In the Name of Development
Under any displacement scheme, with or without compensation, forcibly evicted residents generally fall to a lower level of the social stratum. In most cases, the new change does not emancipate these people from their original poverty level; it rather widens the poverty gap. According to Professor Theodore Downing, who has contributed many research works on this issue, failure to mitigate or avoid risks related to displacement may generate “new poverty”, where poor people become even poorer in comparison with their former standards of living.
There is a true story about a woman who pretended that she was overjoyed after being displaced from her home for the Addis Aba
ba ring road project. The majority of the displaced residents around Asko district (Gullele) were complaining about the compensation scheme, but government officials did not want to hear such complaints. Consequently, ETV – the state owned television station – assumed the task of falsifying their grievances. Near her village, a journalist stopped a woman and asked how she felt about the ring road. Her response was fast and hilarious: “The ruin of my house is not a big deal. I would be even more cheerful if the ring road passed over my chest!”
Government strategies of repression have multiple faces. Last week, we heard that a peaceful demonstration held by 5000 displaced residents was quelled by police force. Those forcibly evicted residents gathered in front of the Sheraton Hotel to request appropriate compensation for their losses. Although the Sheraton is less than a kilometre away from the state-owned media headquarters, ETV development journalists did not comment on the demonstration. They rather heralded their old hymn, as if the displaced people had been both fully compensated and satisfied.
Such denial appears as a serious psychological problem—a lack of the sense of “object permanence,” in which an individual may lack the power to sense that objects continue to exist even when they cannot be seen. Yet the fact remains that even if the government denies the truth, thousands of forcibly displaced residents have been suffering from homelessness, unemployment, the loss of income earning assets and mutual assistance mechanisms and many more economic and social disorders.
Under any displacement scheme, with or without compensation, forcibly evicted residents generally fall to a lower level of the social stratum. In most cases, the new change does not emancipate these people from their original poverty level; it rather widens the poverty gap. According to Professor Theodore Downing, who has contributed many research works on this issue, failure to mitigate or avoid risks related to displacement may generate “new poverty”, where poor people become even poorer in comparison with their former standards of living.
Recent empirical evidences also shows that displacement and resettlement processes that occur without planned and conscious compensation criterion result in great costs to the displaced people and the nation as a whole.
For instance, under the banner of cracking down on black-market trading and other criminal activity in the slum areas, the government of Zimbabwe implemented “Operation Murambatsvina” (“Clear the rubbish”) when the 2005 election results revealed that urban dwellers favoured the opposition. By July 2005, an estimated 570,000 people had been made homeless under the operation. In India alone, more than 20 million people were forcibly displaced in 30 years. Of these, 75 percent have ended up worse-off than before resettlement.
Chasing the poor?
The eviction of people from the centre of the city is mainly carried out in places like Arda, Kirkos and Addis Ketema sub-cities. These areas are densely populated and the majority of the people are extremely poor. The informal business and underground economies play a great role in sustaining the lives of area’s inhabitants. Considering the high poverty levels, officials argue that by reallocating the land, they might correct unregulated urbanization as well as the poverty levels of the destitute.
However, the majority of the current displacement and relocation actions are not considered to be development-induced projects. The politicians who oppose the unplanned eviction of people claim that the EPRDF is using displacement as an instrument to crack down on opposition strong holds, reasoning that an increasing number of urban poor living in highly congested areas poses an increased danger. Accordingly, dispersing the poor is considered one means of maintaining dictatorial power. This might be a good lesson learned from Mugabe, who punished urban residents by evicting hundreds of thousands from the central part of the city.
“Safety first,” but which safety?
It would seem that the government is further assisted in such actions by the people themselves. Failure to cooperate and present united protest actions and expressions of dissent plays a major role in worsening their lives.
A recent study by the Legatum Institute, an independent research and advocacy organization based in the UK, revealed that the Ethiopian people have been severely suffering from problems related to bad governance and economic imbalances. Amazingly, however, the study concludes that its citizens are remarkably tolerant. It seems that the study thus understands a critical problem in Ethiopia today. Many people prefer to be calm in the face of even the worst government actions, understanding that they are not free.
Recognizing this behavioural pattern, the government may be wise in implementing policies that further their own strategic political objective). Risk-averse behaviour is becoming deep rooted in the livelihood of society. The majority of people are very reluctant to cooperate with others and defend their rights. Rather, they keep calm—insisting on “safety first”—although, in reality, there is no safety at all.
It is really nice article and more expect from Derese( As a sociologist )to have a say with this regard.
It is really nice article !
“Risk-averse behavior”??
I guess, as an Addis Neger journalist, the writer of this article understands quite well what “safety first” means. If he didn’t, he’d still be in Addis and face the consequence of “co-operating with others to defend one’s rights.”
No that I’d want him to, but I think that he has no right to rebuke us for our ” failure to cooperate and present united protest actions and expressions of dissent.”
Dear Zeriyeeee,
Your post is very much timely. It is a topic about which journalists must write, researchers ought to study and public debates be organized. Not surprisingly little has been said in the few papers. No public debate held so far. Hardly can be said anything about researching such issues. Here in Ethiopia if the government says something that is a dead lock. In my observation, I can say some thing has gone wrong with us.
To come to your point the unfair compensation scheme related problem exists longer in the country. Complaints of this kind dotted the newspapers for the last 7/8 years. I remember a commentary on such act which calculated the difference between the compensation paid to the displaced and the market price of land which the government earned selling it. It was amazing. By the same token I wish if this article has this sort of thing. Probably some body can help us in this regard.
The indifference of the government owned television as you said put the institution in unspeakable moral ground in the country.
Your comparison of the Mugabe strategy and the EPRDF’s calculation of chasing the poor are disturbing. Following the beginning of the displacement around Arat Killo, house rent is increasing. On some occasion in the neighborhood around Bella and French embassy brokers started to convince owners of house to increase house rent. I know two cases of this kind. One of the people I know left the house he used to live unable to pay the amount asked to pay.
Similarly some one who planed to go to Bole Bulbula in hope of getting cheaper house was told by the broker in the village that those coming from the displaced of Addis have already induced the rent high. Apparently the trend is even the periphery of the city may not be easily accessible.
As criticizing the government for becoming oblivious to the suffering of the people worthy justified, much has to be said about the people it self. In Ethiopia, it is like many vowed to exploit every opportunity to amass profit even if it is at the expense of fellow Ethiopians. The country is becoming a place where be it the government or the opportune have no regard to the poor. Yet as you said whether it is due consideration of safety first while there is none or because of a risk averse mentality no body felt any urgency to consider the issue. On top of this no one wants to be called anti development by cautioning any pitfall related to the displacement.
Can you find us a political economy explanation that explains the situation here?
Menew Zemeta
Where were the so called, peacefull struggers when the federal police abused the 5000 peacefull demonestrators.
Z gobez
Good article.
There are also many ignorance exists in this desperate country but ppl feel powerless and no one can say stop the unfairness;)
No one will be against the development of the city as long as the government fairly treats the people who are being displaced as a result of such development. Fair treatment can only happen when there is a strong goodwill on the part of the government and the bureaucrats who work for it. Unfortunately in Ethiopia, neither the government nor its bureaucrats are familiar with such a concept. The whole process is full of abuse. We see it happening every day. We have seen lots of abuse in the compensation process. Decisions are made arbitrarily forcing dwellers to leave their homes suddenly. The rich and well-connected conspire with corrupt engineers and bureaucrats so that they get unfairly high estimates for their property. On the other hand, the poor and the powerless are marginalized. When they try to air their grievances they are swiftly silenced. In a free society, the media plays a significant role in exposing such abuses. This cannot happen in Ethiopia. You know why? Oh yes, developmental journalists of ETV do not have time for such baloney.
Zerihun Tesfaye looks very obsessed with people displacement with or without compensation since he was writing on addis neger. his displacement with perspective of social institution owned by the society it self like edir and ekub. after he relatively missed this wall, he come up with the very sensational issue in timely manner. i have some points to
1 the last peaceful demonstration held around filwuha or sheraton tells alot about the level of fear our society in which we are immersed. even to ask a proper compensation, they told addis neger source that it is not peaceful demo rather, they said, it is entreating. nothing could experience the chronic level of the fear in our people. so safety ..no doubt at all.
2 the causality in between displacement and the political interest , to stay in power, needs intensive assessment about its practicality. displacing the people and making clear the getto rounds do have out range cost. more than that, displacing millions from crowded villages quite understandably will not be succeded. but it vulnerably attack the poor people so that defensing and valuing right will be dead. if you remember, the public disobedience during kinijit couldnt keep going more than 3 days. the very reason is people dont have financial strength to keep stay home and eat what they saved. then taxi drivers and their assistance started to work even before the gov thinking of what to did. so, displacing the people do have better correlation with attacking the poor and make white poor than resolving chose which may be fired one day. but intrinsically, those two effects, poorness and chose may be problem nobody could control.
it is nice piece …please keep on writing. thanks
Zerihun Tesfaye looks very obsessed with people displacement with or without compensation since he was writing on addis neger. his article on AN newspaper is reviewing the displacement with perspective of social institution owned by the society it self like edir and ekub. after he missed this wall relatively long time, he come up with the very sensational issue in timely manner.
1 the last peaceful demonstration held around filwuha or sheraton tells alot about the level of fear our society in which we are immersed. even to ask a proper compensation, they told addis neger source that it is not peaceful demo rather, they said, it is entreating. nothing could experience the chronic level of the fear in our people. so safety ..no doubt at all.
2 the causality in between displacement and the political interest , to stay in power, needs intensive assessment about its practicality in our country context. displacing the people and making clear the ghetto rounds do have out range cost. more than that, displacing millions from crowded villages quite understandably will not be succeed. but it vulnerably attack the poor people so that defensing their right and valuing more than surviving will be dead. if you remember, the public disobedience during kinijit couldnt keep stay more than 3 days. the very reason is that people dont have financial strength to keep stay home and eat what they saved. then taxi drivers and their assistance started to work even before the gov thinking of what to did. so, what got displacing the people without economic precondition to do with demo…well, i think, it is what the last disobedience did. it have better correlation with attacking the poor and make white poor than resolving chose which may be fired one day. but intrinsically, those two effects, poorness and chose may be problem nobody could control.
it is nice piece …please keep on writing. thanks
Dear Zerihun,
Appreciating your choice of timely issue, let me comment on the main thesis of the article. The article is considering the current urban renewal process undertaken in Addis as if mainly politically motivated. The writer analyzes the development not in the local context rather he preferred to analyze it using historical accounts of similar projects undertaken by many dictatorial regimes, like Mugabe, to averse and suppress opposition. However, the Ethiopian context demands much broader framework for analyzing the eviction of slum dwellers.The first framework is that continued urban decay (which includes crimes, violence, poverty, low land rents, etc) in the once what used to be a city center. Second framework for analysis is the land and property market which forces market and public actors to invest on underutilized parts of the city. The third framework that helps to analyze the condition at the ground is the housing demand and supply gaps in the city. The fourth framework is the urban design of the city, if the city is expected to attract investment and tourism it should have to have attractive scenery. Fifth resource mobilization, this urban renewal schemes will generate the government huge sums of money from land lease which can be used for financing development projects of the city. Last but the most important framework which helps to analyze the situation is urban poverty reduction and employment. As we all know the central city is infested with widespread poverty and economic stagnation. That is why this pockets of poverty are safe heaven for opposition movement since the majority people who lives in them are frustrated by their poor living and working condition, as evidenced in 2005 post-election violence. However, among these frameworks for analysis it is the last one which is barely get significance in the project. This is because the project tend to relocate poor kebele tenants to other kebele house which is found in the middle of another poverty pocket,which does not in effect decrease or disperse the number of poor people rather it will ignite new form of popular urban resistance as evidenced recently in the demonstration to Sheraton Hotel. Therefore, in essence the political objective of the project is minimal, I tend to argue that the economic and physical aspect are given significance.
Dear Ezana,
It is really good to read your comment here. I think your comment is humbly trying to show how Zerihun’s article failed to consider other factors for the projects being currently undertaken in Addis. Well, if one has to take Zerihun’s analysis as one sided(political dominated one), then he has to take you as doing the same thing though in the other side. All of the frameworks with which you recommend to evaluate the issue at hand are aspects which should be used to justify the good intention of the government in what it is doing. As far as I am concerned, I see no reason not to employ your considerations for the analysis. Nonetheless, to what extent would you justify your position matters a ot. After all, you presented no evidence. If you are encouraging Zerihun or other readers of your comment to give a benefit of doubt to the intention of the government, then that is ok.
But how can you disprove Zerihun’s arguement is incorrect? Do not forget if Zerihun is correctly arguing, yours consideration might have subordinate role in percipitating the undertaking. In this case, your frameworks might be intended to camouflage the true intention of the government. So taking his argument as the likely if not as the most persuasive explanation is one way. Mugabe’s administration too attempted to cover its intention when he endeavored to persuade the people to take it as part of developmental measure. Pundits however disclosed that the action has some security reason. The involvement of Colonel Mengistu in this Zimbabwe case is a good indicator of the agenda behind. Here I do not need to detail in what capacity did Mengistu was serving the regime. So you can’t simply rule out the possibility of that extreme political consideration of the government in lieu of the framework you mentioned. If you insist, give us any reasons for that. In the mean time, I rather recommend instead of alternating Zerihun’s analysis for yours, urge to explore how much both Zerihun’s and yours suggestions feed each other.
Regards
you guys please keep inspiring me ….never give up
Let’s be subtle when we apply most of the terms we use in this debate. Then, I believe, we can understand each other better, words such as ‘government’, ‘authority’, ‘non-EPRDF-supporters’, ‘developers’, ‘development’, and ‘EPRDF’. All this words have different meanings in the context of current Ethiopia. The government is EPRDF,,, EPRDF is TPLF,, TPLF is a front to liberate Tigreans, the PM is first Tigre then Ethiopian,, the ministers(authorities) serve the government not the people,,developers are those who have easy access to bank loan, privildeged,,and are backed by those in polotical power. I will not say much here about the mentality (ideology) of those in power (TPLF) and whether they have an iota of morality and a sense of justice in whatever they do (remember that to understand them deep in side, you must know how they were as rebels, what their grievances were, and what they have been saying and doing after they came to power – you can read ‘Aregawi Berhes’s article http://www.addisvoice.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/The_Origins_Of_TPLF.pdf or Identity Jilted or Re-Imagining Identity by Alemseged Abay,, you will understand what these people are and what they can do). I would say that Zerihun has presented the matter very delicately, reasonably, but sadly he can’t expose the atrocities more than this for the time being.
Dear Zerihun
first i want to say the what happened matters because the truth matters…… to star!!! the root cause of these problem is nothing but the land policy that “our” govt followed for years….. The land belongs to the “govt” means simply to “EPRDF”. Now these days the govt use land to terrorize the people after ETV’s boring news there will come the stinky indoctrination of the “development” which is only visualized by our dear old leaders. For an ordinary city dweller we ain’t see nothing the price of rent is sky rocketing, people become afraid because everybody fear tomorrow the govt may claim the land and took it in the name of “development” and hand it to other pro-EPRDF developmental investor “lematawi balehabt”. these how life looks like in Addis Ababa i think we are paying for the loss of EPRDF’s in 2005 election…… Here my argument is not to say there shall not be development in the city at all, there should be & there must be. However, development must not by Chasing and Killing the poor( in the expense of the poor) rather it should be in eradicating poverty …. by satisfying the people and by providing some infrastructures…..
In these week the govt is busy of terrorizing the Real Estates which were claimed “taking extra land than allowed to use” bfff shame shame shame!!!!! the hell with that Meyer Kumma!!!!…. where were you Zombi EPRDF leaders when the land staring from Megenagan till St. Urael’s church consumed by people from the same background from the same Locality/ region which is privileged now. What they do to these real estates would be correct when they have the Gut and put these Imperialist on trial too!!!!!!!!!!!!