Group 2

Housing Standards Control

Act Chapter 29:08
GROUP MEMBERS CONTRIBUTIONS
Tinotendaishe Madzinga N0161536X Introduction
Mitchelle Chikwengo N0162794W Functions of the Act
Collins T Shumba N015120569C Advantages of the Act
Xolile Ndlovu N01521233X Advantages of the Act
Obey Sifiye N01523261Y Disadvantages of the Act
Kudakwashe Mageza Disadvantages of the Act
Tsitsi Govere N0163378P Success of the Act
Petronilla Zambezi N0162393N Success of the Act
Osleen Ngara N0162362M Failures of the Act
Tinashe Nyika N0162312W Failures of the Act
Rumbidzai Sumbureru N0162329Y Recommendations
Thandekile Magqina N0164884W Conclusion
Prince Mhashu N0161202H Conclusion
Mitchelle Njikizana N0162982P
Introduction
 According to the, Housing standards Control Act [CAP 29:08], ‘ it is
an act to establish housing contracts and to confer upon certain powers
and functions; to provide for repair, demolition or closure of buildings
of an unsatisfactory standard. To provide for the abetment of
overcrowding of dwellings; to control the harmful use or occupation
of premise and the undue interference.’
 According to Mafico (1991, p107), housing standards can be defined
as, “relative measures of suitability, acceptability and livability for a
given socio-cultural, economic and cultural settings”.
 The UN defines standards as, “measures of the acceptability of
housing at a given time and place in a cultural, technological and
economic setting.”
 Introduction cont’
 Mafico also (1991, p108) states that, housing standards were first
introduced in the western world during the 19th century to protect the
weaker members of society against overcrowding and ill health.
 The main thrust of these standards was to acquire minimum standards
of hygiene, safety and privacy in the housing units, which were
provided to the working class.
Functions of the Act
 To establish housing courts and to confer upon them certain powers
and functions.
 To provide for the repair, demolition or closure of buildings of an
unsatisfactory standard.
 To provide for the abatement of overcrowding of dwellings.
 To control the harmful use or occupation of premises and the undue
interference with the rights of the residents of a neighborhood.
 To institute a procedure whereby clearance warrants may be granted
to local authorities for the acquisition and clearance of areas in which
buildings of an unsatisfactory standard are prevalent .
 To provide for matters incidental to or connected with the foregoing.
 Advantages of the Act
 Deepens democracy and broadens development by increasing security,
dignity and reducing vulnerability of citizens.
 It creates a clear empowering framework through communities or
citizens to articulate their demand for human settlement services to the
central Government and Local Authorities thus reducing homelessness,
destitution and enhancing our national image.
 Frames the adaptation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights
and the Habitat 11 Agenda and empowers the Legislature and the
Executive in terms of enacting legislation, policies, standards and bye-
laws, for instance, the ongoing process of reviewing the National
Housing Policy stands to benefit from the constitutionalisation of
housing hence ensure state responsiveness and allows the broadening of
alternative and more particularly human settlement and management
approaches.
Advantages of the Act cont’
 Instructs the national and local budget framework to adequately
support human settlement planning, development and management
enabling the government to set aside a determinate resource
percentage for human settlement development and management and
guarantee allocations of funds to housing projects. Current
constraints in funding, available designs, technology and
implementation of maintenance models will be addressed.
 Enables the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities to
efficiently and effectively carry out its role in coordinating
research, monitoring and evaluation activities in relation to the
promotion, enjoyment and production of housing rights. Thus, it
creates an effective tool for local, national and international
resource mobilization and ensures effective and efficient use of land
earmarked for human settlement development.
Advantages of the Act cont’
 It contributes to the national vision of providing sustainable
human settlement by allowing the application of participatory
processes throughout the development cycle, that is, - planning,
design, technology selection, implementation and management of
infrastructure and housing development as well as the
management processes.
Disadvantages of the Act
 Mafico (1989) suggests that while planning and housing standards
have been meant to promote better quality living environments
through the provision of basic health and safety standards, in most
developing countries e.g Zimbabwe they tend to achieve the exact
opposite. The provisions then tend to exclude the poor from urban
housing.
 the planning and housing standards for low income housing in
Zimbabwe have become an end in themselves as they have remained
static and not influenced by the ever changing socio-economic and
cultural conditions of the country.
 As an advantage, one of the major positive implications is that the
costs are reduced with more plots sharing the cost of infrastructure
development but this has a negative implication on the quality of
life and sustainable environment is compromised.
Disadvantages of the Act cont’
➢ Technological
 In regards to material pricing and technological considerations in
superstructures. These include for example the use of polystyrene
panels in construction of a house, of hydra form blocks, which do not
use mortar, and of locally dug sand used.
 Despite these initiatives, much of the construction using polystyrene
panels and hydra form blocks remain at an experimental level, and has
not been applied at a mass scale. Most local authorities remain
skeptical about fully embracing these new technologies
➢ Cultural
 It is no longer possible to develop houses using traditional construction
methods and materials due to the insistence of compliance to these
legislative instruments.
 The increase of prices in the construction sector and the limited use of
local building materials in low-income housing, coupled with the high
costs of foreign components in housing construction have also been
major challenges for the housing delivery process (Department of
Housing, 1997).
Disadvantages of the Act cont’
 The current costs of infrastructure and associate costs related to
set codes, standards and procedures are inappropriate to the
housing requirements of the low-income population
 As an ACT to establish housing courts and to confer upon them
certain powers and functions to demolish or closure of buildings
of an unsatisfactory standard, also known as the development
control and not being able to allocate proper residential facilities
has left people homelessness increasing the rate of poverty
which deviates from the SDG goals.
 Besides, housing standards currently practiced in Zimbabwe
were adopted in 1977 and for the past 30 years there have been
a lot of economic technological and cultural changes.
Successes of the Act
 Home ownership for the majority
 establishment of the NHF and HGF to offer affordable loans which are
used in house construction.
 Supporting the private sector in low cost housing
 Introduction of rural housing programs
 informal sector upgrading e.g Epworth
 direct provision of houses by government
 mobilization of international actors and finance
 supporting effective and labor intensive construction models e.g
building and material brigades wind housing cooperatives
 The Act provided ground for the demolition of illegal properties
through operation Murambatsvina which was carried out in most parts
of Zimbabwe.
Successes of the Act cont’
 The act has also led to closing of places like shebeens in Masvingo,
Harare and Bulawayo which are illegal and are harmful to society
through allowing the issuing of control orders.
 There has been improvement in infrastructure standards for example
high density suburbs used to have narrower roads and as a result of
the Act, the new high density suburbs constructed after
Independence have wider roads
 Improving reticulation facilities in high density suburbs like water
supply systems and waste disposal systems. Most high density
suburbs used communal water points which were hard to manage
but over the years houses have had their own taps and toilets.
Failures of the Act
 Enactment of this standard enabled the private sector to be involved
in the building of low cost housing other than the local authorities
and the government which has resulted in rapid urbanization
together with its negative consequences
 Most of the houses built by private sectors are out of reach for poor
people because they are very expensive.
 Private developers, and land barons have been allowed to form co-
operatives that have sold thousands of stands to people in urban
areas in some cases the local authorities demolish these houses
claiming that the houses do not have proper plans or were built on
restricted land especially when the home seekers bought the houses
being run by both ruling party and opposition party functionalities.
 Failures of the Act cont’
 As a result of political corruption it has become harder and less
transparent to get housing in the urban areas of Zimbabwe and court
cases are being disclosed as to protect the rich which goes against
the requirements of the act to establish housing courts and to confer
upon them certain powers and functions.
 for example In 1995 a National Housing Fund and Housing
Guarantee Funds were set up as employees contributes their wages
in the hope that the government assist them get houses instead it
channeled the money to build VIP houses and the workers money
simply vanished .
 The government and the politicians are making demolitions in form
of organized chaos whose purpose is to place desperate home
seekers to be vulnerable by exploiting them financially and
politically
Failures of the Act cont’
 E.g operation Muramabatsvina already exacerbated acute
housing shortages since the government was failing to respond
to increasing urban population therefore when Garikai /Hlalani
kuhle scheme was built the government pretended as if its was
offering assistance to homeless local people whilst it generally
it was compensating for the unplanned damages it had caused .
 The standard was established for provision of decent and
durable housing which is too way expensive for the poor since
the material required is too expensive where as people can
adopt low cost innovative housing technologies such as use of
brick ,mortar and aluminum etc. since Zimbabwe has a
moderate climate which does not compromise quality.
Recommendations
 Review and update the Act, most of the housing standards in
Zimbabwe have been adopted in 1977 about over 30yrs.
Technological, social, economic and cultural changes have taken
place which need to be put into consideration.
 Provision for low cost housing is necessary to cater for the urban
poor groups since the old act was made to protect the white settlers
and allow the participatory of urban poor, consider locally available
building materials.
 Stakeholder engagement especially the corporate sector to finance
the infrastructure development.
 Adoption of effective housing strategies such as that of Botswana.
Conclusion
 In conclusion, there is a pertinent need for the review of the
housing standards despite the success of the Act. More so, this
will enable adaption and incorporation of the changes revolving
around housing issues while ensuring the attainment of
sustainable development.
 It is therefore, important that the housing standards are reviewed
religiously taking into consideration various factors that affect
the success and implementation of the requirements of housing
standards.
References
 Mafico , C. J. C. (1991). Urban low income housing in
Zimbabwe. Avenbury , Aldershot.
 www.veritaszim.net [online] Accesed 14/06/20
 Ball M, Harloe, M, (1999), Rhetorical Barriers to
Understanding Housing Provision: What the Provision Thesis
is and is not. Housing Studies 7 (1), 3-15.
 Chenga M (1986), “Rural Housing Programmes in Zimbabwe:
A Contribution to Social Development”, Journal of Social
Development in Africa Vol.1, p.43, pp.4347