CHIRO TOWN
HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF CHIRO TOWN
Introduction
Most part of present day West Hararge zone which was known by its mountainous tract on the rift valley edge was commonly known as cărĉar. The Wacale specifically inhabit Ciro area. When Menelik’s expansion to the east began to the east, the Ittu land became militarily important because it was considered as a spring board, a sanctuar
y for the much pressed campaign against the Arsi Oromo. The campaign against Ittu, then, began in 1883 through 1884. The campaign was led by one of Menelik’s general Walda-Gabrel Abba Satan. By 1886 the whole cărĉar came under Wolde Gabriel and he became its governor. Ever since the period of conquest, the Eastern provinces remained principalities for the Showan royal house. After Harar came under Menelik’s occupation Ras Mekonnen Wolda-Mikael became its governor. Then the whole Hararge became the hereditary fief of the family of Ras Mekonen. This was true to cărĉar. The Showan army that marched to cărĉar went through Gubba-Qoricha, from Baddessa to Galamso and then too Borama. Though Wolde-Gabrel also established garrisons at Galamso the main seat of the neftegna force governing cărĉar was at Qunni where they established Qunni Georgies church. Qunni then remained the capital of cărĉar until the foundation of Ciro town. During the regency of Tafari Mekonen (later Emperor Haile Sellassie) cash crop and money began to dominate the Ethiopian’s political economy. The previous traditional provincial administration began to give way to money-economy. In Hararge, including cărĉar the royal families, including Tafari conducted commercial agriculture from which they derived great profit. To realize the development along cash economy, model provinces were set-up. These model provinces were to be controlled by western educated men responsible to the Ministry of Interior in the capital. One such model province was cărĉar, which was governed by Western educated men, first Takle Hawariat Takle-Mariam and later Dr Martin or Azazh Workneh. Foundation and Growth
Bejrond Takla Hawariat Takla Mariam was assigned as governor of cărĉar in 1923. As soon he became a governor, Takle Hawariat wanted to shift the capital to somewhere else because he did not found Qunni, a site that fulfill a pre request for capital. Located on a mountain massive, Qunni was often very cold and windy. It also suffered from shortage of water and building materials. All these forced Takla Hawariat to shift the capital from Qunni to a more favorable area. First he wanted to establish the capital at Hirna, where he had stayed from about 1912 or 1913. However, he could not get the necessary permission from Ras Tafari. After looking at a number of alternatives he finally decided Ciro to be the center. In 1923 Takla Hawariat bought plots of land from some land holders and began constructing buildings where to start administrative work. Known figures or notables were then allotted land and house construction continued. This marked the foundation of the town. The news of the foundation soon disseminated and migration to the town began. Another important issue after the foundation of the town is the naming of the town. Takla Hawariat preferred to retain the old local name of the site, Ciro or to name it after a nearby hill, Motti. According to tradition, the area where the town was found was called Ciro, after an indigenous settler named Ciro Sire, from Itu Wucale clan. However, Takla Hawariat was ordered by Ras Tafari Mekonen, to name town as Asebe Teferi. The attempt to use the name Ciro during the Derg remained unsuccessful due to opposition from some who did not like the change. Then, the name Asebe Teferi remained in use until 1991. As mentioned above, migration to the town began as soon as news of its foundation was heard. New settlers came not only from the surrounding areas but also from distant places, all over the country. The town of Ciro was found, built up and developed into one of the best planned town in the country within a short period of time. This is attributed to different factors. First and foremost, compared to the previous capital, Ciro was found on a beautiful setting, heavily forested and green hills on the side of the town. This made the town attractive for life. Moreover, the reforms underwent in the province where Ciro became a center also helped its fast development. Takla Hawariat had began his reform work while he was conducting his personal farm work at Hirna before 1920s. Some of the reforms he had carriedout then were the opening of a new caravan route connecting Hirna with Dire Dawa, establishing a new market place and establishing telephone line. He soon started introducing these innovations to Ciro as the town founded. Electricity, water, supply, telecommunication, and postal services were all introduced to Ciro as soon as he became governor. He also divided cărĉar into more rational administrative units in which the province was divided into Tulo, Doba, Qunni, Ya’a-Bishani, Harawacha, Boke, Gubba-Qoricha, Balbaletie, Adal and Ciro. This administrative division also imparted the development of the town as large number of people began to frequent it. A number reforms including land holding system which encouraged producers were also introduced in cărĉar during the administrative tenure of Takla Hawarit between 1923-1930. In 1928 the road that linked Ciro with the railway at Mi’esso very well served the whole province, connected with Dire Dawa-Harar road. The assignment in 1930, of another Western educated figure, Hakim Worqineh Eshete, as governor of cărĉar might have contributed to the development of Ciro town. According to some sources, Worqineh is remembered for introducing a number of services in Ciro town. These include the opening of school, building internal roads and roads to neighboring province. The pioneer primary school in Ciro was opened in 1931, in which the former student of Worqineh, Emmanuel Abraham was one of pioneer teacher and a director. In addition to the regular school subject the school involved the students in carpentry, sport competitions and other activities. This attracted a number of young children to Ciro. This school laid a foundation for later expansion of education. Hospital was opened during this period. According up 1930s, government establishments including the palace and offices, the school and private residence houses were in existence. As the result of increased settlement different quarters had also emerged by the 1930s. These include Itu-Safar, Mehal-Safar, Qollegna Safar, Gimjabet safar, Sigabet-Safar, Qes-Amba etc. Qes Amba Safar emerged as the result of the establishment in 1923, of the Church of Egziaber Ab built on a hill overlooking the town of Ciro other neighborhoods including sheek Harar, Ganda Basha, Ganda Lele and Ganda Kolo had already emerged. During occupation (1936-1941) the Italians made their center at Arba-Rakkate, a few Kms away from Chiro town. However, they introduced some innovations for their own purpose which was a contribution for the town. This includes constructing some houses and roads. The town of Chiro was connected to other towns as the Italians improved the mule tracks to all-weather roads. Post – 1941 Developments
As post-war Administrative rearrangement cărĉar was organized as cărĉar, Adal and Gara-Gurracha province (Awarja). A number of government offices were opened and Ciro began to serve people from different areas. Furthermore, the services that had already introduced before the war were now improved. These include education, health services and service such electricity, water, and postal services were improved. Furthermore, the seventh sub-division (Shaleqa) of the 3rd Division Army at Harar established its camp at Chiro. This contributed to the increase of population of the town as a number of people began to frequent the town regularly. Settlement also increased as the result of this establishment. The number of foreigners coming to the town also increased. The Greeks, and Arabs mainly dominated business until the late. Chiro was one of the forty towns in the country to get development master plan. It got modern telephone service and other improved services since 1960s. The trend of development continued in the same trend until 1974. During the Derg regime additional residence house, Qebele offices and houses for other services were constructed. All these added to the expansion of the town towards both to west and the east directions. However, extraordinary growth and expansion of the town began to take place very recently. In conclusion, Chiro town is one of the fast growing cities of Oromia which can easily be promoted with good planning and commitment to implement the plan. Its very location and the nearby Jallo forest, the Grand Mosque (Masqida Raham) etc makes it can ideal town for tourism.
