Secure land and property rights for all are essential to reducing poverty because they underpin economic development and social inclusion. Secure land tenure and property rights enable people in urban and rural areas to invest in improved homes and livelihoods. Although many countries have completely restructured their legal and regulatory framework related to land and they have tried to harmonize modern statutory law with customary ones, millions of people around the world still have insecure land tenure and property rights.

This report addresses and assesses the issue of tenure security  in several countries where government, civil society, the private sector and development cooperation initiatives have been implemented for decades. The selected case studies from fifteen (15) countries (Ghana, Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Bangladesh, China, Indonesia, The Philippines, Thailand, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Guatemala) ensure not only ageographic balance but they also represent countries with different socio-economic and land-related histories and that have followed different pathways. The studies’ key findings underline the still precariousstate of tenure security in many countries.

The Habitat Country Programme Document for Zambia outlines the main objectives and priorities for UN-HABITAT and the Zambian Government. In collaboration with the Government and other United Nations Agencies, the overall aim of this UNHABITATCountry Programme Document is to promote the Habitat Agenda. UN-HABITAT plays an active role in urban development and urban policy.

Through partnerships with various ministries, UNHABITAT has assisted in identifying key urban issues and areas of support to improve the urban situation in Zambia. Through an analysis of four key sectors including: HIV/AIDS, Local Governance, Housing and Basic Services and Urban Environment, the Zambia UN-HABITAT Country Programme Document provides an overview of the national policy context and the intervention areas for the Government to address urban development challenges.

In Zambia, the profiling was undertaken under the leadership of national and local authorities. This initiative has been carried out locally in Lusaka, Lilongwe and Kitwe as well as nationally. The Kitwe Urban Profile focuses on the findings of a desk-study, interviews with key actors and a citywide consultation with key urban actors and institutions.

Consultation participants agreed to address the salient urban issues including poverty, insecurity, corruption, pollution and crime all problems that negatively affect investments and economic development. A consensus was reached on priority interventions in the form of programme and project proposals to be implemented.

This profile offers an overview of the urban situation in each participating city through a series of interviews with key urban actors. This is followed by a city consultation where priorities are agreed.

City-level findings provide input for the national profiling that is combined with a national assessment of institutional, legislative, financial and overall enabling frameworks and response mechanisms. The profiles at all levels result in supporting the formation of city and national strategies and policy development.

Unsustainable migration trends in Zambia have led to high population growth in the urban areas without the accompanying improvement in infrastructure for service provision.

Towns and cities have continued to attract large numbers of people from rural areas. High levels of migration into the cities can be attributed to a diversified economy, relatively better access to social services and employment opportunities.

Livingstone, the capital of Northern Rhodesia before independence and before Lusaka became the capital, is the largest town in Zambia’s Southern Province and the tourist capital of Zambia. It is also the main administrative centre for the southern region of Zambia and the main entry point into the country by road from southern African countries such as Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa.

However, Livingstone as a district has a number of development gaps: unequal distribution of infrastructure development, inadequate provision of social services, high poverty levels, degradation of the environment and natural resources, unemployment, and, for much of the city, underdevelopment.