https://hdl.handle.net/10646/3981 2026-04-10T07:56:22Z 2026-04-10T07:56:22Z Chirisa, Innocent C h i v e n g e, M a r c y l in e https://hdl.handle.net/10646/4230 2023-05-27T01:01:49Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

The ‘Concept Urban Resilience’: Contextualising to Zimbabwe Chirisa, Innocent; C h i v e n g e, M a r c y l in e This paper is an attempt to systematically conceptualise urban resilience with an intent to decipher how the meaning(s) apply to the Zimbabwean context. The paper draws from a gap that exists in literature regarding urban resilience and spatiality, in general, and with particular reference to Zimbabwe. Methodologically, the paper hinges on thematic and content analysis. Urban resilience proves to be the main tool in safeguarding development in urban areas where there is a greater concentration of people. This rapid urbanisation escalates the pressure on critical services and infrastructure in cities, which also increases their exposure to shocks and long-term stresses. While shocks and stresses are sometimes unavoidable, urban resilience thinking demands that cities be planned holistically so that they are prepared for any vulnerabilities. To deal with challenges facing urban areas, governments and policy-makers, should have the responsibility of building city resilience, and operationalise the resilience-building process.

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z Muleya, Nicholas Dube, Buhle https://hdl.handle.net/10646/4229 2023-05-27T01:01:45Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Streetscaping Beitbridge Central Business District for Public Space Quality Enhancement Muleya, Nicholas; Dube, Buhle This study unravels processes and approaches towards external urban environment quality enhancement from a streetscaping standpoint using the case of Beitbridge Central Business District. It acknowledges that the built environment’s public space ought to be enhanced from multiple dimensions. One among them is the streetscape concept. Despite the known benefits of a high-quality public space, there is a dearth of scholarly investigation of this in Zimbabwe. A mixed-method approach that involved detailed surveys aided by structured observation of the streetscape and its usage, key informant and general interviews, and desk review of secondary sources constituted the methodology of this study. Despite substantial work towards the improvement of the urban environment, this study discovered that there is still a significant mismatch between the existing image of the town and the societal expectations from the southern face of Zimbabwe. This call for the prioritisation of public space designing, by the responsible authorities, whose ultimate aim is to enhance the quality of urban environments for maximum value derivation. The study concludes that a ‘street’ is more intimate to humanity due to its threedimensional nature that integrates buildings, the sidewalk, the traffic surface, furniture and other infrastructure while a ‘road ’ is merely a two-dimensional traffic surface that is more intimate to vehicles. The ‘streetscape concept’ is promising to produce inclusive, smart and human responsive urban public space.

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z NDHLOVU, SlBONGILE MATA, JEOFREY https://hdl.handle.net/10646/4228 2023-05-27T01:03:21Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Urban Decay and the Resilience Factor in Bulawayo’s Downtown Precinc NDHLOVU, SlBONGILE; MATA, JEOFREY This paper provides an assessment of the impacts that urban decay has on the various urban activities and subsequently on the resilience of cities. This is against the background that despite being a matter of public concern for many years, urban decay has not been given enough attention in Zimbabwe’s urban planning and management platforms, yet its impacts affect the social and economic activities of cities and is central to their resilience. By definition, urban decay describes a condition of observable indicators of the physical deterioration of the built environment that end up attracting crime, vandalism and pollution. This usually results in the decline of social and economic activities as more and more businesses relocate to more prosperous areas where infrastructure and services are adequate and development opportunities exist. The implications of urban decline to urban resilience are that the economic and social systems of a city may not be able to return to or to surpass equilibrium after experiencing stresses and/ or shocks. The research adopted a mixed- methods approach, using primary and secondary data sources, making use of questionnaires, observation, key informant interviews and document analysis to gather data from the public, property owners, business operators and selected participants from central and local government. Findings reveal that the major indicators of urban decay in the downtown area of Bulawayo are segregation, crime and disorder, infrastructural dilapidation, building obsolescence and poor solid waste management. Conclusions were made that urban decay affects economic and social activities as well as the environment negatively, making it difficult for cities to recover after shocks and stresses as opportunities for businesses and employment are lost. Therefore, it is recommended that areas that are experiencing decay be transformed by way of regeneration, redevelopment or revitalisation to ensure that economic and social activities are at least maintained and enable resilience.

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z Nyabeze, Kudzai Chikoko, Witness https://hdl.handle.net/10646/4227 2023-05-27T01:03:19Z 2019-01-01T00:00:00Z

Challenges and Opportunities Faced by Informal Traders at Murahwa Green Market, Mutare Nyabeze, Kudzai; Chikoko, Witness The paper problematises socio-economic challenges faced by informal traders in the case of Murahwa Green Market Mutare. The study draws global literature from Africa and Asia in order to show the socio-economic challenges faced by the informal traders beyond the country. The utility of the capability approach was imperative to the study as it revealed the potential and opportunities that informal traders endow if given the leeway to join the mainstream social insurance. The study interrogates the socio-economic challenges faced by the informal traders at Murahwa Green Market in Mutare. The study was conducted in Sakubva because it is where most informal sector activities take place in Mutare. A mixed method approach was used to collect data through interviews and questionnaires. The study reveals that chief among the socio-economic challenges faced by the informal traders include losses due to fluctuating prices, cash crisis and price hikes. These economic challenges have negatively affected the informal sector business to the extent that some form of social security is needed to guarantee their informal sector business as it has become the largest employment sector in Zimbabwe. Social challenges faced by the informal traders include theft which was reported to be the chief among the social challenges. One of the recommendations of this paper is that the informal traders should be given some form of social security to cushion them in the event of socioeconomic challenges affecting them. Social security should be in the form of social insurance for this group.

2019-01-01T00:00:00Z