The Efficacy of Rental Housing in Addressing Housing Challenges in Zimbabwe: The Case of Vundu Flats Makokoba Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The strong negative correlation between housing demand and supply in Zimbabwe. Has resulted in many urban home seekers devoting themselves to rental housing. The paper sought to draw attention to central government and local authorities in order for them to formulate rules and regulations that promote the efficient and effective operation of rental housing.  Rental housing has been identified as an alternative approach to addressing housing crisis in developing countries.The study was carried out on Vundu flats in Makokoba, Bulawayo, which is located in the Southern part of Zimbabwe. The housing crisis has escalated especially after the land reform programme of 2000. Social policy interventions have targeted housing provision especially for low income earners in order to come up with an egalitarian housing model.   Vundu flats in Makokoba Bulawayo has immensely reduced housing crisis in the city of Bulawayo. A mixed method approach was used to gather both quantitative and qualitative data. According to ZIMSTAT (2012) the total population in Makokoba is 36 756, however the research was conducted at household level out of a total population of 520 households 40 were randomly selected. Data were collected using questionnaires, observations, key informant interviews and secondary sources. The quantitative data were presented in the form of graphs, and tables using MS Excel 2013. Whilst a thematic approach combined with content analysis were used to analyse the qualitative data.  The researcher concluded that rental housing has managed to address housing shortages in Bulawayo. Furthermore, tenants in Vundu flats are exposed to various challenges such as overcrowding, living in substandard flats, high crime rate, leaving the community prone to erratic health problems. Therefore, the study recommends Bulawayo city council in conjunction with central government. To formulate sustainable housing policies, that promote the efficient and effective operation of public rental housing in order to protect tenants in rental housing. This requires investment in infrastructure planning and service delivery.