More than a century already elapsed since Addis Ababa has been the capital city of Ethiopia. Before its foundation as a capital city, there was no permanent capital. This was not without a reason. Absence of political security and the need for fire wood had their own influence. However, in the latter age, thanks to the far sighted Empress Taitu and her husband Emperor Menilik II, Addis Ababa was nominated as the capital city of Ethiopia and of Africa, too.
Over the past century, the city had been serving as a political and economic center of the country. It has also been serving as a mosaic of culture where various nations, nationalities and peoples are entertaining their distinct cultural values. The city had also been serving as the political nucleus of the monarchical and dictatorial regimes. And now, it is serving as a center where democratization is synthesized.
Starting from the time it was founded as a capital, Adids has witnessed various developments. Unlike other Ethiopian cities it is a vibrant one. The various developmental projects that are being carried out throughout the city have speed up its progress. This is specially true within the past two decades where the developmental policy the government capitalized on change.
Addis did not achieve progress without challenge. Various social and economic constraints have been compromised its move towards change and progress. The bureaucratic red tape, rent seeking mentality of some officials in some sector offices, housing and transportation problems are some of the challenges that still need urgent solution.
The problem associated with absence of public toilets is also one of the serious challenges the city has been experiencing for years. Despite the fact that Addis is a seat of AUC, AU, a number of embassies as well as great commissions such as EU, the neatness it entertains remains incompatible with its name. In simple terms, the capital is not tidy enough as its name bespeaks.
Even though there is an attempt to use mobile public toilets in some selected parts of the city, some of them have either stopped providing service or they did not satisfy the desire of all section of the society. This is specially true for those mobile toilets that are put in crowded areas where privacy is seriously overlooked.
Sadly, it is our recent experience that most of the phone booths were converted almost into a toilet following acts of irresponsible individuals. This is because of the absence of sufficient public toilets that provide the public with 24 hour service.
The issue of public toilet is not all about public health. It goes beyond that for it is about image building and people identity. In a vibrant city like Addis where tourists and businessmen have frequented, it is natural to expect clean public toilets and other fascinating facilities. However, let alone the public toilets, cafeterias and restaurants have still a problem to deliver standardized rest rooms.
As a number of business centers and other infrastructures are being built, the number of public toilets existed during the previous regimes have been diminished in mass. A case in point the public toilet that had been giving service around Meskel square. It was demolished and replaced by a newly constructed hotel without replacing the previous one.
The recent activity of METEC (Metals and Engineering Corporation) is encouraging in this regard. As a center of excellence and a backbone behind the various industrial sectors, METEC is filling the economic gaps of the country. The automotive, the electric power and others are some of the areas where the corporation is actively engaging.
The corporation is currently constructing simple but heavy-duty public toilets in various parts of the city. This is an encouraging move demanding strong public and City administration assistance.
If truth be told, as a seat of various embassies and organizations, the city must be neat all the time. Besides, the country is accorded as one of the world’s tourist destination centering Addis Ababa. In this regard, the current activity of METEC should be well consolidated and sustained and the effort should be diffused to other parts of the country–especially to the other urban centres.
And people should reflect civility while using public toilets. If they act otherwise, the demerit would weigh. Generally, the assignment of keeping Addis neat and all season preferable city should not be left only to the government and other concerned bodies. Rather it requires the combined effort of all.