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New Generations, Old Challenges: Questioning Grassroots Development in the Horn of Africa
JOURNAL OF YOUTH RESEARCHES
The people of the kebeles frequently request for assistantship in identifying the type and
characteristics of the disease, prevention methods and instruments as well as proper
medication. HOARCM18 (23/04/11) notes a new cattle disease comes which we do not
know, but the experts may know. There are also widespread health problems and deaths
with regard to chickens. Besides the lack of the knowhow of poultry, the existing chickens
are attached by regular and sudden disease cases. And the people have no knowledge
about effective production ways, and disease prevention and treatment.
The Pervasiveness of Water Scarcity
Though Ethiopia is widely named as the water tower of Africa, water has not been ac-
cessed by the majority of the rural villages. Some regions have several local and regional
rivers, while others lack any water body in the nearby. The target study neighborhoods
appear among the most water shortage hit areas in Gurage zone, if not in Ethiopia. When
asked to prioritize the problems, HOARCM33 (24/04/11) says, “There are widespread
animal and human diseases. But, none of them are as serious as the water shortage. Just
show us where we could find water. Then we will dig”. Among the three main kebeles of
our focus, only one is crossed by a major river called Zikir, though it’s not sometimes trav-
eling all the distance. In fact, there is a river which crosses over the edges of the Wesha-
mo village. However, as it travels into the village it gets dry during Winter. So, absence
of any major river crossing over the areas makes the area quite unique and different from
many other kebeles in Enemor and Ener woreda. “All kebeles have one small river except
Dobba” (FGD, 23/04/11).
Another reason is that most of the land is not conducive, to dig water-wells for ground
water access. That has not been affordable to the majority of the residents, unthinkable
for many others.
Previously, the people used water conservation technique to accumulate huge wa-
ter reservoirs. Later, it is found harmful for it drags malaria and couple of cases that
people fall to death (FGD, 23/04/11).
So due to such factors most of the residents do not have access to clean water. The prob-
lem becomes more serious to those who reside close to the Gibe bereha (semi-desert
area adjacent to river Gibe). Thus, in Dobba kebele the people of Sayba and Weshamo
are the most affected. In shomoro and wodesha there are two water reservoirs serving
currently. That is not reaching the majority, however. In wodesha, the people who live in
Sadikay and Sesenar have also a severe lack of water.
The people of Sayba Dobba, in particular, travel over two hours to collect drinking water
from a location in Lay Dobba, and also from Woyra town. Otherwise, they are obliged to
spend seven to eight hours waiting for their turn in a nearby stream, named ‘Chanche’
which s characterized by a very slow flow during winter.
