Exploring causes and consequences of squatter settlement in Jimma Town, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study conducted on the area of squatter settlement in Jimma town is aimed to explore the socioeconomic factors contributing to squatter settlement and its effect on social, economic and institutional conditions of settler and development of the town. The study was guided by qualitative approach and employed a cross-sectional and phenomenological design. The primary data required for the analysis was collected through key informant interview, focus group discussion, non-participant observation as well as secondary data from document and analyzed by thematic analysis. The finding of this study revealed that, the root cause identified for squatter settlement are shortage of residential house and its consequential high price of house rent, the need of holding large plot of land and inefficient land administration system. The other finding indicated that, squatter settlement has negative impact on both the government and the squatter. It created fear and lack of confidence on the land they hold illegally, poor infrastructure due to lack of government intervention and low social service delivery, social distress within the community. The study also found out that squatting displaces the host exfarmers from their farmland and leads to consequent poverty and livelihood disasters. It is recommended that, political will in accessing residential land and financial commitment of the government is required. Active participation of the public and abiding legal procedures of getting residential land is vital.

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“…Urbanization is a key challenge of the 21st century, with a projected 68% of the global population living in urban areas by 2050 (Parikh, Bisaga, Loggia, Christina, & Ojo-aromokudu, 2020). Rapid urbanization, coupled with the inability to meet housing needs and affordability issues, has contributed to the growth of informal settlements (Akirso, 2021). As the urban population increases, there is a greater demand for housing, leading to the conversion of agricultural land into human settlements (Berhane, 2015).…”

Determinant factors for the expansion of informal settlement in Gondar city, Northwest Ethiopia

“…In this sense, in developed countries, urbanization has been a result of industrialization associated with economic advancement. However, in the global south countries particularly in Africa and Latin America countries, urbanization has occurred as a result of frequent rural-urban migration and high natural population increase (Akirso, 2021).…”

“…Thus, such unplanned settlements have created in new peripheral spaces on the edges of urban territories is commonly known as informal settlement. Informal settlements are dense and unplanned settlements with irregular shape of settlement pattern comprising communities houses that are self-constructed and without formal land tenure (Akirso, 2021). In the last decade, informal settlements are common practices in developing countries and are typically considered as the product of an enforced need for shelter by the urban poor communities (Matamanda, 2019).…”

“…In the last decade, informal settlements are common practices in developing countries and are typically considered as the product of an enforced need for shelter by the urban poor communities (Matamanda, 2019). Moreover, in some developing countries including Ethiopia, informal urban settlement is not only the result of lack of urban houses for the poor, but also it is emerged and expanded as a sort of business option for some group of people, especially for brokers or dealers and high income groups (Akirso, 2021;G/Silassie, 2019). In addition, in many countries, the practice of informal settlement increases its intensity when urban land administration and planning fail to address the housing demands of the community in the urban area (Okyere & Kita, 2015;Suditu & Vâlceanu, 2013).…”

“…Ethiopian cities generally have a large proportion of sub-standard housing stock and a deficient affordable formal rental market (Matsumoto & Crook, 2021). For this reason, in many urban centers of Ethiopia, including Gondar city, informal marketing of land plots and grabbing open public land from the periphery for the construction of residential houses are considered as a solution for the housing problem of the communities (Akirso, 2021).…”