Housing Zimbabwe's urban poor: looking beyond 'Operations Murambatsvina and Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle'

Dhemba, Jotham

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Title:	Housing Zimbabwe's urban poor: looking beyond 'Operations Murambatsvina and Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle'
Author:	Dhemba, Jotham
Year:	2006
Periodical:	Journal of Social Development in Africa (ISSN 1012-1080)
Volume:	21
Issue:	2
Pages:	57-76
Language:	English
Notes:	biblio. refs.
Geographic terms:	Zimbabwe Southern Africa
Subjects:	urban housing informal settlements housing shortage housing policy urbanization housing Urban poor Cities and towns--Growth
Abstract:	This paper examines the shortage of housing in Zimbabwe and interventions in place to address this problem, with particular emphasis on the postcolonial period. In spite of the government's laudable intentions and a seemingly strong desire to provide adequate shelter, the housing problem has, over the years, remained intractable and persistent.The unbridled growth of urban areas, shortage of land and inadequate finance for housing have compromised the capacity of both central and local governments to provide adequate housing. Without formal public funding, the urban poor were left with no alternative but to house themselves in informal squatter settlements. Against this background the government launched the controversial cleanup campaign code-named Operation Murambatsvina/Restore Order to rid the country of slums and other illegal structures and related antisocial activities. This was followed by a national reconstruction exercise code-named Operation Garikai/Hlalani Kuhle designed to re-house those made homeless as a result of Operation Murambatsvina. From the impact and implications of Operations Murambatsvina and Garikai it is evident that the housing problem in Zimbabwe is complex and requires interventions that go beyond these seemingly piecemeal solutions. If the supply of housing in Zimbabwe is to improve, both central and local governments need to be proactive and encourage partnerships with other stakeholders in the delivery of housing. Bibliogr., sum. [Journal abstract, edited]