This year as the world commemorates World Habitat Day, the plight of the vulnerable and homeless in terms of shelter provision should take centre stage in the priorities of local governments.
Shelter is a basic right but it has turned to be a privilege if someone clearly looks at how local governments are willing to make such provision a basic right.
As the day is commemorated across the globe, an assessment on the role of most local authorities in ensuring that shelter is adequate for all in need will go a long way in addressing such anomalies.
Government should play its part in provision of decent accommodation in most towns and cities other than the demolitions, which have become order of the day especially in the country’s capital city Harare.
Improving human settlements should be a priority instead of destroying what they term ‘illegal structures’ and government is taken to task to consider the welfare of all the homeless leading to the proliferation of undesignated habitats along streets.
City fathers should strive to take collective responsibility for the future of the human habitat.
Councils should embrace such ideas through organising various activities, events and or discussions on urban sustainability as well as part of the commemorations.
As such addressing such perennial problems bedeviling most if not all councils like failure to provide clean water, poor sanitation as well as poor liquid and solid waste management methods that account for 70 percent of greenhouse gas emissions globally will do more good to the urban populace.
Incorporating local communities, organisations, academic institutions and other stakeholders in creating sustainable, carbon-neutral inclusive cities and towns would amplify global race campaign to Climate change issues.
