Bulawayo has most lodgers in Zimbabwe

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BULAWAYO has the highest number of lodgers in Zimbabwe followed by Harare, according to a 2014 Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) survey.

BULAWAYO has the highest number of lodgers in Zimbabwe followed by Harare, according to a 2014 Zimbabwe Statistical Agency (Zimstat) survey.

By NQOBANI NDLOVU

The Zimstat 2014 Labour Force and Child Labour Survey (LFCLS) on population characteristics and living conditions shows that out of 1,1 million households in urban areas, 44% of them were lodging with Bulawayo accounting for the largest number.

“Of the 1,1 million households in urban areas, 44% of them were lodging, 28% were owner/purchasers and 16% lived in dwelling units owned by parents or guardians or relatives of the head of household,” the report says.

“In the predominantly urban provinces, Bulawayo and Harare, the majority of households were lodgers whereas in predominantly rural provinces, most households were owners or purchasers of dwelling units.

“Bulawayo had the highest percentage of lodgers at 41%, followed by Harare with 40%,” the research results of the 2014 LFCLS read in part.

After Bulawayo and Harare, the Midlands came third with 17% followed by Matabeleland South (15%), Mashonaland West (13%), Mashonaland East (9%), Masvingo (8%), Manicaland (7%), Mashonaland Central (5%) and Matabeleland North at 3% respectively.

The report does not state why Bulawayo, with its population less than that of Harare, had the highest number of lodgers.

Bulawayo’s housing waiting list stands at 100 000, but the council has only managed to service 15 000 housing stands in the last 15 years despite the growing number of those in need of houses.

Between 2007 and 2008, the Bulawayo City Council turned to Umguza Rural District Council seeking land to address shortages of housing and development space.

However, the talks collapsed because of hyper-inflation, but mayor Martin Moyo in March said negotiations had been re-opened. About 85% of people on Bulawayo’s housing waiting list can only afford low-cost housing, with the remainder affording houses meant for medium-to-high income earners.