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Community Economic Development

‘ubuntu’ - 'I Am Because We Are'

becomes aware of the vast distances that tourist travel can involve and the few long-

distance travel options. (It’s either a long-distance coach that typically leaves at 5.30 in the morning, or a
flight with the country's only domestic airline.)
And so when tourists decide to visit Aksum and its Stylae, almost anyone books a

flight in and seeing that there are few other attractions, they book their return flight at the
same time. And so Aksum suffers from '1 night stay' tourists.

The absence of through trade because of the closed border to the north, stifles the

local economy, the lack of a vibrant local economy hinders the development of the sort of
'content' that would persuade the tourists who do come to stay longer, the low volume of

'tourist nights' hinders the development of the sort of 'content' that.
A vicious circle. And one that could be addressed by an aid funded Community

Economic Development programme.

The very problems that helped to create the current circumstance have produced a
genuine community. Through trade would have diluted that community.

This is the place that on the one hand has its University which can be expected to

provide at least some of the 'mentoring' to help nurture a Community Economic
Development programme but which still has the local shopkeeper with his premises on the

main thoroughfare who has great pride to introduce his middle-school son and daughter.

It’s also the place of Absentee Landlords.
*****
Absentee Landlords

The teaching of History in English schools can be open to criticism because of a perceived
selectivity in both content and presentation. But one aspect of my history lessons that

seemed, and still seems, to have been accurately communicated were the times of the
'potato blight' in Ireland and the disastrous management of English absentee landlords.

Aksum has its own version of absentee landlords. And absentee landlords don't

provide the same drive for local economic development that you get from resident
business owners.

The long-term lack of through trade has deprived Aksum of a proper cross-section of

local businesses. It’s not just the absence of manufacturers. Manufacturing businesses
alone produce a demand for a range of secondary business activities.