Urbanisation-in-Namibia

Urbanisation in Namibia1. IntroductionWorld urbanisation trends have been irreversible since the second half of the 20th century.The world’s population is increasingly found in the cities. For the first time in history, morethan half (3.3 billion) of the world’s population lived in urban areas by 2008 (UNDP, 2010). Itis estimated that by 2030, 60% of the world’s population will be living in urban areas. Thereare currently 19 megacities in the world and there are expected to be 27 by 2020 (UNFPA,2011). Urbanisation is simply defined as the shift from a rural to urban society, and involvesan increase in the number of people in urban areas during a particular year. Urbanisation isthe outcome of social, economic and political developments that leads to urban concentrationand growth of large cities, changes in land use and transformation from rural to metropolitanpattern of organisation and governance. This rush to the cities is also caused in part by theattraction of opportunities for wealth generation and economic development (Aryeetey-Attoh,1997; Bulmuo, 2011). In African context, the rapid urbanisation has seen a large number ofrural population becoming urban residents. It is generally acknowledged that urbanisationbrings sharp increase in consumer and investment demand, but also generates huge need ininfrastructure, public services and housing.Notwithstanding the economic development brought about through urbanisation, rapidgrowth of cities also causes severe ecological, economic and social problems whichincreasingly become difficult to manage in a sustainable way (Firebaugh, 1979; Hanson, 2007).It is recognised that in most developing countries about 30% of urban populations are livingin slums or informal settlements, i.e. where vacant state-owned or private land is occupiedillegally and is used for illegal slum housing (Konadu-Agyemang, 2001; Zulu et al. 2011). Insub-Saharan Africa, it is reported that new urban settlements are increasingly taking the formof slums (Alabaster, 2010). Often, slums or informal settlements are built on high-risk locationswhich make them more vulnerable to disastrous conditions including floods, storms, andinfectious diseases among others. Nevertheless, unplanned or informal urban development indeveloped countries is also a major issue.In 1960, of the total population of 280 million in Africa, only 18.8% was urban making it tobe viewed a typically rural continent. By 1990, 33% of Africa’s 645 million people were livingin urban areas. Currently more than 40% of Africa’s population is urban and it is projectedthat this proportion will increase to 60% (1.23 billion) by 2050 (UN-Habitat 2010). Thus rapidurbanisation is a distinguishing characteristic of contemporary Africa and it is greatly spurredby rural- urban migration.2