Urbanisation-problems associated& the possible solutions

NHLIZIYO DUMISANI (University Of Zimbabwe)

DEFINATION… The term urban area, from which urbanisation is

derived is very difficult to define. It varies from region to region (Madzingira et al, 2002). In Israel an urban area is defined as a non-agricultural

settlement, presumably of any size (Jones, 1967). In Chile it is the centre with urban characteristics

whilst in Norway localities of 200 or more inhabitants can constitute an urban area(UN Demographic Yr. Bk, 1983)

In Zimbabwe it is a designated urban area, that is areas which ha 2500 inhabitants or a compact settlement pattern, with the majority [more than 50%] of the population employed persons engaged in non - agricultural activities (Madzingira et al, 2002).

Def.... The process by which towns & cities grow

bigger & more people go to live in them, (Mac Millan dictionary).

Urbanisation is a process whereby an increasing proportion of a nations population live in urban areas (Waugh, 1990).

Other scholars have simply defined Urbanisation as the proportion of a country that is urban.

Def ...cont* Urbanisation implies a cultural & social

psychological process whereby people acquire the material & non-material culture, including behavioural patterns form of organisation & ideas that originated in or are distinctive of the city.

Debji (1991), defined urbanisation as a process of concentration, which in two ways: the multiplication of the points of concentration and the increase in size of individual concentrations.

Def.…cont.* Urbanization is the shift from a rural to and

urban society & involves an increase in the number of people in urban areas during a particular year.

It is a result of the outcome of social, economic, & political developments that lead to urban concentration & growth in large cities, changes in land use & transformation from rural metropolitan pattern of organization to governance (Nsiah Gyaabah*)

* Nsiah Gyaabah-Urban processes-Environmental & Health effects in Africa

Global Urbanisation Trends Global urban population is growing at a rapid

pace from 17% in 1951 to 20% in 2001 and approaching 41% by 2030 (Kadi, 2012).

Developing countries urbanise faster than developed countries hence they face greater challenges of urbanisation

U.S.A was 40% urbanised in 1890, 70% in 1960 and 75+ % in 1990.

This gradual pace is in contrast with that one of developing nations e.g. Korea was 40% in 1970 and 78% in 1990 (Henderson, 2002).

Global urbanisation trends By 2005 more than half of the worlds

population will be in urban areas; over two-thirds of this population will be in Less Developed Countries, as alleged by the world population patterns (Madzingira et al ,2002).

Major Causes Of Urbanisation (Africa)1). Natural Increase High birth rates than death rates fuelled by improved medical care, better sanitation and improved food supply which lower death rates2).Migration rural poverty drives people from rural areas into large cities in search for greener pastures(employment, food shelter, education etc. ) Pushed out by factors e.g. poverty, environmental degradation, religious strife, political persecution, food insecurity, lack of basic infrastructure and services in rural areas.* Urbanisation in an African context was not a result of industrialisation but of absolute poverty(in rural Areas).

migration…cont.* or because people are pulled into urban areas by advantages and opportunities of the city (education, electricity, water, employment etc.)

- Even though in many African countries the urban areas

offer few jobs for the youths, they are attracted there by amenities of urban life (Tarver, 1996).

Problems associated with Urbanisationa). Unemployment One of the significant feature of urbanisation in Africa is that unlike in Asia and Europe, much growth is taking place in the absence of significant industrial expansion, (Nsiah ).Consequently this lead to a large number of unemployed masses in urban areas

Problems cont.*b). Pollution i).Air pollution has resulted from the emission of gasses, fumes and waste smoke into the atmosphere. Overdependence on motorised transport has also contributed to air pollution ( large amount of exhaust fumes)

Problems – pollution cont.*ii). Water pollution has resulted from poor sewage facilities(inability of town municipals to handle ever increasing urban population), disposal of industrial waste and/or heavy metals into water bodies iii). Noise pollution from large factory engines, motor vehicle idling, unreasonably high radio volumes

iv). Land pollution – uncollected refuge hips, people littering everywhere

Problems Cont.*c) Poor Sanitation. Population growth-both natural increase & immigration- is always ahead of the housing supply in urban area.Rapid increase in urbanites surpass gvt & town planners ability to provide adequate accommodation. Consequently the poor are forced to crowd into already squalid slums or settler settlements as ‘temporary’ alternatives.

ProblemsPoor Sanitation (Stats) The Herald(1999), Harare on its own has a long

waiting list that is more than 100 000 and today the population stands at over one million (Madzingira et al, 2002)

These figures could have doubled considering the fact that 14 years have passed since these figure were published and the rapid increase in urbanisation for developing countries.

Rate of urban growth is so great that the government cannot adequately supply accommodation, social services, health care, transportation services

Problems Cont.*d).Disease OutbreaksThe urban population is more vulnerable to diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Malaria and S.T.IsUnhealthy environments & overcrowded housing in slums exposes the ‘urban poor’ to high rates of infectious diseases e.g. pneumonia, T.B, diarrhoea, Cholera.

Cholera Outbreak Zimbabwe - 2008 As of 1 December 2008, the Ministry of Health

in Zimbabwe has reported a total of 11 735 cholera cases with 484 deaths since August 2008, affecting all provinces in the country. The overall case fatality rate for cholera is 4% but had reached up to 20–30% in remote areas.

Out of the total number of cases, 50% had been reported from Budiriro, a high density suburb of the capital city, Harare.

Beitbridge, a town bordering South Africa, hasdreported 26% of all cases. (WHO,2008)

http://www.who.int/csr/don/2008_12_02/en/

Problemsdiseases cont. Hatcliffe extension( Harare ) was initially

suppose to hold 3000 families but to date the actual number of families residing in the area is not known. Varying figures that have been give range between 30 000 and 80 000.

Air and water Quality in many cities threatens the health of millions of city dwellers(UNEP,1994).

Problems Cont.*e). Traffic Jam Using a private car has become very common in the world and such an attitude creates traffic congestion in urban areas

Problems Cont.*f). Increased crime and anti – social behaviour Unemployed surplus in urban areas usually resort to crime & prostitution in order to sustain their livelihoods.

Problems Cont.Water & Sewage problems Facilities are often

ancient and inadequate to support the ever increasing population levels

Very little of sewage is collected as a result and the is left to flow in pathways

Providing the infrastructure for collection and treatment of solid & liquid waste is often beyond the resource of mage cities

Possible solutions The most effective way to tackle

urbanisation is to make the economy of villages and small scale fully viable

Economies can be revitalized if the government undertakes a massive rural development programme

Surplus rural manpower should be absorbed in the village themselves so as to reduce rural to urban migration

Possible solutions(traffic problems) The most effective way to curb traffic

congestion in urban areas is to encourage the population to use public transport

Control of volumes of traffic – heavy haulage trucks should not be allowed to enter the inner city

Increase road capacity (dual carriage systems)

Improve the traffic control systems- traffic lights should be fully computerized and constantly serviced

Possible solutionsUrban Slums Implement ruthless government clean up campaigns

such as Operation Murambatsvina of 2005 Governments should construct low cost multi storey

flats to accommodate the slum dwellers E.g. in Zimbabwe Matapi - Mbare Promote schemes that involve the provision of tracts of

urban land, which are divided into plots and provided with basic supporting services e.g. water, drainage and electricity. The plots are then either sold or leased to those who wish to build their own home on them.

Construction of skyscrapers to ease the problem e.g. in Hong Kong where the idea has been more of a norm

Possible solutions Cont. Encourage people to enter into the

informal sector to ease unemployment and anti social behaviours

Government should provide funds to promote entrepreneurship so that part of the surplus un employed will be employed

Solutions to pollution problems include: banning heavy vehicles from CBD's; developing cleaner fuels, and providing more litter bins in CBD's.

Possible solutions Cont. Some cities have encouraged the growth of

out-of-town shopping centres to help traffic, land price and pollution problems, by taking some of the focus away from the CBD

Government should introduce schemes where the local community will be closely involved in the planning and building of new houses. Often the government provide the materials, whilst the local people built the buildings. The government will then provide an improved infrastructure and sewer systems

The End……..thank you