期刊名称：The Journal of Sustainable Development in Africa (JSDA)
电子版ISSN：1520-5509
出版年度：2008
卷号：10
期号：2
出版社：Institute of Sustainable Development in Africa
摘要：The realties of rapid urbanization and population growth in Africa are objectively patent
with the realities of diversity of challenges, constraints and threats to service delivery in
urban centres. Urban centres are attraction centres for rural population and, through
multiplier effects, population sizes continue to grow concomitant with the demand for the
services (hospitals, schools, industrial and commercial zones, security, etc.). This paper
will explore the historical and contemporary challenges of population growth by way of
looking at case studies of Nigeria (Lagos), South Africa (Johannesburg), Zimbabwe
(Harare), Ethiopia (Addis Ababa), Kenya (Nairobi), Egypt (Cairo) and Rwanda (Kigali).
These countries give a diversity of experiences when put together given the differences in
institutions and cultures, historical backgrounds, political economy and other structural
proclivities. Such an analysis helps in the formulation of the ¡®appropriate¡¯ nomenclature
and taxonomy of the subject of urbanisation (and ruralisation, as it were). Socially, most
urban centres in Africa have gone through metamorphoses and transitions from white
domination to black majority rule. The advent of political independence has opened the
gates for the former ruralites resulting in novel challenges which had hitherto been
unforeseen (particularly, the increased demand for housing, which, in its own right is
indivisible with other socio-economic facets of urban centres). Economically, this
transition has heralded calls for black economic empowerment or indigenisation
programmes which have beckoned for more urban space being allocated for enterprise.
Space allocation for any land-use calls for installation of the supporting infrastructure
(roads, water utilities, electricity, buildings and/or shelter, etc). The paper maps out the
nesting effect of these challenges in a bid to overcome them so as to produce viable urban
economies for the 21st Century Africa, in which amenity, harmony and sustainability are
the chief objects. Urban development policy is recommended is the prime solution to
attaining the three mentioned objects. This is founded on the notions of balancing
between and within settlements (rural and urban) in an economy, urban modelling and
stewardship.
