Online Reporter
Africa Moyo
Deputy National Editor
ZIMBABWE has drawn critical lessons on transforming informal settlements into sustainable urban communities following high-level engagements at the World Urban Forum 13 in Baku, Azerbaijan, which has been running all week and ends today.
Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga represented President Mnangagwa at the forum.
Yesterday, National Housing and Social Amenities Minister Professor Paul Mavima toured several international exhibition pavilions showcasing urban development, housing delivery, innovation and sustainable human settlements.
Among the exhibitions visited was the Palestine Exhibition Pavilion, alongside displays from other countries sharing experiences on addressing rapid urbanisation and housing challenges.
In a post on his official X handle, Prof Mavima wrote: “I toured the Palestine Exhibition Pavilion among other international exhibitions highlighting urban development, housing delivery, innovation, and sustainable human settlements.
“The exhibitions continue to provide useful insights and shared experiences from different countries on approaches to urbanisation, resilience, and community development.”
On Wednesday, Prof Mavima joined fellow ministers responsible for housing, built environment professionals, local government institutions and strategic stakeholders at a dialogue session on transforming informal settlements and slums into sustainable housing communities.
The session focused on the growing global challenge of informal settlements and the need for inclusive, community-driven and climate-sensitive solutions for urban development.
Commenting on the discussions, Prof Mavima said Zimbabwe would adopt some of the issues discussed at the forum.
“The session offered valuable insights into Azerbaijan’s response to urban informality following refugee migration after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
“A key takeaway was the importance of first recognising the realities of informal settlements before implementing inclusive and sustainable solutions supported by political will, economic viability, and community participation,” said Prof Mavima.
The discussions answered a lot of questions on how to deal with housing issues, building resilience and how to transform informal settlements into formal settlements.
According to discussions at the forum, more than 1,1 billion people globally still live in slums or slum-like conditions, with the figure projected to rise significantly over the next three decades.
