Challenges of sustainable low-income housing delivery in Harare, Zimbabwe

Since Zimbabwe gained its independence, there has been a rapid growth in the urban population as people have migrated from the rural areas to the major cities with the hope of getting better job opportunities and a better standard of living. This situation has placed a strain on the meagre available housing facilities, with low-income earners having to struggle for accommodation that fits there budget. This paper presents the findings of a study on the challenges of sustainable low-income housing delivery in Zimbabwe and the measures for improving same. The study adopted a quantitative survey approach with questionnaire administered to participants involved in the delivery of low-income houses in Harare, Zimbabwe. Descriptive analytical tools such as percentage, mean score and standard deviation were used in analysing the data gathered, while Cronbach alpha test was conducted to test the reliability of the questionnaire used. Findings of the study revealed that the major challenges of sustainable low-income housing delivery are inadequate budget allocation, outdated policies, lack of development funds, insufficient housing delivery programs, and high interest on capital finance. The important measures needed towards improving the delivery of these set of houses are the adoption of efficient and affordable housing solutions, providing sufficient housing delivery programs, and regular updating of housing policies within the country.