Residents of the "Tagay Mender" neighborhood in Philadelphia Kebele, located within Hawassa’s Addis Ketema Sub-City, have expressed deep distress, claiming that the ongoing lakeshore corridor development project has placed them in a dire existential crisis.
For over fifty years, these residents have built their lives, raised families, and developed the area through their own efforts. They now report that they are being forced to vacate their homes under the guise of development, without receiving any form of compensation or alternative land. The residents have condemned this pressure, characterizing it as a severe violation of their human rights.
According to the local community they had been paying land taxes to the government legally until the year 2000 (E.C.). However, they note that the government subsequently stopped collecting these taxes without providing a clear justification.
Residents also report that whenever they requested legal recognition for their properties similar to what was provided for other developing areas of the city they were met with dismissive responses from the administration, telling them to simply remain silent and stay put.
The situation escalated significantly following a recent meeting held by the Addis Ketema Sub-City administration. Residents claim that officials, citing the corridor development project, issued a verbal directive ordering them to vacate the area within a few days, specifically over the weekend.
Furthermore, witnesses reported that sub-city officials suggested that those with financial means should pool resources to pay two months of rent for the more vulnerable members of the community a proposal the residents have criticized as an attempt by the administration to shift its responsibilities onto the citizens.
Despite these grievances the residents have clarified that they do not oppose the city’s development or the lakeshore project itself. Instead, they insist that any development initiative must be conducted in accordance with the law, respecting human rights, personal dignity, and property ownership.
Legal experts point out that the FDRE Constitution and international conventions ratified by Ethiopia clearly protect property rights. They emphasize that the law explicitly mandates that when public land is reclaimed for development, authorities are obligated to provide advance notice, fair compensation, and suitable relocation sites.
Despite submitting numerous complaint letters to relevant administrative offices over several months, residents say they have yet to receive any appropriate or legally grounded response.
Consequently, the community is demanding an immediate halt to what they describe as an administrative injustice. They are calling for the city’s mayor to personally visit the area to engage in a respectful dialogue with the public and to ensure that fair compensation and alternative housing arrangements are made in accordance with the law.
The residents have warned that if this legal violation is not rectified and justice is not served, they will be forced to escalate their case to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the Office of the Ombudsman, and other high-level legal bodies.
