Using GIS Technology in the Provision of Urban Infrastructure in Slum Settlement Upgrading: The Case of Hopley, Ward 6, Harare South

The purpose of this chapter is to describe regularising a disorderly settlement using Arc and Quantum Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies for settlement upgrading. The urban human settlement development trajectory requires that urban settlers occupy an area planned and already serviced with offsite infrastructure, but in this instance, people occupied and built on land both unserviced and unplanned. There are no defined boundaries for residential stands, let alone clear circulation networks, road infrastructure, water and sewer reticulation networks, adequate social services such as schools and clinics, community boreholes, or water points. The extent of the area identified for the study is Zone 6, that only forms part of the whole Hopley settlement. Participatory GIS application in settlement upgrading ensures that slums in wetlands, and the total number of slums that need relocation or demolition, are identified. There will be improved access to the tenure system, housing quality and climatic change awareness. This fulfils the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal number 11 that seeks to promote and improve the standard of living of people, thereby creating an inclusive, safe and resilient urban society. Part of the settlement that is closer to the roundabout (Ward/Zone One) was identified by Government for the Garikai Housing scheme and is being formalised. Urbanisation is most pronounced in lower-middle-income zones (high-density areas) of the developing world, creating many spatially related problems that include the mushrooming of uncoordinated settlements called slums/shacks, widely known for lacking corresponding basic infrastructural services, such as water and sanitation, roads, electricity, sewer networks, schools, clinics, hospitals and commercial and business centres. It is estimated that in Sub-Saharan Africa about 14 million people migrate to towns and cities each year. Out of this figure, about 70% end up in slum settlements, with only 30% living in formal settlements.