Pic: Global Press Journal, An Informal Settlement in Harare
By Correspondent
Domboshava is degenerating into an informal settlement due to unregulated construction of new houses according to land use planners.
Many urban dwellers have been acquiring stands in Domboshava and building houses in a process which is not being regulated properly.
This has seriously impaired the town’s layout.
“The settlement pattern and settlement density in Domboshava are altered because of an increased number of migrants.
“The layout of the residential spaces changed greatly from a typical rural settlement to more closely settled homesteads.
“Domboshava is degenerating into an informal settlement such as Epworth,” according to Emaculate Hungwe a planner.
According to the expert this presents planning risks capable of generating hazards and disasters associated with informal settlements and slums.
The situation is not unique to Domboshava as it is also prevalent in Goromonzi, Juru, Zvimba and Seke among other places.
Land is relatively cheap in these areas and this has attracted the urban dwellers.
According to some reports whereas a 200 square metre stand in Harare high density may cost around US$7000 in these areas it’s around US$1500.
However, Housing Minister Daniel Garwe has said under the Zimbabwe Human Settlements Policy, all informal settlements will be regularised.
“A regularisation protocol will be developed to standardise the process.
“The concept of planned rural settlements will be piloted in resettlement areas in order to provide basic services infrastructure.
“This will then be cascaded to other communal areas,” he said.
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