Project Mhija Waterway

Hello my name is Mulu Teferra for those who don't know me, I was born and raised in Axum and currently reside in the United States. On a 2019 visit to Axum, I noticed the amount of water runoff that collected in an area of shallow waterway called Mhja where people dispose of all types of trash. Mhja is a seasonal river that runs under the Nibure’ed Aregai Bridge dividing the old town from the piassa.

This raised several issues: piles of trash being gathered in these pools of water, the appearance and functionality, the amount of water wasted during the rainy season that could be collected and used during the dry season when the city struggles due to an inadequate amount of water.

Due to the war in Tigray, this project has not taken off as early as desired. But, I recently returned to Axum, talked to Mayor Abebe and other city officials such as Memmhr Askale Brehane in charge of the Axum municipality who were in full support of this endeavor.

This project attempts to accomplish these objectives through several phases:

1. Clean this area from garbage to ensure health and a better appearance

2. Prevent further erosion

3. Prevent damage to foundations of the property on both sides of this waterway

4. Dig a well and pump mechanism to be used to water the green area which is part of the

project

5. Build a walkway over the waterway, with green areas and sitting benches wherever the space permits

First, the waterway needs to be cleaned as the current garbage that sits there is a major source

breeding ground for disease-causing organisms and the bad smell comes out of it. After it is thoroughly cleaned, we need to build a walkway over these waterways and create a tunnel

underneath them for the water to pass. This has already been successfully done from Mayshum to Enda Mariam, showing that it is very possible and produces great results. In order to address, the negative impact of the garbage to nearby residents and appearance and functionality of the

area, a tunnel and walkway are necessary. For maximum functionality, a green area with sitting benches when the space permits can be implemented.

The total estimated cost of this project is 60,742,961 birr. Any donations help. Thank you!