Assessing Local Authorities' Capacity to Deliver Affordable Housing

For more than a decade now, Zimbabwean local authorities have been battling to deliver affordable housing to the low income earners in society. This situation has resulted in a mismatch between supply and demand ratios hence the need to assess the capacity of Zimbabwean local authorities in delivering affordable housing. In the wake of insurmountable challenges resulting from rapid urbanisation, economic constrains and other environmental factors, local authorities are finding it difficult to bring sanity in their areas of jurisdiction. Manifestation of such challenges has been reflected by households overcrowding, illegal settlements, and substandard housing conditions to mention but a few. Literature review on the subject of affordable housing confirms that Zimbabwe like other developing countries is still struggling to address the issue with more than two million people estimated to be on the housing waiting list. Also given through literature review are the strategies that some SADC countries are using in an effort to address the issue of affordable housing.