Mbare

We spent Wednesday morning in Mbare. I would say the most famous high density suburb in Harare. And it's shocking! The huge difference compared to other high density-low income suburbs is that there are not only little shacks but big blocks of flats dating back to colonial times. Back then they were called "bachelor blocks" and made for the black workers that usually were not allowed to bring their families with them. Now a whole family of ten people lives in a room that was built for one person only. so these blocks are totally overcrowded and under way of breaking down, because nobody repairs broken windows or collapsed stairs or looks after sanitary facilities. And there is rubbish everywhere lying in big heaps on the road or softly burning away in a corner. and of course the usual electricity and water problems. amongst others this makes people burn plastic to prepare their food, when they cannot afford firewood. And then they start coughing all the time.

One of our partner organisations just decided to introduce their own local money worth an hour of work per unit. Good idea!