Call to rehabilitate slums

Takudzwa Chiwereweshe Mutare Correspondent
SLUMS and neglected settlements are increasing the vulnerability of communities and there is a need to refurbish these settlements so as to address socio-economic and political concerns associated with them, an official has said.

Speaking at a workshop for human settlement policy recently, provincial social welfare officer Ms Charity Ndadzungira said there was need to rehabilitate slums and neglected settlements so as to reduce the vulnerability of communities.

“Poverty, social exclusion and a largely informal economy and poor housing planning has led to the extension of slums and neglected settlements as people are increasingly resorting to the illegal occupation of every open space, while others have neglected their settlements which are slowly disintegrating.

“Slums and neglected settlements are characterised by substandard housing, inadequate access to clean water and sanitation and a constantly changing residential population aspects which make them vulnerable on many levels”, she said.

She added that slum dwellers face a myriad of challenges, which range from limited access to social services, political, social and economic exclusion, susceptibility to diseases and natural disasters.

“There are makeshift structures dotted around the province, with some structures weakening due to neglect. Some settlements are a product of illegal occupation due to demand for housing,” she added.

Ms Ndadzungira urged stakeholders to embark on the massive rehabilitation of slums and neglected settlements in order to facilitate their provision of basic social services.

“It is necessary to guarantee basic rights in informal settlements in order to reduce vulnerability of communities.

“These basic social services include ensuring that informal settlements have access to basic needs like water, food, health facilities and educational facilities”.

She said Government should consider designing units which could accommodate individuals from these settlements and then destroy dilapidated areas as well as facilitate inspections to enforce subletting issues as some structures use clothing material to sublet.

Development Governance Institute consultant Dr Kudzai Chatiza said the provision of basic social services to informal settlements was not licensing informal settlements, but it was a form of intervention to safeguard the lives, interests, livelihoods and health of inhabitants.

He said there is a multiplier effect when there are no basic social services as problems can easily escalate and spread to neighbouring communities.

“If left unresolved, issues like illnesses and diseases that spread like wildfire in slums and neglected settlements can spread into neighbouring communities”, he said.