A history of hamda diksis town, east arsi (1954 - 2010)

Abstract

This study deals with A History of HamdaDiksis town from its foundation in 1954 to 2010. It explores social, economic, cultural and administrative issues and also tries to show the interrelationship between these themes. I have taken up this topic because no scholar has written a history of HamdaDiksis town. In dealing with thesethemes, I have used available archival materials, published and unpublished written works as well as oral informants. In this thesis, I have investigated documents after checking and counter-checking the sources against one another. Quualitative method has been used as it suits historical analysis and descriptions of events and phenomena. After a brief background of the chapter, it deals with three themes of social evolution, economic activities, cultural affairs and municipality. The post-liberation period (1941-74) was characterized by no infrastructural development in the town. The Derg (1974-91) was characterized by a clue of infrastructure appearance like primary school, gravel sandy-road, health service, communication and land distribution. It was especially the 1975 Darg land proclamation that contributed great inputs in changing the social and economic life of the people of HamdaDiksis town and the surrounding areas. Finally, the study finds out that despite its significant changes, the growth of Hamda Diksis was limited due to the fact that it served merely as an outpost for an extractive system that removed resources from the area, not as a place of investment or technology with development impact on the town and its surrounding rural areas