Engaged citizenship starts by letting communities have a say on decisions that affect them, writes Samia Zeitoun* A model living space set amidst architectural and natural landmarks, the suburb of Maadi has been called the "gem in the crown of the capital city of Cairo". Since founded, almost 100 years ago, this community has represented the best of city living without compromising its unique natural setting. Maadi's citizens have been continuously and actively involved in its protection and enhancement to ensure the continuity of its special features. With the strengthening role of civil society in recent years, and the government's call for participation by the private sector in national development, increased efforts have been exerted by Maadi's citizens, both individually and collectively, through NGOs, to contribute to the balanced development of their beloved community. Against the backdrop of the community's strong civic commitment and the model citizenship of its members, the news announcing Maadi's removal from the Cairo Governorate and its annexation to the new Governorate of Helwan was received with anger and disbelief. How could such a serious decision affecting the livelihood of Maadi's residents be taken without debate or consultation? Elected local council members vowed to take the government to court on the grounds that they had been ignored in the decision-making process and that the government had violated the Egyptian Constitution, which states that the "right to know" is a major human right. Human rights law stipulates that elected representatives be informed "on major issues concerning the agenda, planning and policies of their polity." Why were locally elected councils not even briefed through the usual channels and networks that are designed to facilitate the flow of information to them? Veteran Maadi council member Karima Nabarawy has repeatedly maintained that the decree is unconstitutional, holding Maadi parliamentary representatives responsible for not consulting with or seeking consensus among constituents on such an important issue. Local NGOs also expressed their anger at being left out by organising and holding meetings, collecting signatures, appearing on public television, radio programmes and making statements to media outlets. Petitions were submitted after conferring with legal counsellors and prominent urban planners. The petitions were sent to several government authorities, including the president and Mrs Mubarak. Ministers were also met in person in an attempt to change the unpopular decree. Confused by the decree, citizens asked who was responsible for making the decision it announced, and on what basis? Where were the maps that marked out the new boundaries? How was it possible to redraw the boundaries of the new governorate when those responsible belatedly discovered that according to the constitution the Supreme Court -- located in Maadi -- had to legally reside in the capital? Urban planning experts expressing their views on Maadi's geographical boundaries note that Maadi is a natural continuation of Cairo that ends at the flash flood line where a man made duct separates it from Torah to the south. This line is only three kilometres away from the Supreme Court. The Autostrade and Wadi Degla Protectorate mark Maadi's eastern border and to the west is the River Nile. The basics of urban planning would presume that the borders of Maadi would follow these ground lines. A glance at the satellite photo of Maadi shows these demarcations clearly. As it stands now, with the new boundaries, some streets are oddly divided between the two governorates, posing administrative and security issues that could lead to more problems. Notable urban planners were equally angered by the decree in not being included in consultations leading to the decision. They state that the move was not in the approved 2020 or 2050 Greater Cairo Plans. They also refer to Law No 3 of 1982 and Law 119, Article 11, of 2008 for urban planning that necessitates the participation of specialised groups from civil society and local council members with the executive branch in studying the needs of communities and in setting the priorities of their constituencies. Renowned architect and urban planner, Abu Zeid Rageh told the Voice of Maadi newspaper that this was a hasty decree that was not properly researched. Such complex decisions should have been carefully studied for a length of time, covering all the different angles and the logistics of zoning, infrastructure, carrying capacity, and the ratio of green areas to built-up areas. Architect Salah Hegab, honorary head of the Urban Planning Institute and resident of Maadi, also said he had been unaware that this decree was being considered. He agrees with the decision to decentralise the capital, but believes the land division concerning Maadi was not based on proper data, in terms of homogenous population, resources, and budget, etc. On the contrary, it appears the result of a closed group of officials who chose not to broaden the circle of discussion or decision, hence the swiftness of the decree. In the search for answers, talk has been circulating about land barons who would be allowed to bend building laws upheld by the Supreme Court in 1977. The Court's ruling empowered NGOs to fiercely defend restrictions imposed on the licensing of high buildings to preserve the unique character of Maadi as set out 100 years ago. With Maadi's removal to another governorate, strict building codes would be annulled. Profit-seeking development could quickly overwhelm the infrastructure of the suburb that was not designed for high-density living. It is also common knowledge that Helwan City, to whose governorate Maadi has been appended, is in need of major expenditure to overhaul its extensive informal shantytowns and to upgrade its infrastructure that has deteriorated as a result of years of neglect. Naturally, meeting these needs will mean diverting a large part of the services and administrative budget to Helwan, to the detriment of Maadi. The media, notably Egypt Today, picked up this issue and reported on the problems of waste disposal that afflicted the streets of Maadi since the decree was announced. It questioned the sufficiency of the budget allotted to this task. Local NGOs working in the field of cleanliness rose up and organised cleaning campaigns in an effort to push authorities to do their job. As a self-organising society, Maadi is fortunate to have citizens who have consistently served its best interests, cooperating with local authorities to maintain law and order, cleanliness and a green environment. This social fabric has drawn to it over 15 diplomatic missions that have chosen to locate there, assured by Maadi's law-abiding residents who share their same ideals and standards of living. The spirit that has kept Maadi alive must be allowed to continue as a shining example of truly engaged citizenship. Engaged citizens should be rewarded with support and recognition and, most of all, inclusion in the development of policy strategies and reforms. * The writer is secretary of the Tree Lovers' Association.
