An investigation of socio-economic impacts of rural-urban migration in Tanzania: a case of Arusha City

The general objectives of this study was to assess the impacts which are attributed by rural-urban migration on socio-economic development in Arusha city. It also assessed socio- economic impacts on rural to urban migration and examined determinants and impact of rural-urban migration in that place (Arusha city ). Finally, it identified various remedies of reducing rural –urban migration in Arusha city as a destination area. The study sample involved 99 respondents (rural –urban migrants) selected by employing snowball sampling technique and data collected were analysed through computer programs like IBM-SPSS. Results showed that population growth due to rural-urban migration and the resultant human activities generate pressure to natural and man-made environments. Rapid increase in settlements in Arusha city exceeds services and resources. Furthermore the study discovered various determinants of rural-urban migration in Arusha city particularly seeking for economic development, availability of social services and presence of friends as well as relatives in the city. Various socio- economic problems were observed in Arusha city attributed by rural –urban migration like unemployment, environmental problems, housing problems health problems, street children, insecurity, prostitution and beggars which revealed around the streets of Kaloleni and Kati Wards and with the responses provided by the respondents. This study also observed various activities done by migrants like entrepreneurship with aspects like establishment of bars and guest houses , traditional designs and minerals processing like tanzanite, which improves individuals livelihoods. The study recommended that there should be poverty alleviation policies in solving rural-urban migration to Arusha city and other urban areas as a whole.