Overview
Zimbabwe like most African countries has been experiencing increased urbanization which has resulted in urban local authorities finding it difficult to cope with the rapid increase in demand for services such as water and housing. Consequently, Zimbabwe has begun to experience an increase in informal settlements in all urban settings, a situation that was unimaginable 15 years ago. The increase in informal settlements as well as new settlements has resulted in a huge demand for water which most cities and towns are unable to provide given the dire economic situation Zimbabwe has been for the past 20 years.
Zimbabwean cities have therefore been affected by water borne diseases in recent years and are always under constant threat from cholera, typhoid etc. Zimbabwean cities have also been prone natural disasters such as floods, cyclones.
UN-Habitat focus in Zimbabwe since the establishment of the office in 2006 has been on supported urban governance, housing regulations and policies, capacities in urban planning, water and sanitation in peri urban settlements and city resilience strategies.
Country: Overview
Country: Overview
Country: Overview
There is a rapid increase in informal settlements in urban settings over the past 10 years, according to the UNDP Country Report of 2014 at 60 % of the urban dwellers were living in informal settlements with the majority living in extremely poor conditions. Zimbabwe is facing serious water and sanitation challenges and has in recent years seen death of over 6000 from cholera and other water borne diseases in urban areas. The country is also afflicted by urban poverty, unemployment and insecurity for the vulnerable.
Country: Impact and Urban Numbers
UN-Habitat supported the Government of Zimbabwe to come up with the 2012 National Housing Policy
Over 15000 Epworth residents including the youth, women and the elderly benefitted from the water and Sanitation project implemented by UN-Habitat in 2018-19.
UN-Habitat supported the Government of Zimbabwe come up with the new Human Settlements Policy which is set to impact on over 3 million Zimbabweans.
Urban Population (2018): 32.2%
Urban Growth Rate (2015-2020): 2.19%
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Highlighted Publications
Assessment of Zimbabwe Legislation through the Urban Law Module of the Law and Climate Change Toolkit FULL REPORT
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Sustaining Urban Water Supply under Climate Change: Lessons from Selected Rapidly Growing Cities in Southern Africa and China
Water is the basis for life, and meeting water supply demand is a global challenge, particularly in developing countries. In 2020, it was estimated that two billion people lived in water-stressed regions with no access to a safely managed drinking water service on premises, available when needed…
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Housing Finance Mechanisms in Zimbabwe
The report focuses on key aspects and innovative instruments/practices that are specific to Zimbabwe. he report is organized into five chapters. Chapter 1 focuses on the Macro-economic and socio-political context of Zimbabwe. Chapter 2 focuses on “The Housing Conditions and Housing Market in…
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Urban-Rural Linkages and Global Pandemic Disruptions in Africa Impacts on Mobility, Spatial Interaction and Food Systems in Cameroon, Kenya, Niger State (Nigeria), Senegal and Zimbabwe
Many development practitioners have, until recently, viewed urban and rural areas as two mutually exclusive territories. However, this does not reflect the realities of the spatial and sectoral linkages between urban and rural areas. The two territories are two ends of a continuum of human…
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Global Compendium of Practices on Local Economic and Financial Recovery
The Global Compendium of Practices on Local Economic and Financial Recovery includes experiences and lessons from different cities on COVID-19 recovery. The provision of global practices gives cities across the globe an opportunity for peer-learning in developing and implementing their immediate…
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- Total value of UN-Habitat investments (2008-2013): US$ 508,422
- Total number of UN-Habitat projects (2008-2013): 2 projects
- Main donors: European Union, UNDP Zimbabwe & United Kingdom
- Implementing partners: UNDP, Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ)
General information
Capital: Harare
Major cities: Harare, Bulawayo, Chitungwiza, Mutare, Gweru, Epworth, Kwekwe, Kadoma, Masvingo, Chinhoyi.
- Population: 13.72 Million
- GDP: US$ 9.802 Billion
- GDP growth: 4.4%
- Urban population (annual %): 39%
- Population growth rate (average annual %): 2.7%
- Urban population growth rate (average annual %): 4.0%
- Rural population growth rate (average annual %): 1.9%
Source: World Bank 2012
UN-Habitat projects in Zimbabwe
Strengthening Citizenship Participation in Urban Local Governance
- Duration: September 2010 - December 2013
- Value: US$ 408,952
- Donor: European Union
- Implementing partners: UNDP, Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ)
- Location: Bulawayo, Gweru, Kwekwe, Masvingo, Kadoma
Support to Zimbabwe Local Government Association and strengthening citizen participation in urban local governance
Building capacity of UCAZ Core Team and delivery of a Training of Trainers Session.
- Duration: July 2008 - December 2012
- Value: US$ 99,470
- Donor: UNDP Zimbabwe & United Kingdom
- Implementing partners: Urban Councils Association of Zimbabwe (UCAZ)
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