Exploring rural-urban migration :: Mmegi Online

FRANCISTOWN: A joke says that once upon a time, an elderly resident of Shakawe in the Okavango Sub-District caused laughter at a Kgotla meeting when he asked then president, Sir Ketumile Masire when his government would build a 'weekend' in the village.

The senior citizen was prompted to ask the question because children in Shakawe were leaving in large numbers to go for weekends in Maun to shop and to party.

The young people would reportedly tell the elderly people a majority of whom are illiterate: "Ke ya weekendeng ko Maun (I am going to Maun for a weekend)". The elders apparently interpreted this to mean that weekend was a special place for the young people in Maun. But unbeknown to the elders this has all to do with rural-urban migration in Africa. Professors Frank Ellis, Overseas Development group University of East Anglia, UK and Nigel Harris, Development Policy Unit, University College London suggests that rural-urban migration is a natural process and should not provide cause for concern.

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