African Visitors Praise Addis Ababa’s Rapid Transformation

Addis Ababa, March 18, 2026 (ENA) —  Visitors from Zambia and Eswatini have commended the sweeping transformation of Addis Ababa, noting that the city has undergone remarkable infrastructure development in recent years.

In an exclusive interview with ENA, the visitors expressed admiration for the scale and pace of change reshaping the Ethiopian capital.

Zambian Principal Solid Waste Management Officer at the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development, Brian Siakabeya, recalled that his first visit to Addis Ababa was in 2017 when he attended a workshop.

Reflecting on his recent return, he expressed astonishment at the extent of transformation across the city.

“What I observed now is a completely different city in all aspects,” he said.

Siakabeya noted that during his earlier visit, numerous construction projects were underway throughout the capital. Today, many of those developments have been completed, giving rise to modern infrastructure and high-rise buildings that have significantly reshaped the city’s skyline.

According to him, the contrast between the Addis Ababa of several years ago and the present day is striking.

He added that Ethiopia’s progress offers valuable lessons for other African countries striving to advance urban infrastructure.

“A lot of African countries, including my own, can learn from what Ethiopia has done,” he said, emphasizing that the transformation is the result of coordinated government planning and well-aligned policies guiding urban development.

He stressed that structured frameworks are essential to ensure sustainable progress, noting that Addis Ababa’s transformation was not driven by isolated private initiatives but by a comprehensive government plan.

An environmental economist from Eswatini shared similar observations, highlighting notable improvements since his previous visit.

“The first time I was here was in 2019, and when I compare it to now, there is a huge difference,” he said.

He pointed to advancements in waste management, urban greenery and city beautification as among the most significant changes.

“Beyond infrastructure, the green spaces, the way the city is being beautified and the overall environmental management are very impressive and can serve as lessons for others,” he added.

Ethiopia has also been implementing large scale corridor infrastructure development projects in about 75 cities nationwide as part of efforts to expand urban modernization.