Building a Pro-Poor Platform in Zimbabwe: Bulawayo

Deliverables:

Although this is not a housing project, two types of housing were constructed in Zimbabwe during the period; transition housing as part of the upgrading programme as well as core houses, which are part of the incremental development programme. This includes rural housing under construction as part of the rainstorm disaster relief in Matebeland Region.

Community capacity:

Saving schemes continue to grow with support from the Federation leadership being channelled through local networks. The tally of saving schemes as of March 2013 is six hundred and forty-eight (648) with a collective savings of US$1,2 million. The saving schemes continue to be very creative in the use of their savings with groups saving for health and food, a strategy developed in the economic crisis period of 2006-2009. More recently groups have been using their stationery savings to cover travel costs for exchange teams. While some group statistics reflect a reduction in active membership (defined as members saving and attending meetings regularly) the general trend has been an increase in membership and consequently, an increase in savings.

Scale:

The project is enabling the Zimbabwe Federation to form alliances with other community organisations in developing upgrading processes in informal settlements leading to the creation of settlement and city-wide strategies. The alliance has been  focusing on issues such as water and sanitation, climate change, waste management  as well as securing tenure for illegal occupants of land. The Harare Finance Facility will be open to all organised community groups not just Federation members. 

City policies are also benefiting all slum dwellers. Scale not just in terms of breadth but also depth of engagement has been attained as the movement has been able to develop strategic alliances with both communities and Local Authorities.

Impact:

The project has enabled the alliance of Dialogue on Shelter and the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation (ZIHOPFE) to develop a learning platform for five cities, namely Bulawayo, Masvingo, Kadoma, Kariba and Bindura with the City of Harare to share experiences around Harare’s 5 year slum upgrading program. Other milestones achieved include:

• The establishment of the Harare Slum Upgrading Finance Facility has been established (capital to date US$200,000).

• Adoption of incremental development and alternative water and sanitation processes in other Local Authorities.

• Changes in the City of Harare's by-laws to include slum upgrading.

Finance:

SDI Contributions:

SDI contributed US$57,500.

Resources Leveraged:

Land has been made available to Federation groups in Guruve, Gokwe and Masvingo. The Epworth Local Board has been contributing to costs of the production of an upgrading  layout plan  for Ward 7, which has now been approved after a two year delay. 

State Subsidy:

The State subsidy is in the form of land, provided through the various Local Authorities. Some local authorities have also covered some of the costs incurred during exchange visits. 

Market Generated Returns:

None to date.

Costs recovered from community:

The technical assistance (T/A) costs have not been factored into the repayments hence are not recoverable. However, the T/A has partially been used to establish the Harare Slum upgrading facility, which when fully functional will be operating on a cost plus profit basis.

Contact	Email	Telephone	Website
Patience Mudimu	patiencemudimu@gmail.com	(+263) 4704 027	View Website