B. Case Study One:
Survey of High Density Suburb in Bulawayo
In Meltdown, released in August 2006, SPT reported on a survey of 89 stands in Bulawayo all
of which had been affected by demolitions in 2005. The stands were systematically and
randomly selected from a list of properties affected by OM, provided by the BCC.65
In 2010, we selected 27 stands, or 30% of the original number, and assessed the impact of OM
five years on, using the same questionnaire as used in 2006. This provided us with varying
degrees of information on the histories of movement of 269 individuals who had lived at
these addresses in 2005.
I.
2006: Main Findings
In August 2006, one year after OM, very few families had left for a rural area as a result of the
demolitions that had taken place on their stand.
Only 2% of families had gone to rural areas as complete family units, with a further 4%
in which part of a family had gone back to a rural home. Instead, people had crowded
from demolished backyard structures into the remaining structure on the property.
The overwhelming outcome of OM was therefore found to be extreme congestion in
the remaining structures.
We found that people were living in a average of 3,4 sqm per person.
In some extreme instances, people were crowded into houses to such a degree that
there was barely more than one square meter per person of living space! 66
On some properties, people were sleeping in shifts because it was impossible for
everyone to lie down at the same time: married couples were unable to share rooms,
while single people of both sexes were being forced to share rooms in other instances.
Children were being exposed to sexual activity, and were also unable to do their
schoolwork because of the congestion.
Single people in particular were living on the move, camping in one corner and then
being moved on to another friend or relative elsewhere, as conditions became
unbearable in a particular household.
II.
2010: Main Findings
1.
Decongestion of urban stands
The most notable finding of the follow up study has been that there has been definite
decongestion of living spaces in these Bulawayo households. From 2010 interviews, it
appears that finally, during 2007‐9, there was a move to rural areas by some families, as
well as a high incidence of diasporisation. Deaths have also played a role in this process of
65 SPT (2006) pages 38‐9 for methodology of original research and selection of properties.
66 Ibid, Case Examples II and III, pages 44‐46.
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