Urbanisation-in-Namibia

Urbanisation in NamibiaOn average, households tend to spend more on groceries than on any other aspects measured.Overall, households in the semi-informal settlements have higher expenditures than those inthe informal settlements. It is also apparent from the results that the differences in educationand utilities expenditures for households in the informal and semi-formal settlements aresignificant. The utilities expenditure differences may be attributed to the fact that mosthouseholds in the informal settlements have limited access to municipal services. The resultsalso show that on average households in the informal settlements save at least N$100 permonth while those in the semi-formal save on average N$300 monthly.In terms of the socio-economic characteristics, there are no major differences between thethree towns under study. However, Ongwediva shows a strikingly different pattern with regardto housing type; housing ownership; income level and income sources; and access to services(including electricity, water, and ablution facility). No build shacks are recorded in Ongwediva;almost all households have access to electricity and they use flushed toilet facilities.3.2 Causes of UrbanisationReasons why people move to urban areas in Namibia should be looked at in terms of thebigger picture which encompass factors such as poverty, environment and political historywhich defines the context within which people move. 6 Clearly, the proportion of people livingin urban areas rise not only due to migration, but also due to the natural growth of the existingurban population. In the African context, it is reported that urbanisation levels also increasesbecause of the reclassification of settlements from rural to urban. In Namibia, the majority ofrespondents feel that the main reasons why people move from rural to urban areas is to seekfor employment (75.3%); for education (57.2%) and some moved because of work (50.8%).The reasons are quite similar for respondents between the two types of settlements. It is alsoimportant to note how climatic conditions, such as floods have influenced migration. Thesereasons concur with many other studies, painting a picture that urban areas attract peopledue to better opportunities and improved services and facilities which they offer, however noteveryone is in a position to exploit these opportunities. 7 For about two decades now sinceindependence, economic reasons for moving to urban areas in Namibia has outweight allother reasons, pointing to an urban-bias development.6Frayne B., and Pendleton W. 2001. Migration in Namibia: Combining Macro and Micro Approaches to Research Design and Analysis.International Migration Review. 35:1054-1085.7Tvedten I., and Mupotola 1995. Or Tvedten I., and Pomuti A. 1995. Namibia Urbanisation in the 1990s. NEPRU Publication No.6, Windhoek12