Continuities and Discontinuities in Urban Population Policies in Post-colonial Southern African Cities: Towards a Sustainable and Inclusive Framework

Abstract

The chapter maps urban policy in Southern Africa with a view of building a sustainable and inclusive framework in which children, women, the elderly and disabled are embraced. It is premised on the observation that colonial urban policy was very explicit on who could live in the city and who could not. The colonial city for the Africans was more for the economically active males and less for the children, women and disabled. The landscape soon changed with attainment of independence and democracy, enabling families to live together in the city. But democracy had unintended consequences, such as the detriment of critical aspects of health, and on the adequacy and efficacy in general service delivery. If sustainability and inclusivity are to be a priority today, in most cases, retrofits are necessary. However, the costs of retrofits are in themselves a huge challenge on the basis of acceptability, affordability, cultural acceptance and political patronage. Using case studies and comparative policy analysis, the chapter illustrates the aforesaid manifestations and nuances in the dilemmas of achieving inclusive and sustainable cities in Southern Africa.