The Southern Ethiopian Town of Mega: A Survey of Its History

ABSTRACT There is no historical research done on the history of Mega Town. Thus, this study aimed to construct Historical survey of Mega town of Oromia regional state of Borena zone. To achieve this goal, an attempt was made to collect authentic data source from local elders and archival materials. The analyses have been made on the oral interviews and different archival document to maintain its validity and originality through examining and cross checking primary and secondary sources. Thus, exploratory research design was used to address the aim of the study. The study has encompassed from the foundation of Mega town to present. Therefore the study has identified that the town was founded as garrison town during the boundary expansion of Menilik to the area and the officials, solders and those who came with them had permanently settled at in and around the site .The prevalence of peace and stability in the area with the help of officials and soldier of the garrison contributed its early growth. The town had shown expansion and growth throughout the imperial period from village town to big town due to deferent determinant factors like the rise of modern bureaucracy, the period of Italian occupation, the land tenure system and the introduction of crop product and marketing. The growth and development of the town was very slow, however, major development and change in Mega town was observed after the imperial and Derg regime. The social service industry like the rise of municipal administration, improvement in road and transportation, telephone and postal service, electric service, financial institutions, education, hotel and motel and housing service in town have made its expansion. Other development in micro industry and enterprise and social institutions have widely been increased in the town with continuous change and improvement. Finally, Mega Town become an important hub of commercial, educational, political and social service delivery hub for Borena community in particular, and surrounding Borena and other new comers nations in the area and also adjacent woredas as well people who travel across Mega town along Addis Ababa Kenya road in general. Therefore the government and stack holders should keep their role in improving socio-economic activities of the town for better development.