A socio economic analysis of the nature of ruralurban migration dynamics in Rwanda 1960 to 2010

Abstract

In this paper we argue that in the last 5 decades Rwanda has had a unique migration system which defies the conventional and received wisdom of the rural to urban unidirectional movement. Firstly rural to urban migration has been a residue of the rural to rural movement either regulated by the government or as an automatic relief of population pressure in Rwanda. Secondly the rural to urban movement of population in Rwanda after 1990s has been shaped by the recent events and the legacy of conflict. Thirdly despite the anomalous nature of migration in Rwanda its socio economic implications to urbanization and development have not been analyzed. There has been a lack of clear and detailed policy on urbanization that can mitigate negative consequences of rural to urban migration. Urbanization has been regarded as a desirable development process for development in Rwanda. While analysis should generally show that to be true, the social justice and inequality implications of the process in Rwanda have not been empirically estimated. The paper will address the following issues; How has process of rural urban migration in Rwanda in the last 50 years? What has population pressure and land scarcity affected the rural to urban migration and urbanization in Rwanda? How has a legacy of conflict and events of the late 1990s influenced the rural to urban migration process and what lessons can be learned for post conflict transitions? What are the magnitudes of resources allocation and use between rural and urban areas? Are Rwanda’s towns parasitic on the socio economic benefits and social services delivery in Rwanda? How is the nature of equity consequences of Rwandan urbanization process? What are the policy implications of the Rwandan analysis? It is anticipated that the paper will flesh out areas that need more data and policy investigations and offer lessons to other countries especially those in post conflict transitions. Rwanda’s analysis will offer lessons to economies and societies that have been experiencing population pressure and resources scarcity. Methodologically the paper will offer an approach to rural-urban migration that is multidisciplinary and more comprehensive than the conventional Todaro type models.