African countries should learn from China’s new urbanization plan
Many African urban residents often lament about the state of affairs in their cities and towns. It is a story of failed cities that cannot provide even the basic services.
Today, 60% of urban populations live in slums, unemployment is rife and crime is the norm with urban social disorders like riots, strikes, and terrorism rising in recent years. Many African governments lay the blame on rapid urban migration and the majority of them have adopted policies and strategies designed to inhibit or discourage people from moving to urban areas. Unfortunately, African governments have been getting it wrong.
They would be shocked to realize that the Chinese government has in fact adopted urbanization policies that intend to migrate millions of its citizens from the countryside to cities.
These negative outcomes are not inevitable consequences of urbanization. On the contrary, more urbanized societies are generally healthier, less violent and more orderly than less urbanized ones. By applying the appropriate policies and strategies in place, African urban transition could significantly transform the development prospects of the continent.
What lessons can we learn from China?
The Chinese government previously indicated that urbanization is one of their top priorities. The country is doing away with “old urbanization” that was characterized by millions of rural migrant workers living in heavily congested and polluted giant cities without equal social security and opportunities.
China has completed a new national plan for urbanization that aims to migrate millions of citizens from the countryside into cities. The recently unveiled plan specifies targets, focuses, and measures for human-centered urbanization.
The urbanization plan not only focuses on improving the urban residents’ living standards but also gives migrant workers equal access to education, healthcare, and social security. In addition, China will also gradually nurture several well-planned city clusters in the country. Economic opportunities are one reason why people migrate to cities all over the world.
Cities are known to be places where money, services, wealth and opportunities are centralized. China utilizes these phenomena by decentralizing services, easing access to manufactured goods, and jobs, and exchanging capital throughout the country by diversifying economic opportunities for its citizens.
Whereas urbanization in most African countries has been left to take it natural cause, the government in China wants to be involved every step of the way. Despite governments being the drivers of smart city efforts globally, China leads the rest of the world in building successful smart cities. The government is strong in offering more facilities and services to better meet the residents’ demands and ensures that the new cities are efficient and ecologically friendly.
As everywhere else in the world, huge populations in poor countries, as China once was, is always a heavy burden for governments and local authorities.
However, China has proved that it is possible to turn this burden into a blessing by providing a conducive environment for these people to thrive. The government realized that as more rural people move to the cities, aspiring for a better life, the market thrives and provides lifeblood for the economy; so long as there is proper resources integration and management innovation in terms of services to better meet the different demands from its citizens.
Nobel Laureate in Economics Joseph E. Stiglitz has cited urbanization in China, along with technological developments in the U.S., as the two most important issues that will shape the world’s development during the 21st century. Africa should therefore not be left behind in this historical development process.
China has taken the lead to show the way, South Africa must take a cue from China and come up with appropriate urban planning for its cities that prioritizes the people and the environment. With proper planning and implementation, South Africa can emulate China and achieve an eco-friendly and sustainable modernization that is enjoyed by all people.
