Teseney Sub-zone: Economic, Agricultural and Multi-cultural Hub (Part II and Final)

The Teseney sub-zone is an area where eight of the nine ethnic groups of Eritrea live in. Such a blend of cultural beauty and the harmonious life that exist among all ethnic groups makes Teseney a center of mutual respect and a symbol of unity in diversity. The unity of the inhabitants of this sub-zone has been clearly seen in assisting the families of the fallen heroes. The experiences in this sub-zone are exemplary not only to the people around this sub-zone, but other areas of the country could draw lesson from.

The Teseney sub-zone, which represents mini Eritrea in its cultural diversity, has been witnessing an all-round development. Besides the development accomplishments registered in healthcare, provision of water, transportation and roads network, housing project is also underway. The construction of new housing complexes would enable the city grow faster than ever. Homib General Construction Company has been carrying out activities of housing project in the Teseney city.  According to Mr. Tekelbrhan, Administrator of this sub-zone, the Government has in Alebu established a factory that manufactures foam panel building materials with an aim of facilitating the housing projects that have been implemented in that respective area.

Through utilizing such a very fast technology that utilizes foam columns for rapid finishing. So far, 200 houses have been constructed around Gherset Dam. It would now be introduced in Teseney with the construction of 21 house complexes as a pilot project. But the ultimate goal is, Mr. Tekelebrhan said that there has been a plan to construct 500 house complexes in the Teseney city alone. Constructing houses using foam based construction technology has proven to be a remedial solution that suits with the nature of the area. This sort of buildings, Mr. Teklebrhan said “Do not develop cracks and are superior in strength and durability.”  This technology is also cost effective.

Shouq Sha’bi (Market place of Teseney city) is being constructed anew utilizing the foam based building system. As this has been a center of interactions not only for the inhabitants of Teseney sub-zone but to visitors from different parts of the country, a priority has been given to reconstruct this market place. According to Mr. Tekelebrhan, large area has been reserved for housing projects. But, since various projects such as infrastructures for Telecommunications services and other development undertakings have been carried out, the housing project may delay. Mr. Teklebrhan is very optimistic that if additional construction companies joined to speed up the pace, the housing project would be finalized in short period of time.

Since the Teseney sub-zone is also an agricultural area, the administration of the sub-zone has been encouraging the association of exemplary farmers thereof. It has also provided them with the necessary facilities such a head office and a market place for their productions. Not confined in extending assistance for agricultural needs, the administration of the sub-zone has been also collaborating in every aspect of their daily activities. Mr. Tekelebrhan said that all farmers of vegetables and fruits, in this sub-zone, have been gathering very encouraging harvest. “Indeed these farmers are to be admired for their hard work,” He added.

The expansion of roads network would definitely extend the economic activities of the sub-zone in great deal. Thus, plans have been charted out to asphalt the Teseny-Golij road; a route that links Teseney with Grmaica would also be constructed. So far, the leveling activities and laying groundwork have already begun. As Akordet-Bisha road have been constructed it would impact the development undertakings of Teseney sub-zone.

The construction of a stadium, in Teseney, that begun some years back have taken considerable length of time and has not yet been finalized. But, the administration of the sub-zone has exerted efforts to finalize it through dividing the construction works into phases in accordance with the agreement reached with Homib Construction Company. “We are looking ahead to sign contract with Sembel Wood and Metal Works Plant to construct the roof seating area of the stadium’s tribune,” Mr. Teklebrhan said.  Inhabitants of Teseney and Homib Construction Company have been engaged in extra working hours to finalize the stadium as soon as possible.

Even though the infrastructures for telecommunications services have been put in place, there is still poor connectivity in four administrative areas of the sub-zone. The Teseney city has been gaining 24 hours service of electricity supply. Alighidir is partially getting electricity supply service. “The telecommunications services, water and electricity supply services are very gratifying in Teseney city”, Mr. Teklebrrhan said. Varied constraints that used to limit the availability of varied services are now greatly solved with the introduction of a 24 hours supply of electricity. All service rendering institutions of the sub-zone are now rendering services for 24 hours. Bearing in mind that Teseney is situated in the hottest parts of the country, electricity supply has alleviated a number of problems that used to exist due to climatic nature of the area.

There are very vivid economic interactions between Teseney sub-zone and areas in its environs. The area that stretches from Adibara to Goluj and to other areas that boarder with the Sudan is a locality where good economic interactions took place between Eritrea and the Sudan. Goods have been exported and imported from this sub-zone to Sudan and vice versa. The asphalted road that links the two countries have been also very imperative for successful interactions between the people of these two countries. Transportation cost used to be expensive, but this strategic and transnational road has paved a way for speedy and cost effective service.

Dams constructed in the sub-zone such as: Alighidir, Fanko Rawi, and Fanko Tsemu have been very imperative to boosting agricultural yield. Thus, the agricultural productions have been feeding the Banatom Factory in Alebu. The factory is gradually increasing its productions with the increasing amount of banana and tomato harvest. All in all, the Teseney sub-zone has been growing as economic, agricultural and multi-cultural hub.