

Source: Codat2 (2012)

Since the metropolitan region proposed urban expansion, development have especially

progressed into the direction of Bishoftu and Adama, but it is not clear whether this is the effect

of planning or the result of autonomous development driven by population growth.

Figure 3.6: Finfine (Addis Ababa) Metro-Planning Region

104

The population size of the two major components of the Metropolitan region (i.e. the City

Government of ‘Addis Ababa’ and the SZOSF) is presented in tables below. Since recent times

population of the city and the districts and the towns in the special zone as well is growing

rapidly due to some development ventures undergoing in the region that attracts rural population

in search of job and living. The CSA including other sources indicate that the population of the

city is growing at 6 per cent per year which is a very high growth rate. The city and its fringe

settlements are destinations of dozens of rural and urban migrants.

Figure 3.8: Metropolitan Region of Finfine city and the Special Zone of Oromia

Source: Extracted from the Codat2 (2012), OWWDSE (2011)

As can be seen from map 3.8 above, the city of Finfine (Addis Ababa) is located in the

heart of the metropolitan region. The Special Zone of Oromia Surrounding Finfine is situated

surrounding the city boundary of Finfine. The metropolitan region in addition these two sub-

region contains other towns and rural districts. The developments that take place in the city

boundary of Finfine are the major factors for the changes and transformations taking place in this

metropolitan region. The linkage between the city and the other rural and semi-urban areas in the

105

metro-region is strong. Therefore, due to the presence of strong geographic integration between

the three regions, the scale of analysis in this study ranges from the micro-scale (where the case

study sites are located) and the implications are at the metropolitan region (macro-scale) level.

Source: Author’s construct

As it is mentioned in the above paragraph, the metropolitan region contains both the city

and the surrounding areas. Administrative structures, population size and the area of the city

boundary and the Special zone surrounding the city is indicated in tables 3.4 and 3.5 below.

Finfine Metropolitan

Region (Macro scale)

Special Zone of

Oromia Surrounding

Finfine

Case Study Sites

(Galan, Lagatafo, Burayyu)

(Micro scale)

Transformations (Land use/cover,

socio-economic, environmental)

Figure 3.9: Scale of Analysis for the Study

106

Table 3.4: Population, Area and Density of Sub-cities (Districts) of Finfine

Sub-

cities/Districts

2008 2009

Population Area(km2) Density

(P/km2)

Population Area

(km2)

Density

(P/km2)

Addis Katama 254972 7.4 34409.2 271644 7.9 34409.2

Akaki-Kaliti 183288 118.1 1552.2 195273 125.8 1552.2

Arada 212129 9.9 21405.5 225999 10.6 21405.5

Bole 308714 122.1 2528.8 328900 130.1 2528.8

Gulallee 267381 30.2 8859.5 284865 32.2 8859.5

Kirkos 220991 14.6 15115.7 235441 15.6 15115.7

Kolfe Keraniyo 428219 61.3 6991.3 456219 65.3 6991.3

Lidata 201613 9.2 21962.2 214796 9.8 21962.2

N.S. Lafto 315134 68.3 4614.0 335740 72.8 4614.0

Yeka/Ekka 345807 86.0 4021.9 368418 91.6 4021.9

Total Finfine

(A.A)

2738248 527.0 5196.0 2917295 561.4 5196.0

Source: CSA (2008)

Population of the districts in the special zone and the eight (8) towns is presented below

separately. Between 2008 and 2009 while the population of Finfine city was growing at 6 per

cent per year, the growth rate for the six districts was more than 11 per cent. Indicating strong

population pull to the region

Table 3.5: Population, Area and Density of Districts in SZOSF (CSA 2008)

Districts of

the SZOSF

2008 2009

Population Area

(km2

)

Density

(P/Km2)

Population Area

(Km2

)

Density

(P/km2)

Akaki 77 829 582.6 133.6 85 219 637.9 133.6

Barak 81205 736.5 110.3 88916 806.5 110.3

Mulo 35130 509.9 68.9 38466 558.3 68.9

Sabata-

Hawaas

133746 867.9 154.1 146446 950.3 154.1

Sululta 129322 1151.2 112.3 141602 1260.5 112.3

Walmara 83784 656.1 127.7 91740 718.3 127.7

Total of

districts

541016 4504.2 120.1 592389 4931.9 120.1

Population of the eight towns has shown a very rapid growth for the period from 2007/8 to

the projected population size for the year 2015.There is a trend of increasing and thereby putting

enormous impact on the surrounding rural agricultural land. Here it is possible to see that the

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major city, Finfine, is expanding to towards the SZOSF and on the other hand the towns in the

special zone are drastically increasing in the area decreasing the agricultural and grazing lands

between the city boundary and the towns’ administrative area. Within few years from now the

agricultural lands found surrounding the towns of the SZOSF will be totally put to urban use.

Figure 3.10: Finfine and its Surrounding Towns of the Special Zone of Oromia

108

Table 3.6 : Profile of towns in the SZOSF (Year of establishment, area in hectares and

population size)

Towns in

(SZOSF)

Districts Year of

estab.EC/G

C

Area

(Hect.)

2009

Population size

2007/8 2009/10 2011/12 2013/14 2015

Burayyu Walmara 1954 (1954) 6650 66526 72180 78333 85030 88598

Dukam Akaki 1988 (1996) 3586 6976 7632 8351 9137 9557

Galan Akaki 1978(1986) 750 - 9686 10598 11595 12128

Holota Walmara 1894 (1902) 5500 32112 34859 36323 41107 42842

L/Tafo-

L/Dadhi

Barak 1998 (2007) - - 13270 14518 15885 16616

Sabata S/Hawas 1936 (1944) 9500 58713 64239 70285 76900 80437

Sandafa Barak 1929 (1937) 8800 11245 12303 13461 14728 15405

Sululta Sululta 1929 (1937) 4400 13025 14251 15592 17059 17844

Total

towns

- - 39186 178497 228420 247461 271441 369,441

Source: Projected from CSA (2008); OUPI (2008)

3.5.2. Land use and Agricultural Potential of the Metropolitan Region

The spatial analyses of land cover changes in for two periods (1973-1986 and 1986-2007)

was conducted by C.J.M van der Lans et al (2011) while researching the metropolitan agriculture

of two developing metropolis of Finfine and Wuhan of China. The result shows that the built up

area of metropolitan Finfine (Addis Ababa) has increased by more than double to approximately

100 square kilometres. The expansion continued from the 1986 to 2007 in which again the size of

built up areas has approximately doubled to 200 square kilometres. The expansion of the city is

obviously at the expense of the fertile agricultural land and forest resources in the fringe areas.

The agricultural land remained stable in the period 1986 - 2007 because the loss of agricultural

land urbanization was compensated by converting forest to agricultural land in other areas.

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Agricultural Activities in the Metropolitan Region of Finfine

Metropolitan region of Finfine is one of the most agriculturally productive areas in the

country. It is physiographically located in the Showa plateau which is volcanic in origin.

Actually, the government of Ethiopia is undermining the potential and actual contribution this

region is having for food supply to the city (especially the cereals like ‘teff’ produced in the

metro region is the largest source of food for the residents of Finfine) and to the population of the

country at large. The contribution made by the region in supplying dairy products, vegetables and

fruits, horticulture and so on is enormous. But in the past five years the government is planning

to have horticultural development over the other agricultural sectors like the production of crops.

In order to do that necessarily there is an impact on conversion of agricultural land which

dominates the land use of the metropolitan region.

Ethiopian government in its policy (the Agricultural Development Led Industrialization,

ADLI) designed strategies to support commercialization of small holder agriculture through

product diversification and shift to high-valued crops, high-valued niche export crops, and the

development of large-scale commercial agriculture and the effective integration of farmers with

domestic and external markets. However, much research seems to focus on the production of

horticultural commodities for export (C.J.M et al, 2011). There is limited information available

regarding how the small holder farmers are being supported, rather their land is grabbed, and

they are displaced and left with no livelihood sources. The land farmers were using was rather

serving as a source of wealth and profit accumulation for the rich capitalists and some corrupt

government officials (this issue is well explained under Chapter six).

110

3.6. Special Zone of Oromia Surrounding Finfine as Part of the Metropolitan Region

3.6.1. The Geography and Integration

Though it is beyond the scope of this thesis to discuss in detail the genesis of relationship

between Ethiopia, Oromia, Finfine and the SZOSF, historical realities make it easy to create

connections between them. A study of their geography can explain a number of other relations.

Oromia is one of the 9 (nine) ethnically based regions of Ethiopia. It is indeed the largest

centrally positioned region, stretching from western border in an arc to south-western corner of

the country. Located in the heart of Oromia and Ethiopia, Finfine is the capital city of The

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Oromia Regional State, too. Surrounding this

city in all directions and sharing boundaries with it there are six districts of Oromia region which

in turn have towns with them and this surrounding region is known as the “Special Zone” of

Oromia surrounding Finfine - now considered in this study as fringe area of the city.

Before the EPRDF came to power in 1991, Ethiopia was divided in to administrative

provinces (14 administrative provinces). Addis Ababa was the capital of the then Shawa

administrative province. Later after EPRDF took control of power ethnically based regions were

created in which the majority of the earlier administrative provinces including Shawa came under

the Oromia region. The capital of the country and the Oromia region remains to be Finfine.

Oromia claims the city because of historical rights over Finfine not because of bargaining or not

because of something sudden but only because the original settlers of Finfine were the Oromo

and hence Finfine is part of Oromia. Historical evidences witness that as early as 1909; the total

number of Oromos in Finfine was more than 25000 representing the majority of the residents of

the town.

According to Wondwossen (2010) the geographical nexus yielded historical perspectives

on the relations of Finfine and Oromia. But why Oromia is not administering Finfine?

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Both geography and history show that Finfine belongs to Oromia region. This fact gave

rise to various kinds of claims with regard to who should administer Finfine. There were a

number of times the Oromo community claimed to administer the city based on the above

realities and rights. Such geographical and historical affiliations necessitated the regulation of the

social, economic and administrative issues. Based on this pressure the constitution of EPRDF

recognizes at least on paper the interest of Oromia in terms of social, economic and

administrative lines. The regulation reads as “The special interest of the State of Oromia in Addis

Ababa, regarding the provision of social services or the utilization of natural resources and

other similar matters, as well as joint administrative matters arising from the location of Addis

Ababa within the State of Oromia shall be respected” [Ethiopian constitution, Article 49(5)].

Finfine’s (Addis Ababa’s) location in Oromia raises issues of administration, economic and

social issues.

The Dual Identity of Finfine City

Regarding the matrix of governance of Finfine, Ybruh and Solomon (2013) tried to assess

the relations between Finfine and Oromia and hence the role of the federal government from the

point of view of some jurisdiction over the city. The authors have evaluated the modality of

governance for Finfine across with the related city states taking cases from different countries.

Below are the models of governance Ybruh and Solomon have presented and evaluated Finfine

(Addis Ababa’s) case in light with the others.

Cities, especially the capital ones always face and feel the tension between the federal

government to take full control of its seats and develop the same and a sub-national entity, in

which the city is located, that wants to govern and organize one of its component parts in its own

ways. The federal district model serves the ends of the federal government. The centre has full

control over the city and is responsible to planning and development. Among the federations that

adhere to such models include the United States (Washington D.C), India (the Union territory of

Delhi), and Nigeria (Abuja Federal Capital Territory).

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The city state is a city that serves as the seat of the federal government and that is also a

full-fledged state. As a full-fledged state, it enjoys a considerable degree of autonomy. This

certainly ensures local self-governance by avoiding any form of subservience to the federal

government or any other state. Unlike the federal district model where the federal government

has full control of the seat of government, a city state which is also the seat of the federal

government can control the behaviour of the federal government. Widely acclaimed instances of

a city state, that is also the seat of the federal government, includes Vienna (Austria), Berlin

(Germany since 1990), Brussels (Belgium) and Moscow (Russia).

In a city under a regional state, the capital city is an integral part of a sub-national unit

which in turn has jurisdiction over the city and can legally treat the same just like any other city

in the domain of the region without taking into account the interest of the federal government

.Some of the capital cities in the world embody this model (Madrid of Spain, Kuala Lumpur of

Malaysia, Ottawa of Canada, Pretoria of South Africa and Abu Dhabi of UAE).

Finfine (Addis Ababa) poses a slightly different background of governance. For one thing,

the city is the seat of the federal government while on the other hand it is located within a

Regional State of Oromia to whom the right to claim for a special treatment is postulated in the

FDRE Constitution. The FDRE Constitution gives “full measure of self-government to the

residents of Addis Ababa”. But the city is never free and autonomous as stated in the constitution.

Finally, the authors conclude that Finfine’s case is different from the condition in similar

cities/countries and thus they referred Finfine as ‘Special city’ in which the city does share

neither of the cases presented here.

Finfine (Addis Ababa) is the primary centre of the country’s social, economic and political

activities. Addis Ababa is the capital city of the Federal Government of Ethiopia as well as

Oromia. The Constitution gives self-governing status to residents on one hand and to the city

government on the other. Another lack of clarity is the fact that the Constitution puts ‘Addis

Ababa’ in what appears to be unending variance in its relation with Oromia as it only speaks

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about the special interest of Oromia without stipulating the principles that should guide the

relationship and indicating the source of the interest.

Given this confusing and abused relationship, leaving aside the reality so as to accomplish

political ends of the government of Ethiopia, another issue came in to being in 2008.That is the

establishment of the Special zone of Oromia Surrounding Finfine, which is located

circumscribing Finfine city in all directions. According to the officials of Oromia Regional state,

the special zone is established upon the venture of regulating Oromia’s interest in Finfine (Addis

Ababa).

Why the ‘Special Zone’?

The Special Zone of Oromia Surrounding Finfine, SZOSF, was established in 2007. It

comprises of the six districts surrounding Finfine which have been administered under the North

Shawa Zone, West Shawa Zone, Southwest Shawa and Eastern Shawa zone of the Oromia

region. This special zone has many small towns under it but the major ones are the 8 towns

(Burayu, Dukam, Galan, Holota, LagaTafo- Laga Dadhi, Sabata, Sandafa and Sululta). One of

the purposes of establishing the special zone as put in the preamble of the “establishing

regulation, Regulation No. 115/2000, Ethiopian Calendar,” is creating a body that guides

coordinates and follows up in one direction, of the relationship between Addis Ababa and cities

and rural areas of Oromia in social, economic and political affairs. The other one is Regulation

No.115/2000, Preamble states that the Special Zone takes over most of the functions of eleven

towns surrounding Finfine. Moreover, the zone leads and coordinates the operations of these

towns and superintends their day to day activities. It seems that the establishment of the special

zone is strategic in the sense that it unifies the so far disorganized efforts of dealing with Finfine

(Wondwossen, 2010).

Some of the powers and functions of the Special Zone comprise coordinating the

development efforts of the towns surrounding Finfine, determines the modalities of using land

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and administers land in cities surrounding Addis Ababa, establishes a centre of market for the

cities it administers, studies the modalities of working together with Addis Ababa and submits its

findings to the concerned organ and works to determine the boundary between Addis Ababa and

Oromia (Regulation No.115/2007, Article 9). Unlike other zones in the region the Special Zone

does not have legislative and judicial powers. It is an entity mainly established to shape policy

directions articulate the interest of Oromia in Finfine (Addis Ababa) and direct the bargaining

power of the eleven towns surrounding the administration city.

Explaining the importance of establishing the Special Zone, Mr. Awol, Head of land and

environmental protection office, Oromia Special Zone administration in 2009 expounded that the

establishment of the special zone is necessitated by the emerging issue of the overflowing

demand for land from Finfine to towns of the Oromia Regional State in the vicinity. Mr. Awol

added that Finfine has become saturated so investors have increasingly sought to get land from

nearby Oromia towns (the area has become a hot spot for national and international investors).

In conclusion, proximity does not explain Finfine (Addis Ababa) and Oromia and hence

Finfine city and the Special zone of Oromia. The city is totally surrounded by Oromia in all

directions, especially the districts of the Special zone which share boundary with Finfine. Had it

not been for the Constitution that knots Finfine (Addis Ababa) and Oromia together and made

Finfine a self-governing entity, the city would have been one of the cities of Oromia and hence

the subject matter of Oromia (Wondwossen, 2010). The boundary between the special zone of

Oromia and Finfine is also not yet clearly demarcated and it has created a number of tensions and

conflicts between the residents of the two regions. The metropolitan region has Finfine in the

centre and covers much of Oromia’s districts especially the fringe settlements are totally falling

in the metropolitan area boundary. The constitution still lacks clarity in explicitly indicating the

interest of Oromia in Addis Ababa. Therefore, in my opinion such suspensions are showing

unfair diversion of reality and it is simply the way Oromia’s right over Finfine continues to be

abused. Finfine administration has a plan to incorporate the Special zone administration in its

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boundary. The majority of residents and real estate developers, industry owners in zone are from

Finfine city. This condition may in the future exacerbate the expansion of Finfine to the

surrounding lands in a quite high rate.

3.6.2. Overview of the Special Zone of Oromia Surrounding Finfine

According to Ethiopian administrative hierarchy, the zone comes at the third stage going

from the higher to the lower administrative units.

Oromia Region State as one of the nine ethnically based regions of Ethiopia has Finfine in

its centre. The region has about more than18 zones and some special zones. Special zone of

Oromia Surrounding Finfine (hereinafter called as SZOSF) is a recently established (2008) zone

found geographically surrounding Finfine city in all directions. Below is a brief physical and

socio-economic characteristic of the zone.

Location:

The SZOSF is located in the central highlands of Ethiopia, in Oromia Regional state

surrounding the capital city, Finfine.

Geographically, the zone lies between 8034’ – 9

032’ north latitude and 38

025’ – 39

008’ east

longitude. The zone is found at the average altitude of 2400 meters above sea level (the altitude

ranges from 1500 to 3440 meters above sea level). This zone has a spatial coverage of 497,846

hectares. SZOSF has six (6) districts (Akaki, Barak, Mulo, Sululta, Sabata-Hawas and Walmara)

and eight (8) municipal towns. Since location-wise it is found surrounding the capital city,

Finfine, highways or outlets connecting the capital with all the regions pass through this zone. It

has a strategic position as future growth pole centre (both in terms of economy and resources).

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Climate

According to the physiographic classification of the country the SZOSF is found in the

central highlands where the climate especially temperature is from coo to moderate. The mean

annual cool temperature (11oc - 16

oc ) covers 60 per cent of the zone. About 38 per cent of the

zone has a mean annual temperature of 16oc - 21

oc and the remaining 2 per cent especially in the

southern part of the zone has a temperature amount of 21oc - 26

oc (OWWDSE 2011).

The rainfall pattern of the zone has a uni-modal characteristic where the majority 80 per

cent of this zone experiences maximum rainfall from June to September. The southern part of the

zone (Akaki district on the other hand has a bi-nomial characteristics with slightly limited

amount of rainfall than the other parts of the zone).

Figure 3.11: Rainfall and Temperature graph of Finfine and its Surroundings

Sources: Meteorological Agency of Ethiopia.

J F M A M J J A S O N D

Mean temperature 23.3 24 24.7 24 24.615.920.620.421.222.122.722.5

Rainfall 15 32 64.4 82 62 119 270 279 133 33 5 6

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

Tem

p.(

0C

) R

ain

fall(

mm

)

Temperature and Rainfall data ,Finfine and its Surroundings

(Averages , 15 years)

117

Topography

This Zone has three major physiographic divisions. The first one is the mountain Ranges,

massifs and high plateaus of Entoto, Chelelka and Gaara Foyata and (above 3000m) - lies in

central part of the Zone, stretching from Northern escarpment of the zone as well as north and

north west. The second is, the low plateaus and the associated low lands are constituted about 50

per cent of the total area of the Zone lies within the range of 1500-2500 meters. This indicates

that half of this special zone lies in the low plateau area. The third is lowlands (less than 1500m).

This type of physiographic region of the zone is found in the north western and Western low

lying areas.

The relief for Finfine city and its surrounding areas is indicated in Chapter four (from DEM

and contour maps) in which the city is situated in between the surrounding uplands or hills in the

northern, south western and south-eastern parts.

Drainage Pattern

The Special Zone of Oromia is naturally endowed with many rivers and streams. It has

high network or density of permanent rivers and streams. Entoto mountain ranges are the major

water source for the major permanent rivers which flow within and outside the zone. The Awash

river basin covers much of the zone. The Akaki river basin is the main river system in the study

area, the two rivers flow from north of Finfine city to the southwest and intersect at Abba Samuel

dam lake and finally join the Awash River.

Soils

The major soil type in Special Zone are: Chromic and Pellic Vertisols which has water

holding characteristics and heaviness for ploughing during rainy seasons due to high Clay

content, Luvisols is good for agriculture with base saturation and weather able minerals and

dominant on the high land parts of the zone, Cambisols dominantly occur on the steep slopes and

118

are often shallow or have many rock outcrops and those developed on gentler slopes, however,

have good base saturation and fertility and can highly be important for agriculture.

Other types of soils of the Zone are Andosol having over 60 per cent volcanic ash, or other

vertic pyroclastic materials in silt, sand and gravel fraction occur in parts of the Zone. Lithosol is

another group of soil found in the Zone, has a high base saturation and hence fertile. Fluvisols is

restricted to the low land parts. Levis phaeozems, Orthic Solonchak, Calcic xerosols, Eutric

regosols, Gypsic Yeromosols, mollic Gleysols and orthic Acrisols are another soil groups found

in the Zone. Generally, the fertility status of the soil of the zone is good and conducive for crop

production (OWWDSE 2011).

Vegetation

Natural Vegetation - The natural vegetation cover of an area is determined mainly by the

altitude, temperature, amount of rainfall and parent material from which the soil has been derived

and type of human interference. Its coverage and composition also changes over time due to

human activities.

According to some literatures and historical data long years ago most parts of the SZOSF

were covered with dense and Indigenous natural forest. However, due to an increase in demands

for cropland, residential, industrial, woods for construction and firewood as a result of population

growth, this type of forests have almost been lost. Currently, only, Entoto State forest and some

limited areas in the zone are some pockets of the zone that remain with very few limited natural

forest coverage. The major forest/vegetation types found in the zone includes Afro alpine and sub

Afro alpine Vegetation, coniferous Forest, broad-leafed Forest, grassland and government

Protected Forest. There are three high priority forest development regions with like Menagesha

Suba and Adis bah. Most of these forests are natural and indigenous species (OWWDSE, 2011).

These forests are being decreasing from year to year both in coverage and composition due

to illegal and legal destruction. The illegal deforestation activities include forest clearing for

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expanding farm lands, local lumber production, fire wood, construction and charcoal production

which are practiced by farmers.

Demographic and Socio-economic characteristics of the Zone

According to the official report of CSA 2007 the population of the zone was 702,593. It

covers an area of about 4800 square kilometres. Some sources estimated that the population of

the zone reaches 794,489 for the same census year. The density of population of this zone (164

persons per square kilometre) is far greater than the regional and national averages (which is

76.78 persons per square kilometre and 59.07 persons per square kilometre respectively). Before

the restructuring of the administration in the year 2007/8 the region was known for its vast plain

agricultural and grazing lands. It was the largest supplier of food for the urban community in the

special zone and Finfine.

The special zone of Oromia is rich in terms of natural resources and has use potential for

development in agriculture and related industries. The zone is a strategic area for investment,

market and access to infrastructure from the nearby Finfine city. The zone became a major

business centre for the rich businessmen and attracted large population from different parts of the

country. It became one of the highest population mobility areas in the country.

An increasing conversion of land from agricultural to urban use has attracted a large

number of investors in different sectors, wage labourers, small scale businessmen and others

which increased the dynamicity of population and activities in the area. Nevertheless, the special

zone of Oromia surrounding Finfine has lots of problems emerging due to the recent

developments introduced to the area. Even if the zone has huge potential for investment in

manufacturing, flower farming and agro-industries, it became the major recipient of some

negative externalities on the land and environment. There are challenges already emerged and

likely to emerge in the nearest future with regard to sustainable use of resources and

environmental sustainability. There is an increasing and of course, unregulated competition for

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land which affects the sustainable use of land resource. Environmental pollution is another major

threat to the sustainability development of the zone.

3.6.3. Rural – Urban Linkage: Finfine (Addis Ababa) and its Hinterlands

Demographic and economic expansion of cities, through the processes such as migration

and industrialization tend to be accompanied by spatial expansion, resulting in encroachments by

cities upon adjacent peri-urban or fringe areas. At the same time areas that were earlier distant

from the city and rural in character will subsequently start falling within the cities’ reach or ‘band

of influence’. Typically increased interaction with and access to the city economy in terms of

capital, labour (public and private) goods and services will subsequently trigger the

transformation of rural to peri-urban areas.

Studies across many cities in the world witness that the physical boundaries of urban built-

up areas often do not coincide with their administrative boundaries. The areas surrounding urban

centres generally have an important role in providing food for urban consumers, with proximity

lowering the cost of transportation and storage. In fact, it is difficult to make generalizations for

all on the nature of the fringe areas linkage with the main city, which depends on the

combination of a number of factors including the economic and infrastructural base of the urban

centre, the historical, social and cultural characteristics of the area and its ecological and

geographical features. Fringe areas are largely heterogeneous in character and have different

potential to sustain their linkage with the city around them.

Coming to the specific situation of the nature and magnitude of linkage between the city

and fringe area understudy, there are different manifestation of linkages so far established and in

progress between the city of Finfine and its fringe zone (SZOSF). As per the study conducted by

the Special zone administration in consultation with the OWWDSE during the land use planning

study from 2008 -2011, the linkage between the main city and the surrounding areas takes both

the form of rural-urban and urban-urban linkages. Economic linkages, public sector linkages,

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spatial, infrastructural and environmental linkages are among the major ones identified. Cities

and towns provide markets for agricultural products, specialised services (health, higher

education, wholesale, government and finance), and even sources of temporary employment and

shelter for some rural household members.

Rural-urban linkage studies in Ethiopia is scarce and especially the studies so far conducted

barely document detail data showing specific type of industrial goods and communities are

delivered to the rural population. From the review of these studies including the study area shows

that the bulk amount of goods delivered to the rural people are consumable goods. The demanded

goods by rural people are largely acquired through market network established in the urban areas.

Retail shops in small towns are the major sources where rural demand for industrial goods met.

But there retail shops do not have the capacity to engage in wholesale transactions and are

involved in trading consumer goods of low value. The supply works efficiently depending on the

size and type of the towns demanding the industrial goods flows. That is why in the majority of

rural areas where the small size of the settlements coupled with lack of road infrastructure limited

the availability and distribution of goods to the rural areas.

The eight towns of the SZOSF are found very closer to the main city within an average

distance of 22 kilometres. In addition, these towns are situated along the already established road

outlets and are well connected to the city. These towns are in turn connected well with the rural

villages and the towns act as intermediate supply zones of industrial goods for the rural

settlements. Proximity also facilitated such interaction. Medium sized shops in Lagatafo,

Burayyu and Galan are receiving the imported or domestically produced goods and keep in their

stock and retail the goods to the rural surrounding population. Consumable goods are the

dominant ones.

The other most important linkage we see between cities and rural settlements or between

the major city and the towns is the flow of factors of production, labour and capital. Labour is

the major source that flows between rural and urban areas, particularly unskilled labour at large

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extent and pace flows from rural areas to the nearby urban areas. In Ethiopia it is still difficult to

document the exact data on the labour movement from rural to urban areas except that some

researchers trace their source region. The amount and trend of labour flow is also shallowly

studies. During my field work in Lagatafo settlement, which is one of the emerging urban centres

in the SZOSF, I have tried to talk to one of the daily labour worker in one of the biggest real

estate construction centre called Country Cottagers Club, CCD. The informant told me that there

are more than 2000 daily labourers working in the real estate construction and majority of them

came from rural surrounding areas. The majority of technical persons however came from the

main city Finfine. It is thus possible to infer that rural areas are the major source of unskilled

labour. It is also obvious that urban sector activities are expanding to such fringe areas where job

opportunities in the construction sector can easily be secured.

Regarding capital flow between the rural and urban areas the role played by some financial

intermediaries deserves mention. The oldest and in fact the informal financial institutions (‘idir’

and ‘iqub’) contribute the largest share of capital flows in rural and urban areas. The rural

population of Ethiopia had very poor access and experience of using the formal financial

institutions, like banks. Progress came with the introduction of microfinance institutions

however. Some institutions are strong in maintain capital flow of the remote rural areas. Better

than any time in the history, the rural people are connected to information line and hence to some

opportunities. I have tried to observe in the study sites that there is awareness among the

community regarding these financial institutions. There are organizing bodies in the district and

towns of the SZOSF on how the farmers especially the ones who lost their land to urban

activities through government acquisition of land.

Among important and basic things the rural areas provide agricultural produce to the rural

population. Therefore, it is important to see flow of agricultural goods. At the country level the

major linkage between rural and urban areas is through flow of agricultural produce from the

rural areas. The eight major towns of the SZOSF are recipients of basic food items and livestock

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products from the surrounding districts. The districts in the surrounding areas of Finfine are

much endowed with agricultural produce (grain and livestock marketing).

The two regions are highly interdependent of public service sector in which the urban areas

provide higher order public services while the small towns and rural areas are potential users of

such services. The rural masses use the urban municipalities for getting high ordered public

services, like town or district administration facility, social services-hospitals, pharmacy, drug

stores-higher education colleges, agricultural training institutions, big markets, and other social

institutions are found in towns than in rural areas.

Given the following qualities of the towns and districts, for example, proximity to the

capital city and thereby national and international market, government policy towards

investment, conducive weather condition, accessibility of infrastructure, and on-going well-

prepared master plan facilitate the trend of investment potential of both towns and districts. In

discussing the role played by the surrounding rural settlements of the fringe of Finfine it is worth

mentioning that they serve as an important source of water for the city. The districts and towns

surrounding Finfine city are providing a very good space for manufacturing – small and large

scale industries, flower farming, agro-industry, real estate recreation, hotels, lounges, and resorts

mining and quarrying.

The above linkages and interdependencies are positive linkages whereby there is mutual

interdependence between the city and the districts or towns and rural areas surrounding it. One of

the most important points that should be given attention is the footprint that cities are imposing

on the rural areas. It is noted above that cities are depending on the rural areas for food and other

resources for smooth functioning of the systems in urban area. In this case some time and in most

of the cases cities are over exploiting the resources to the extent it diminishes both in quantity

and quality producing huge footprint. Cities are irresponsibly and in unplanned manner grab the

rural resources than the infrastructure they provide for the rural areas.

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In this regard, the fringe areas of Finfine from long time in history have been providing

huge resources for the city and in reverse the area is the major recipient of waste both the solid

waste and wastewater from the city. The rural districts have suffered a lot from the toxic

substance emanating from the industries in the Finfine city and flowing in water to the farmlands

and grazing fields (see the details in chapter six). In general, sustainability of such linkages

between the city and its surroundings depends on the nature of the linkage.

3.7. Recent Developments in the Metropolitan Region of Finfine (Addis Ababa)

3.7.1. Development Pressures and Potentials of the Fringe Area of Finfine

Naturally cities may expand in a haphazard manner beyond their administrative boundaries

in to the surrounding rural areas due to a number of driving forces and may sometimes be due to

the land tenure circumstances of the surrounding areas in attracting developments.

Conceptually, the urban fringe is a dynamic spatial unit where diverse competing forces are

main city, the sources of which are important to put pressure on the transition of the whole

aspects of fringe areas. Farmland conversion to non-agricultural use is largely an issue at the

urban fringe.

From recent times the fringe areas of Finfine city, the SZOSF, has shown rapid transition in

physical, socio-economic and demographic characteristics because of some critical forces

enhancing the rate and magnitude of the transition. The transition takes different forms and it can

be reflected either on the land or on the lifestyle and activities of the residents in the area. Thus, it

would be important to assess some of the development pressures operating in the fringe areas of

Finfine city as under;

I) one of the most important developments observed in the SZOSF, the fringe area, is the

restructuring of administrative units since the year 2007. It is the recent development between

the main city and the surrounding Oromia region that shaped the creation of the special zone

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itself which in this research is considered as the fringe area of the city. Previously, before the

year 2007, the eight municipal towns and the six districts have been structured under the zonal

administrative structure of Oromia region in which some of the towns and districts were under

the North Shawa zone ( Sandafa, LagaTafo-Lafa Dadhi, Sululta) ,West Shawa (Burayu, Holota),

East Shawa (Dukam and Galan) and South-west Shawa (Sabata).

II) The continuous horizontal growth and development of Finfine for the last decades to

the surrounding areas has claimed enormous amount of rural agricultural land from the vicinity.

The further pressure it has put on the neighbouring Oromia region has now come to the point

where such expansion is thought destroying the rural countryside due to different facets of

developments that the city is not able to accommodate. One of such pressures is the lack of

spaces for residential houses for the ever increasing size of population of the city. There are also

space requirements for other developments coming out from the main city (for industries, land

for new housing estates, and so many others).

In general, the major development pressures prevailing speeding up the transformation of

landscape in the fringe areas of Finfine with special reference to the three study sites includes;

Population size is highly increasing in the fringe areas, Land conversion and land loss to urban

activities is, competition over land for commercial activities (services like hotels, supermarkets,

recreations and others), large hectares of land in all the study areas are given for industries,

mushrooming of flower farming in the wider metropolitan region of Addis Ababa, there is huge

land market operating in the study areas where both the government and the informal markets are

actively operating, real estate development and speculative activities, shift in occupation from the

side of the former farmers, but dozens of them being still in confusion, resources are under threat,

especially land and open spaces including the rura1 ecosystem.