Bringing the Human Dignity Thrust into the Housing Informality Debate in Zimbabwe: Lessons from Makokoba, Mbare, Sakubva Housing Habitats

Abstract

Informal settlements present a challenge on human dignity by infringing on people’s rights to basic services and exposing them to
inhumane conditions. The art icle focuses on human indignity in informal settlements that have been caused by poor planning,
implementation, and monitoring of the urbanisation trends in major cities in Zimbabwe. The study used secondary data, that is, desktop method of data collection . Thematic data analysis was used to analyse the data. Results illustrate that little research has been
conducted on human dignity in housing schemes and the implications of personal responsibility for food, water and
accommodation standards in informal s ettlements. Results also show that human dignity is affected by the lack of sanitation and provision of adequate facilities by local authorities, resulting in some unethical behaviour like crime and violence from the residents of the informal settlements. Based on the findings, housing principles provide both rights and personal responsibility and the role that human dignity plays in the provision of better living standards. The study recommends a model that should be implemented by local authorities that i nvolves participation, responsibility and accountability of residents to provide better access to sanitation for the
underprivileged people, hence promoting human dignity. Informal settlement upgrading should also be implemented to pursue human dignity.