Migration and mobility are a matter of great concern. As the 2013 World Policies Report states, 80 percent of the 185 countries had policies to reduce rural-to- urban migration, up from 38 percent in 1996 (UN DESA, 2013).
This ratio is largest in Africa and Asia with low and middle-income countries–the regions that are Current ranges in city transitions. Rural-urban migration has been linked to linkages with industrialization, urbanization, and economic growth (Bhattacharya, 1993). Rural-urban migration reduces the mobility in sub-sectors and plays an important role in structural changes. It is also the main livelihood and lifestyle strategy in many communities, especially in Africa.
In addition, migration in Africa is a life-changing path for political, social and economic reasons. Rural-to-urban migration has contributed half of the cities population growth in Africa during the 1960’s and 1970’s and 25% in urban growth in the 1980s and 1990s (Waddington &Sabates-Wheeler, 2003; Adepoju, 1977; Lall et al, 2006). Investments in urban areas, for industries, trade and social services are factors that contribute to regional inequities and economic opportunities. In addition, the rural and agricultural productivity sector left reduced; and forced to out-migration into urban and industrial sectors (Adepoju, 1977). Similarly, Ethiopia is a common place in rural-urban migration (Francis & Kufchen, 2009). As a result, the trend in rural-urban migration in Ethiopia is well-known for its diverse activities (Kunt, 1973, cited in Fransen and Kuschminder, 2009).
Markos and Gebre-Egziabher (2001) summed up the major pressures in Ethiopia over population, famine, poverty, land shortages, and agricultural resources. In addition to these reasons, many rural people are expanding to these investment areas and are expanding these areas to more important commercial centers (Jemima and White, 1999). Migration in Ethiopia has not only a response to the negative impact on individual and / or family interaction, in terms of socio-economic, physical and political conditions, but also because of a legitimate governmental policy. Sekota town is the center for waghimra zone. A significant number of the dwellers in the town are migrants from different woredas surrounding the town. The stream of migration to Sekota town is consistently higher than the capacity of the town to accommodate the new demands posed by the migrants.
Rural-urban migrants engaged in different temporal businesses that affect livelihood of local residents. In addition it contributed for some criminal activities like theft in the area. Social service centers and transportation are also seriously affected by those rural-urban migrants.
As a result the main purpose of this study is to provide responsive strategies for assessing real response strategies for urgent challenges and problems, by investigating the causes and consequences of rural-urban migration on the migrants and the place of destination.
