Rural Urban Migration Contribution To The Emergence Of Informal Settlements: The Case Of Ondangwa, Namibia

Abstract

This study sought to investigate the extent to which rural-to-urban migration contributes to informal settlements in Ondangwa, Namibia. Data were collected from a random sample of 200 residents living in informal settlements around Ondangwa using a self-administered structured questionnaire. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and principal components analysis. The study established that most residents living in informal settlements around Ondangwa were male and female youths between ages 20 and 35 and coming from diverse rural locations with limited access to basic facilities. Results showed that some residents considered the informal settlements their permanent place of residence, as suggested by a median length of stay of 7 years. Many people who migrated desired greater independence and self-reliance, as revealed by significant changes in living arrangements before and after the migration. The push and pull factors and the initiatives taken by the town council to address the challenge of informal settlements including poverty and drought had significant, strong positive correlation, highlighting the impact of natural disasters on people's livelihoods before migration. Economic factors, such as seeking employment, were the most common motivators for migration for almost half of migrants.  The results also indicated that the initiatives taken by the Ondangwa Town Council were twofold: first, to receive and accommodate migrants through initiatives such as low-cost housing, meetings on housing provision, basic amenities, settlement committees, and reception facilities and to address the challenges of informal settlements through efforts of providing access to basic amenities, infrastructure, and services. The study recommended that initiatives put in place by the authorities should be targeted towards youth empowerment and that the town council should prioritise the formalisation of informal and reception areas to give land ownership tenure to informal migrants.