Soro (woreda)
Encyclopedia
Soro is one of the 77 woreda
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
. Part of the Hadiya Zone
, Soro is bordered on the south and east by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the west by the Omo River
which separates it from the Oromia Region
and the Yem special woreda
, on the north by Konteb
, and on the northeast by Limo
. The administrative center of this woreda is Gimbichu; other towns in Soro include Jajura.
During the 2000 general elections
, local police
beat Selfamo Kintamo, an elderly supporter of the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
(SEPDC) and the uncle of a SEPDC parliamentarian. The US Department of State reports this was because of Selfamo's support of the SEPDC. During the same election, an activist of the Hadiya National Democratic Organization and his wife were killed in Omoshoro kebele
by a grenade allegedly thrown by a member of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
(EPRDF) for reporting voting irregularities to the local representative of the National Election Board of Ethiopia
(NEBE). When the teen-aged son of the dead couple learned of their deaths, he obtained a sword and sought the EPRDF member avenge his parents' death, but when he learned the party member had fled the scene, he instead killed the NEBE representative.
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 408,981, of whom 204,519 were men and 204,462 were women; 17,353 or 4.24% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.1%. With an estimated area of 1,234.54 square kilometers, Soro has an estimated population density of 331.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 378.7.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 287,589 of whom 143,835 were men and 143,754 were women; 9,578 or 3.33% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Soro were the Hadiya (89.57%), the Kambaata
(1.67%), the Timbaro (1.49%), and the Amhara
(1.23%); all other ethnic groups made up 6.04% of the population. Hadiya
was spoken as a first language by 93.13%, 2.17% Kambaata
, 1.14% Timbaro, and 0.75% spoke Amharic
; the remaining 2.81% spoke all other primary languages reported. 60.15% of the population said they were Protestants
, 19.04% embraced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 11.39% were Catholic
, 4.46% practiced traditional religions, and 0.95% were Muslim
.
Concerning education
, 29.62% of the population were considered literate, which is less than the Zone average of 33.01%. Concerning sanitary conditions
, 68.48% of the urban houses and 21.33% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 51.53% of the urban and 9.49% of all houses had toilet facilities.
Woreda
Woreda is an administrative division of Ethiopia , equivalent to a district . Woredas are composed of a number of Kebele, or neighborhood associations, which are the smallest unit of local government in Ethiopia...
s in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. Part of the Hadiya Zone
Hadiya Zone
Hadiya is a Zone in the Ethiopian Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region . This zone is named after the Hadiya of the Hadiya kingdom, whose homeland covers part of the administrative division...
, Soro is bordered on the south and east by the Kembata Tembaro Zone, on the west by the Omo River
Omo River
The Omo River is an important river of southern Ethiopia. Its course is entirely contained within the boundaries of Ethiopia, and empties into Lake Turkana on the border with Kenya...
which separates it from the Oromia Region
Oromia Region
Oromia is one of the nine ethnic divisions of Ethiopia...
and the Yem special woreda
Yem special woreda
Yem is one of the 79 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region of Ethiopia. Because Yem is not part of any Zone in the SNNPR, it is considered a Special woreda, an administrative subdivision which is similar to an autonomous area. Yem is named for the Yem, or Janjero,...
, on the north by Konteb
Konteb
Konteb is one of the 77 woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. Part of the Hadiya Zone, Konteb is bordered on the south by Soro, on the west by the Omo River which separates it from the Yem special woreda, on the north by the Gurage Zone, and on the east by...
, and on the northeast by Limo
Limo (woreda)
Limo is one of the woredas in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples' Region of Ethiopia. The relationship of the name of this woreda to that of the medieval kingdom in the Gibe region is unclear...
. The administrative center of this woreda is Gimbichu; other towns in Soro include Jajura.
Overview
Soro has 19 kilometers of all-weather roads and 48 kilometers of dry-weather roads, for an average road density of 54 kilometers per 1000 square kilometers.During the 2000 general elections
Ethiopian general election, 2000
Ethiopia held general elections on 14 May and 31 August 2000, for seats in both its national and in several Regional government councils. although several opposition parties boycotted the election, 17 parties including the All-Amhara People's Organization, the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic...
, local police
Law enforcement in Ethiopia
Law enforcement in Ethiopia has been since a reorganization in October 2000, the responsibility of the national police which is overseen by the Federal Police Commission. This commission reports to the Ministry of Federal Affairs, which in turn is responsible to the parliament; however, this...
beat Selfamo Kintamo, an elderly supporter of the Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
Southern Ethiopia Peoples' Democratic Coalition
The Southern Ethiopia People's Democratic Coalition is a political party in Ethiopia. At the last legislative elections held on 15 May 2005, the Coalition was part of the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces that won 52 out of 527 seats in the Council of People's Representatives .It was founded in...
(SEPDC) and the uncle of a SEPDC parliamentarian. The US Department of State reports this was because of Selfamo's support of the SEPDC. During the same election, an activist of the Hadiya National Democratic Organization and his wife were killed in Omoshoro kebele
Kebele
A kebele is the smallest administrative unit of Ethiopia similar to ward, a neighbourhood or a localized and delimited group of people...
by a grenade allegedly thrown by a member of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front
The Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front is the ruling political coalition in Ethiopia. It is an alliance of four other groups: the Oromo Peoples' Democratic Organization , the Amhara National Democratic Movement , the South Ethiopian Peoples' Democratic Front The Ethiopian People's...
(EPRDF) for reporting voting irregularities to the local representative of the National Election Board of Ethiopia
National Election Board of Ethiopia
The National Election Board of Ethiopia is an autonomous government agency which supervises the national elections of Ethiopia. The NEBE was established by Proclamation number 64/1992, and answers to the House of Peoples' Representatives....
(NEBE). When the teen-aged son of the dead couple learned of their deaths, he obtained a sword and sought the EPRDF member avenge his parents' death, but when he learned the party member had fled the scene, he instead killed the NEBE representative.
Demographics
Based on figures published by the Central Statistical AgencyCentral Statistical Agency (Ethiopia)
The Central Statistical Agency is an agency of the government of Ethiopia designated to provide all surveys and censuses for that country used to monitor economic and social growth, as well as to act as an official training center in that field. It is part of the Ethiopian Ministry of Finance and...
in 2005, this woreda has an estimated total population of 408,981, of whom 204,519 were men and 204,462 were women; 17,353 or 4.24% of its population are urban dwellers, which is less than the Zone average of 8.1%. With an estimated area of 1,234.54 square kilometers, Soro has an estimated population density of 331.3 people per square kilometer, which is less than the Zone average of 378.7.
The 1994 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 287,589 of whom 143,835 were men and 143,754 were women; 9,578 or 3.33% of its population were urban dwellers. The four largest ethnic groups reported in Soro were the Hadiya (89.57%), the Kambaata
Kambaata
Kambaata is the name of the people who speak the Kambaata language. It was a province of Ethiopia beginning in the early 15th century and ending in the mid-17th century before Ethiopian rule was once again established under Emperor Menelek II...
(1.67%), the Timbaro (1.49%), and the Amhara
Amhara people
Amhara are a highland people inhabiting the Northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Numbering about 19.8 million people, they comprise 26% of the country's population, according to the 2007 national census...
(1.23%); all other ethnic groups made up 6.04% of the population. Hadiya
Hadiya language
Hadiyya is the Afro-Asiatic language of the Hadiya people of Ethiopia. Most speakers live in the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region in the Hadiya Zone around the town Hosaena....
was spoken as a first language by 93.13%, 2.17% Kambaata
Kambaata language
Kambaata is a Highland East Cushitic language, part of the larger Afro-Asiatic family and spoken by the Kambaata. Dialects are Donga, Kambaata and Tambaro. It is one of the official languages of Ethiopia. The language has a large number of verbal affixes. When these are affixed to verbal roots,...
, 1.14% Timbaro, and 0.75% spoke Amharic
Amharic language
Amharic is a Semitic language spoken in Ethiopia. It is the second most-spoken Semitic language in the world, after Arabic, and the official working language of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. Thus, it has official status and is used nationwide. Amharic is also the official or working...
; the remaining 2.81% spoke all other primary languages reported. 60.15% of the population said they were Protestants
P'ent'ay
P'ent'ay or Pentay is a slang term widely used in modern Ethiopia, and among Ethiopians living abroad, to describe Ethiopian Christians who are not members of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo, Ethiopian Orthodox Tehadeso, Roman Catholic or Ethiopian Catholic churches...
, 19.04% embraced Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, 11.39% were Catholic
Roman Catholicism in Ethiopia
The Catholic Church in Ethiopia is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope in Rome.The Ethiopian Catholic Church, the primary organization of Catholicism in the country, is especially close to the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, whose doctrine and...
, 4.46% practiced traditional religions, and 0.95% were Muslim
Islam in Ethiopia
According to the latest 2007 national census, Islam is the second most widely practised religion in Ethiopia after Christianity, with over 25 million of Ethiopians adhering to Islam according to the 2007 national census, having arrived in Ethiopia in 615...
.
Concerning education
Education in Ethiopia
Education in Ethiopia has been dominated by the Ethiopian Orthodox Church for many centuries until secular education was adopted in the early 1900s. Prior to 1974, Ethiopia had an estimated illiteracy rate well above 90% and compared poorly with the rest of Africa in the provision of schools and...
, 29.62% of the population were considered literate, which is less than the Zone average of 33.01%. Concerning sanitary conditions
Water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia
Access to water supply and sanitation in Ethiopia is amongst the lowest in Sub-Saharan Africa and the entire world. While access has increased substantially with funding from external aid, much still remains to be done to achieve the Millennium Development Goal of halving the share of people...
, 68.48% of the urban houses and 21.33% of all houses had access to safe drinking water at the time of the census; 51.53% of the urban and 9.49% of all houses had toilet facilities.