Planning for uncontrolled settlements in Mbabane: with special reference to Sidwashini

Abstract

The development and spread of uncontrol led settlements is part and parcel of the Onprecedented rate of urbanization currently sweepIng across all developing countries. The growth of urban populationr in turn, is tied to the phenomenon of rural-urban migration which many nations have accepted as an irreversible process. The kingdom of Swaziland IS caught up in the same situation. Its rupal population is flocking to the main towns, especially to Mbabane at rates unprecedented in the short history of urbanization in the country. Almost without exception these rural migrants find their way to uncontrol led settlements. The government has recognised the need to solve the problems of uncontrol led development and has in the past taken some measures to curb further squatting and free improvements to these areas. However, the problems have been viewed as being of a technical na~ure and efforts to resolve them have been concentrated on finding new methods of reducing the cost of housing without lowering establ ished standards. The problem IS seen as the lack of sufficient quantities of standard modern housing units and lack of financial resources tQ provide them. This approach has obviously shortcomings and has met with Iimited success. This study, thus addresses itself to the question of what the country's objectives should be with regard to the improvement of uncontrol led settlements and what approaches should be taken to real ise those objectives. The study holds the view that W measures for the improvement of uncontrol led settlements are to be successful, they must be based on a comprehensive view of the factors responsible for uncontrol led development, the constraints to improvement and the opportunities avai lable for bringing about positive change. The study has thus taken into account these factors and has made modest and hopeful !y, real istic recommendations regarding the approach that should be adopted toward uncontrol led development. The stu4r basically recommends the adoption of '5 pol icies at the national level aimed at (i) arresting the prob Iem at its sour ce I (i i) gu iding the effor-ts of those already in town and (ii i) providing a framewor- k within which at I squatter- impr-ovement pr-ojects should be for-mulated. It also recommends a shift from the appr-oach of providing finished units to that of providing infr-astr-ur-alSyr-Vlces to the settlements and the 1etting the people improve their housing gr-adual Iy as their- incomes increase. The r-ole of government is recommended to be that of pr-oviding the people with what they cannot provide for themselves - and assisting them in helping themselves