The Struggle for Shelter in an Urbanizing World: A Rhodesian Example

Abstract

During September-October 1976 a squatter settlement of some 2 600 families mushroomed on Derbyshire Estate, European land located 16 km from the centre of Salisbury. A combined exercise by the municipality and government during November relocated the majority of these people in a transitional urban settlement, where they were provided with basic services. This article attempts firstly to investigate who these people were, whence they came and why they were there, using material from a survey conducted by the Salisbury Municipality Department of Community Development,1 and secondly briefly to review how the authorities handled the issue.