Accountable Democratic Action through Social Cohesion Program - Protecting the Shelter Rights of Informal Settlers in Zimbabwe
Monday, March 8, 2021
Under the USAID-funded Accountable
Democratic Action (ADA) through Social Cohesion Program, the Development
Innovations Group, in close collaboration with its local partner, Dialogue on
Shelter Trust, is increasing local and national decision-makers’ constitutional
accountability regarding the rights of the urban poor to shelter and basic
services in informal settlements across Zimbabwe. Despite being protected by
the Constitution and select government policies, urban informal settlers endure
human rights violations related to demolitions and evictions to this day. As a
result, they face significant challenges, ranging from the loss of life and
property to trauma due to the destruction of their home and community.
Julia
Dube lives with her husband and three children in
Killarney, an
informal settlement
in Bulawayo, one of the five ADA target local
authorities along with
Harare,
Epworth, Masvingo, and Kadoma.
Julia is a member of
the Mpumelelo community anti-eviction solidarity group set up with ADA support
to enable informal settlers to more effectively work together and with local
authorities to protect their rights to shelter and basic services
. In June 2020, Killarney residents received a verbal
threat of eviction from the City of Bulawayo after the land was sold to create a
housing development project. Residents were given less than a week to leave,
causing enormous distress among the informal settlers.
Killarney residents requested ADA assistance
and, subsequently, received psychosocial services and support negotiating with
city officials. Despite COVID-19 restrictions, the ADA Program was able to remotely
provide counseling for trauma, stress management, and well-being. The ADA
Program revived hope among informal settlers, like Julia, and enabled them to explore
alternative solutions to eviction by fostering a productive dialogue with the
City of Bulawayo. As a result, city officials agreed to a stay of eviction
while residents searched for alternative land. Grateful for ADA’s support,
Julie declared: “I am so happy with the counseling services we received. It
renewed our minds and prepared us mentally to face the City of Bulawayo
regarding threats of evictions. With the support from the ADA team, we
successfully managed to negotiate for a stay of evictions while other
alternatives are being explored.” With a sigh of relief, she added: “After the
negotiations with the City of Bulawayo, there are no further threats of
evictions received.” Julie is just
one of more than 200,500 informal
settlers who have benefited from the ADA Program’s support.