Located on the western outskirts of AddisAbaba, the Asko 40/60 condominium towers stand tall, promising a modern lifestyle but delivering a daily ordeal for its residents. Among them is Melat Kasa, a pregnant mother of two young children aged 4 and 6, who lives on the 13th floor. “I’ve been living here for over a year now,” she shares with a weary sigh. “Navigating up and down has become a nightmare. I only venture down once a month for my check-ups, but even that is a daunting task.”
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| Bahir Dar |
“I restrict my children from leaving the confines of our home, not even to the balcony, due to the perilous gap left for the elevator. The space is too hazardous, causing us great anxiety, even for adults,” Melat said. She vividly describes the physical and emotional toll of carrying her children up and down the stairs, emphasizing the sheer exhaustion they face on their return journey.
The 40/60 housing program aimed at constructing high rise condominium buildings. Yet, four years after the lottery draw, residents who have lived there for over three years still find themselves without functional elevators.
In 2017, the city administration planed to acquire 500 elevators for its 18-storey towers, launching an international competitive bidding process. The move came on the heels of a decision to scrap a similar tender for 302 elevators intended for condominium projects under the 20/80 and 10/90 housing schemes. However, the bid was similarly cancelled.
Despite moving into incomplete buildings, residents have attempted to make their units livable. However, persistent issues with electricity, water supply, and, most critically, the elevators, plague their daily lives. Years of requests have yielded no results, leaving the elevators non-functional and the residents in turmoil.
This predicament has forced some residents to abandon their homes. “We have to pay laborers to carry groceries and other essentials,” one resident laments. “It costs up to 30 birr just to transport a 5-liter container of water.” The frustration is palpable as residents question if they could install the elevators themselves.
Abebe Dinku (Prof.), an expert in construction technology at Addis Ababa University, offers a stark reality check. “It is nearly impossible to install elevators in these condominium houses for various reasons,” he explains. “The cost is extremely high, and only the company that provides the elevators can carry out the installation.”
A glimmer of hope emerged when residents contacted the elevator company. However, they were met with a harsh truth: the company had not been paid by the Housing Development Corporation. Residents said that they have contacted the Addis Ababa Housing Development and Administration Bureau. According to them, Shimeles Tamirat, the director at the Bureau, revealed financial difficulties and banking issues for the delay. Although he claimed to have resolved these issues six months ago, no tangible action has followed.
For Abebe the issue is more complex than it appears. “Imports require a Letter of Credit (LC), but the government faces a shortage of hard currency and lift budget. It is known that society is suffering.”
The Asko site, consisting of 13 high-rise buildings, was meant to be a sight of progress. Instead, it has become a symbol of unfulfilled promises. Pregnant women, children, the elderly, and patients are all trapped in a daily struggle. Some buildings, started but never completed, stand as silent witnesses to structural inadequacies and bureaucratic inertia.
As the city aspires to modernity, its residents of remain caught in a web of challenges. Their voices, bellow through the stairwells of these towering buildings, calling for solutions and a return to the promise of a better life.
Marta Jemal, a resident living on the 12th floor, shared her daily struggles with The Reporter: “It’s been a year since I moved in. I have three young children who rarely go out or play because it is difficult to carry them up and down the stairs. Even when they get sick, I have to pay 100 birr to have someone help me carry them.”
In the absence of elevators, lifting goods and household materials to higher floors has turned into a bustling side hustle. Though lucrative for Zewde Jenbre, a daily laborer who has been working in the community for a while, he says the back and forth is extremely challenging.
“Residents call me more than 20 times a day to lift goods and groceries, sometimes up to 15 times daily. We’ve adopted this routine, making between 200 to 300 birr daily. However, it can be challenging going back and forth multiple times carrying stuff. Sometimes we even lift items for free, especially for elders.”
Debritu Gamo, a 62-year-old woman living on the 8th floor, echoed the sentiment: “As an elderly woman who lives alone, it is challenging for me to go up and down without the elevator.”
There is a noticeable level of discontent among the residents, particularly those occupying the 11th floor and above, which account for 110 households in each building. “We urge the housing development corporation to address this matter urgently,” they said in unison.
Another resident from the 12th floor voiced her concerns: “It’s been two years since I moved here. I have two kids, aged 7 and 8, who struggle with going up and down for school. It’s so hard for our children and the elderly. Even our family members find it difficult to visit. They have been promising to fix the problem since we arrived, but nothing has ever happened.”
Despite the substantial financial investments made by numerous individuals in procuring these residences, many are currently deliberating on their subsequent course of action.
In 2019, the government unveiled significant updates to its condominium housing program, including adjustments to pricing and the lottery system. The changes aimed to address the rising construction costs and ensure a fair and transparent allocation of housing units.
Among the new measures was a notable price hike of close to 48 percent per square meter, with one-bedroom units now costing 4,918 birr, up from the original price of 3,333 birr. Additionally, the 100 percent deposit privilege was also eliminated.
“Back in 2011, the price range for units was between 600,000 and 705,000 birr. It seemed like a reasonable investment at the time,” a resident who wanted anonymity said, reminiscing about the early days.
“I paid 605,000 birr for my two-bedroom condo. It felt like a dream come true back then, but now, with the elevator issues, it’s more of a nightmare,” another resident on the 10th floor laments.
Despite three years passing, no significant progress has been made. The elevator equipment has been sitting idle on-site for over two years. They claim the delay is due to contract administration issues and financial problems. Moreover, the elevator equipment is not secure, with some components stolen and others deteriorating due to exposure to the elements. Despite residents’ efforts to safeguard them, the situation remains unresolved.
“In 2012, I bought a unit on the 12th floor from a private seller for 3.8 million birr. We have two children and my wife is currently pregnant. The daily struggle is taking a toll on us, especially on my wife who has to navigate these stairs every day just to get to work and back.”
Amare Merga, a security guard at the condominium compound, said: “I’ve been here for a long time and have witnessed the residents’ suffering. I used to help an elderly lady who lived on the seventh floor, but she has now moved away. I’ve seen people leave because of the elevator issues. Some residents have rented out their units, while others have sold them. We often assist them in carrying their belongings.”
Abebe (Prof.) emphasized the gravity of the situation: “This issue needs resolution. Society is suffering, and it is becoming very difficult for the elderly and children. Designing and selecting an elevator involves meticulous planning and coordination. Some 40/60 condominiums lack electricity, necessitating generator provision despite not requiring continuous power for elevator operation.”
“Even with 24-hour power, a generator is necessary,” he remarked. “These large government projects lack reliable electricity and standby generators, indicating poor planning.
A representative of the condominium committee says that they have been inundated with complaints from residents regarding the infrastructure, and they are making efforts to reach out to the housing development corporation in search of a solution.
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