A History of Habro Woreda, 1941-1991

Abstract

This thesis tries to investigate the history of Habro Woreda from 1941 to 1991. The year 1941 is a turning point inthe history of the woreda because of the restoration of the imperial regime whereas 1991 isa land mark due to the demise of the military regime.The thesis attempts to examine the local changes that were observed in Habro woreda in the context of change in policy and government at national level. The thesis showed how thesocio-economic and administrative system of Habro woreda has been affected by theincorporation of Habro woreda into the imperial state of Ethiopia. The restoration of the imperial ruleand the subsequent reforms that imperial government had introduced in relation toadministration, land reforms and the subsequent reactions of the people in the woreda to thereforms/changes are the main themes of analysis in the period between 1941 and 1974. Thus, this thesis argues that the socio-economic and administrative changes made by Emperor HaileSelassie’s government in the post-1941 period brought little improvement in the life of most ofthe local people of the woreda. Politically, new government structure was setup and strong centralized government was formed. In economic aspect, the 1941 land grant and taxation reform of the emperor resulted in the categorization of land into four and tax began to be collected. Socially, there were tremendous changes as a result of infrastructural development brought significant change on the social and economic life of the people in Habro woreda positively. However, education during the imperial period favored the son of balabats or nobility in the woreda and disfavored the mass of the Itu Oomo in the woreda. The thesis also tried to examine developments that the Habro woreda had witnessed during the Derg regime (1974-1991).The Dergintroduced several measures at a national level which had itsown negative and positive effects in the socio-economic and political life of the people ofHabro woreda. The 1975 land proclamation had also tremendous impact on the economic, political and social life of the people in the woreda. To begin with the economic changes, balabats were dispossessed of their land and fled the area and poor peasants took possession of the land and got use right of the land. Politically, the administrative structure changed and peasant associations formed. Socially educational system of the Derg favored the mass people in the woreda. There were also positive changes due to road construction, establishment of schools, clinics and clean water supply. But the peoples were economically, politically and socially suffered a lot due to the villagization program in the woreda.