By Johnson Siamachira
Harare, (New Ziana) – Agnes Hondo, a determined resident of Tafara Fedland informal settlement in Harare, faces daily struggles for clean water and sanitary facilities.
“Water is life,” she says, her voice tinged with desperation, as she navigates the challenges of living in a sprawling community often overlooked by authorities.
Tafara Fedland is part of a slum upgrading initiative that began in Dzivarasekwa Extension in 2010. This programme, a collaboration among the City of Harare, the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation, and Alliance of Dialogue on Shelter for the Homeless Trust, aims to improve living conditions by installing essential water and sanitation infrastructure.
Yet, technical challenges have left the community reliant on inadequate alternatives like boreholes and makeshift sanitation systems.
“The influx of new residents strains an urban area’s resources,” says Shadreck Tondori, national coordinator of the Zimbabwe Homeless People’s Federation.
He emphasises that housing, water, and sanitation must grow alongside population increases.
Unfortunately, local authorities often lack the resources and planning frameworks to meet these demands.
Zimbabwe’s informal settlements reveal a sobering reality. Driven by poverty, many families abandon rural homes for life in unplanned urban areas, where access to clean water and waste management is often non-existent.
This neglect leads to health crises; globally, water-related diseases claim 3.4 million lives annually, with children being the most vulnerable.
The socio-economic turmoil that gripped Zimbabwe from 2000 to 2009 severely weakened urban service delivery.
Local authorities, underfunded and often disconnected from the communities they serve, struggle to engage residents in the planning processes that affect their lives.
This disconnect has led to persistent issues, including erratic water supplies and poor solid waste management.
Climate change also exacerbates these challenges. Harare faces flooding, water scarcity, and rising temperatures, all of which deepen the vulnerabilities of informal communities.
Despite legal frameworks like the Urban Councils Act, interest in participatory planning has been limited, leaving residents frustrated and under-served.
In response, Alliance of Dialogue on Shelter Trust and Zimbabwe Homeless Peoples’ Federation has initiated programmes to empower marginalised urban residents.
This is part of a continental research initiative called African Cities Research Consortium (ACRC) that seeks to understand the complex challenges affecting African cities and foster the co-production of sustainable African solutions.
ACRC has supported the research processes and is preparing to move into an implementation phase using research findings.
Recently, they held an Urban Informality Forum in Tafara, shifting from traditional lecture-based seminars to immersive community experiences.
This 12th seminar brought together 100 participants, including civil society members, academics, and local officials, to witness firsthand, the realities faced by off-grid communities.
“We aim to promote innovative collaboration among local authorities, residents, and private sector actors,” says Evans Banana, programme coordinator at Alliance of Dialogue on Shelter Trust.
The goal is to empower residents to take an active role in urban planning, fostering a sense of ownership in their communities.
During a field tour as part of the seminar agenda, Hondo shared her community’s innovative solutions, including a communal borehole and ecological sanitation toilets.
However, she highlighted the persistent threats posed by climate change, such as drought and flooding, which degrade sanitation systems and force residents to seek unsafe water sources.
The Urban Informality Forum not only showcased innovative water and sanitation (WASH) initiatives like solar-powered boreholes, ecological sanitation toilets (ecosan) and solid waste management systems, but also allowed community members to voice their experiences and challenges.
Participants identified issues such as road erosion and inadequate infrastructure, which are exacerbated by extreme weather events.
Dr. Mzime Ndebele-Murisa and a team from Chinhoyi University of Technology presented findings from climate vulnerability assessments conducted in Tafara and 10 other Harare informal settlements.
This research aims to inform sustainable solutions to the pressing challenges faced by these communities.
The collaboration extends beyond the seminars. The Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe is working to disseminate participatory planning models to other local authorities.
This initiative has already positively impacted around 3,000 residents in Harare. Tondori notes that the project has bolstered community capacity and engagement, enabling residents to demand better services. “People were skeptical at first, but now they see this as an empowerment project,” he says.
Prince Mutebuka, the local councillor for Tafara, echoes this sentiment. “We now have a common understanding with residents, which has improved accountability and service delivery,” he explains, emphasising the need for collaborative planning.
As the programme continues, Banana recognises the problems of challenging traditional planning methods and managing community expectations. “It’s crucial to build effective partnerships and engage residents in innovative approaches,” he says.
Hondo, who has experienced the impact of this initiative firsthand, expresses hope for her community’s future. “We are learning to advocate for better services and housing. The city council now sees us as partners, not just beneficiaries.”
The path forward for informal settlements like Tafara lies in enhancing local infrastructure and promoting community-led solutions.
The participatory planning model developed through this initiative offers a blueprint for addressing urban poverty in Zimbabwe and beyond. As Hondo reflects on her community’s journey, she remains optimistic.
“We have the power to shape our future,” she says, her voice rising with determination. Together, residents are reclaiming their right to a cleaner, safer, and more dignified living environment.
New Ziana
