The urban poor under threat and in struggle: options for urban developmentin Zimbabwe, 1995-2000

This paper describes the development of savings schemes by urban poor group s in different urban centres in Zimbabwe and their negotiations with local authorities to allow them to develop their own homes and neighbourhoods. It also describes how these savings schemes developed into the Zimbabwean Hom eless People's Federation (now with 20,000 members), and the constant inter -change between different savings schemes as they learnt from each other (a nd from leaders of federations from other countries) and encouraged new sav ings schemes to be set up. Despite very difficult political circumstances a nd economic problems, there are housing and income generation schemes under way in many Zimbabwean urban centres, organized and managed by urban poor g roups' own savings schemes. The larger ones are inevitably those where loca l authorities have recognized their potential and provided appropriate supp ort.