The Ministry of Housing and Community Development is enhancing its collaboration with non-government organizations to improve living conditions in informal settlements that currently are not included in government upgrading initiatives. Permanent Secretary Manasa Lesuma highlighted the government’s dedicated efforts to tackle infrastructure deficiencies while acknowledging ongoing challenges such as land tenure issues, limited funding, and increasing urban pressures.
To address these hurdles and strengthen community connections, the Ministry is teaming up with the NGO RISE. This partnership aims to implement interim engineering solutions in selected settlements. Lesuma reported that 48 informal settlements have been identified nationally, many of which are not scheduled for upgrades in the next two to three years under existing plans.
As part of this collaboration, RISE will contribute to vital civil works, including improvements to drainage systems, enhanced road access, and essential infrastructure provision. Lesuma assured that this initiative will be designed to avoid any overlap with future government projects.
He emphasized the significance of community engagement, stating, “If we do not engage more with the communities, and if we are able to come up with a solution regarding our engagement with RISE, then that is an added bonus for us, particularly in helping convince the landowners that eventually we will reach them for these civil works.” Building trust with landowners and ensuring the delivery of long-term solutions remains central to the mission of this partnership.
This initiative represents a positive step toward fostering better living conditions for residents of informal settlements, showcasing a strong commitment to community involvement and sustainable infrastructure development. Through these efforts, there is hope for a brighter future for these communities, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in overcoming social and infrastructural challenges.