Report No. 12985-ZA
Zambia
Poverty Assessment
(In Five Volumes)  Volume IV: Urban Sector Services:
An Assessment of Service Provision in the Context of Zambia's Urbani Poverty
November 30, 1994
I fumran Resources Division
Soutliern Africa Department
Africa Regional Office
Document of the World Bank



Urban Sector Services: An Assessment of Service
Provision in the Context of Zambia's Urban Poverty
Report Authors:
Hiary Cottam
Human Resources Division
Southern Afrca Department
and
Caroline Moser
Urban Development Division
Transport, Water and Urban Development Department



GLOSSARY OF ABBREVIATIONS
CSO                        Central Statistics Office
DHS                        Demographic and Healti Survey
DOE                        Department of Energy
DWA                        Deparument of Water Affairs
GDP                        Gross Domestic Product
GRZ                        Government of the Republic of Zambia
HBS                        Household Budget Survey
LWSC                       Lusak Water and Sewerage Company
NEC                        National Energy Council
NGO                        Non-Govemmenta Organization
PIC                        Prices and licome Commission
PSLS                       Priority Survey Low-income Sub-sample
PPA                        Participatory Poverty Assessment
PS                         Priority Survey
PUSH                       Programme Urban Self Help
SEG                        Socio Economic Group
UPA                        Urban Poverty Assessment
ZCCM                       Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines
UBZ                        United Bus Company
UTTA                       United Transport and Taxi Association



TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Chapter 1: Introduction ..........................................  1
Chapter 2: Methods and Measurements .  ..........................  2
Chapter 3: The National Urban Context . ..........................  4
Chapter 4: Land and Housing ......................................  18
Chapter 5: Sector Services ..                                                  24
Chapter 6: The Response Towards a Future That Included the Urban Pooi . .45
Bibliography    ..51
LIST OF TABLES:
Table 2.1 Survey Data Sample Sizes                   ..                         3
Table 3.1 Poverty Indices at the National Urban, City and Sub City Level  . .   5
Table 3.2 Percentage of Children Malnourished: National, Urban and City Level..   5
Table 3.3 Summary of Labor Force Indicators Based on Current Activity. 1991..   7
Table 3.4 Average Monthly Urban Wages and Profits (lcwacha) by Gender. .        8
Table 3.5 Urban Consumer Price Index 1980-86 (1975- 100) ..8
Table 3.6 Trends in Occupational Categories in the Total Chawama Workforce, 1978
and 1992 .....                        .................. 9
Table 3.7 Employment Status of the Currently  nWloyed Workforce  . .10
Table 3.8 Household Amenities at the National, Urban and City Level  . .12
Table 3.9 Trends in Access to Housing and Basic Services in Chawama, 1978-1992 ...  14
Table 3.10 Mean Urban Household Size by Poverty Group  .       .               15
Table 3.11 Detailed Categorization of Household Types, Chawama 1992  . .16
Table 3.12 Percentage of Households Owning Assets at the National and Urban Levels .  16
Table 3.13 Household Non-food Expenditure as a Share of Income, Chawama, 1992 ...  17
Table 4.1 National Urban Tenancy Status by Poverty Line.                       20
Table 4.2 Housing Characteristics of Tenants by Poverty Group .21
Table 5.1 Ownership of Transport -vehicles .............................  25
Table 5.2 Trends in Transport Use in Chawama, 1978-1992 .25
Table 5.3 Fare Levels for 5 K;n Bus Journey, 1987-1990..  27
Table 5.4 Fare Levels on UTTA Routes Witbin Lusaka, October 1993 (Kwacha) .27
Table 5.6 Type of Toilet Facility by Poverty Group, Chawama, 1992 .34
Table 5.7 Mean Expenditure Shares on Water as Share of Non-food Expenditure,
Chawama, 1992 ................................                          34
Table 5.8 O erview of Actors and Institutions in the Urban and Sanitation Sector  36
Table 5.9 Source of Funds for Water Supply and Sanitation Projects.            37
Table 5.10 Shares of Household Expenditure on Energy by Poverty Group, Chawama,
192 .41
Table 5.11 Charcoal Prices (Kwacha) 1983-1992, Showing Price Increases and Retail
Markup .41
Table 10.1 Short-run Action Plan ................................... 226
Table 6.5 Trends in occupational categories in Chawama 1978 and 1992 .... ...... 144
LLST OF TEXT BOXES:
Box 5.1 Private Sector Operators: The Case of Fiat Taxis  ..30



CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION
1.1    One quarter of the entire Zambian population live in low income urban areas where the
majority are below the poverty line and malnutrition rates (stunting) of 46 percent are recorded.
The urban context is one of increasing poverty and the fragmentation of the formal economy and
its institutions; declining employment and non existent or deteriorating service provision. This
paper will consider four areas of service provision; land and housing, transportation, water and
sanitation and household energy. The challenge in confronting urban poverty is how to provide
services that constitute a positive loop, reinforcing the new economic opportunities that are
emerging, serving the dynamic sectors of the informal economy and urban spaces where the
majority live, enabling the majority of Zambia's population to fulfill their potential as an
important developmental resource.
1.2   The historical development of urban services in Zambia must be seen within the context
of the formal economy. Optimism related to the copper boom resulted in the planning of
sophisticated service systems designed to service the mining sector and the related government
and parastatal enterprises. Physical location of these services emphasized the links between
Lusaka and the Copperbelt, servicing the needs of the predominantly male formal sector
workforce and the small administrative elite. Service sustainability was dependent from the outset
on the surplus from the copper industry.
1.3   The decline of urban services and infrastructure, directly linked to the decline in
productivity of the urban formal sector, in turn has a reinforcing negative impact on the potential
growth of the urban economy and the productivity of urban residents. In the face of decreasing
wages and employment, the poor must invest more resources in terms of time sad money to
compensate for the absent or deteriorating services. At the household level, the lack of services
represents a negative loop which mirrors that at the level of the urban economy; lack of transport,
for example, prevents the urban poor from seeking employment; the resulting declines in income
preclude access to services such as water, education and health, in turn further lowering the
chances of access to employment and income.
1.4   It is important to emphasize from the outset that since the majority of the urban poor
currently do not have access to these services, focusing on service improvement can only worsen
issues of equity. In the context of poverty reduction service provision is important in terms of
deciding what services are provided, ensuring that productive linkages are facilitated at the level
of the urban economy, that widespread access is facilitated at the household level, and, in terms
of how services are provided, ensuring that mechanisms for service delivery are chosen that foster
sustainable institutions, that ensure the poor have a role in the definition, delivery and
mnakitenance of the services provided.
To summarize, urban services are conceputalised as (1) an asset to the urban poor, (2) the basis
of urban productivity and (3) a means to establish sustainable institutions at both the municipal
and comnmnity level.
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CHAPTER TWO: METHODS AND MEASUREMENTS
2.1    An assessment of service provision from the perspective of the urban poor is complex.
Data on service provision and expenditures is often not disaggregated either at the national urban
or city level. Urban poverty frequently is misrepresented by current indicators or frameworks
of analysis. This is a result of the particular characteristics of urban areas and, most importantly,
of their heterogeneity. A number of the commonly accepted access indicators used to measure
poverty and service access are of limited use in urban areas. Distance in particular is a
misleading indicator. In Zambia the urban poor may be near a bus stop, a water pump or a
clinic, but low incomes and population pressure reduces access and/or the quality of service.
Given this complex nature of urban poverty, a number of data sources have been used in the
assessment. Information has been triangulated both horizontally across sources, but most
importantly, vertically, comparing central level and service site information with the perspective
of the urban poor themselves. A summary of the data sources and sample sizes can be seen in
Table 2.1
National Data Bases
2.2    Two national data bases have been used, the Priority Survey (PS), developed under the
SDA initiative, and the Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The ZDHS makes no attempt
to stratify its urban sample by socio economic variables leading to misleading global averages.)
The PS stratified the urban poor by two means, the use of socio economic groups (SEG's) based
on housing categories and the use of a poverty line. Applications of both measurements have
proved problematic.
2.3   Intra Urban Heterogeneity Urban areas are heterogeneous, not only between cities and
"high" and "low" income urban areas, but within those areas broadly classified as low income.
As a result, the SEG categorization did not prove useful in terms of isolating the urban poor, a
factor further complicated by the use of dated housing plans used for the categorization. This
Assessment uses a subsample of marginal areas in Lusaka, the PSLS (Priority Survey Low
Income Subsample), chosen on the basis of visual identification undertaken during field visits 3
The poverty line is similarly problematic; a comparison with other recognized poverty indicator-,
such as nutritional status suggests that the poverty line as currently drawn may significantly under
estimate urban poverty. Thus, while the PSLS sample shows a the majority of households to own
few assets and to have high malnutrition levels, 71 percent of the population are still recorded
above the poverty line.
Malnutriton rates can be used as an example, national urban anthurmetric indicators show 33 percent of
the national urban population to be stnted, among marginal groups, for example female headed urban
households in low income areas this figure rises to 69 percent.
2Levels of poverty vary between "low income" areas. In general the more recently
established low income compounds are smaller and are characterised by higher levels of
poverty. Ten of these compounds form the basis for the PSLS. The sample is thus not
statistically representative however data analysis yielded more consistent results than those
resulting from the stratification of the PS by SEG or poverty line. The PSLS raises questions
as to the valideity of random sampling frames of the type used by the PS in urban areas.
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Urban Research: Lusaka Urban Poverty and Social Policy in the Context of Adjustment
(UPA)
2.4    The UPA research project, primarily concerned with the coping strategies of urban low
income households during the past decade has a number of unique aspects, in which it differs
from household surveys such as those undertaken by the SDA project. Firstly, it provides trend
data which explores changes in the context of a low-income community over a 14 year period
(1978-1992); secondly, it provides detailed data on intra-household processes and community
structures from both qualitative and quantitative data sources. The use of a number of qualitative
and quantitative household data sets which represent different levels of urban analysis (e.g.
national urban, intra and inter urban) is important in terms of the assessment's ability to capture
the diverse and heterogeneous nature of urban poverty and, in this context, the implications for
urban service access and provision. The UPA research was carried out in Chawama, a low
income compound in Lusaka.3
Table 2.1 Survey data sample sizes.
Households                                PS         PSLS       ZDHS          Lusaka UPA
National                              10,000                    6,709
Urban                                  6,250           250      2,577                2i0
Field Work; Interr ews at Central Governent and Municipal Level and Site Visits
2.5    This assessment also draws on findings gathered during the Zambia Poverty Assessment
Mission, November 1993, during which ten low income urban areas were visited and a broad
cross section of government, non government, donor, the private sector, parastatal, trades union
and conmmunity representatives were interviewed. Within mainline ministries, service delivery
and expenditure data is not disaggregated for urban populations in Zambia, frequently leading to
misunderstandings in the extent to which the poor are served. Informal interviews and
participatory rapid urban appraisal exercises were conducted within the low income areas visited,
in order to fill in information gaps where possible at the sub city level.
While this study was not designed to be statistically representative at the city level, a number of detailed
comparisons show the findings can be readily compared with other low income compounds of a similar size
and legal status, thus Chawama is referred to throughout this assessment, providing important empirical
exanples which serve to draw out otherwise invisible complexities important in this context to the
understanding of urban services.
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CHAPTER THREE: THE NATIONAL URBAN CONTEXT
3.1   This section will contextualise the urban services within an historical framework of urban
demographic growth and socio economic change. Synergies between service provision and urban
production explain the development of service provision and are fundamentai to understanding
changing service needs. New forms of economic activity, consolidation of low income
communities and changing household structures are in part a result of deteriorating services.
These economic and social changes have now resulted in new service needs which must be
understood if the restructuring of urban services is to adequately support the urban poor and their
productive activities.
The Urban Political Economy; A Contextual Framework
3.2    During the late 1960s and 1970s, Zambia's urban economy, historically based on the
production and export of copper, was classified as one of the strongest in Sub-Saharan Africa.
With the decline of world copper prices and deteriorating terms of trade however, GDP g. owth
declined from 3.7 per cent per annum in the early 1970s to an average of only 1.0 per cent
during the 1974-90 period. In 1990 Zambia was classified as a low income country with per
capita income levels of approximately one third of the average level it had in the mid 1970's.
3.3   The historical development of Zambia's cities, based on copper has two central
implications for the country's development. These continue to have important repercussions in
the 1990s. Firstly, the underlying assumption that towns would not become the permanent home
for "African" workers meant that, from the outset the provision of housing or amenities was not
a priority. Even in 1960 one third of Zambia's urban population were "squatters" (Tranberg
Hansen 1983). Coniversely, it was assumed that copper export earnings could support
sophisticated infrastructure for the small administrative elite who would be Zambia's pennanent
urban dwellers. Neither of these assumptions have proved correct. Most of Zambia's urban
productive and infrastructure capacity still in use today was created during the boom years
between 1965-74. The result is a number of spatially segregated cities with dilapidated,
inappropriate infrastructure to which the majority of urban residents have no access.
Urban Demography
3.4   Zambia is today one of the most highly urbanized countries in Sub Saharan Africa. The
1990 census recorded 42 percent of the total population, 3.27 million, as living in urban areas.
Of this urban population, more than 60 percent live along the line of rail which connects
Livingstone in the South with Ndola in the Northern Copperbelt region. Lusaka, the capital and
largest city has a population of 870,000. The key Copperbelt cities of Ndola and Kitwe have
populations of over 400,000. A further one third (37 percent) of the "urban" population live in
the non metropolitan areas, the provincial capitals.
3.5    During the 1970's, Zambia experienced rural-urban migration levels previously unrivaled
on the continent as Zambians sought to benefit from urban based employment opportunities and
infrastructure. Urban growth rates have slowed from a rate of 5.8 percent between 1969 to 1990
to 3.7 percent per annum for the period between 1980 and 1990. Urban growth in the 1990's
is predominantly a fuiction of natural growth. Outmigration has not occurred as the urban
economy has declined; Zambia's urban populations are often the product of several generations
of acculturation, they do not have either the skills or the contacts to return to rural areas.
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Urban Poverty and Ma00iton
3.6   The national urban demographic consolidation must be seen within the context of
increasing poverty and mmiiserisation. Using national povery lines4, up to 40 percent of the
urban population are below the poverty line and levels of urtan malnutrition are severe; at the
national urban level more than one third of children (35 percent) are affected, in low income
areas these figures rise to as bigh as 46 percent. Using an income base poverty line and
nutrition indicators, tables 3.1 and 3.2 illustrate the differert poverty levels found within and
between urban areas.
Table 3.1 Poverty Indeceo at the National Urbn, City and Sub City Level
Percent    National  Coppert jLuAk    Chawana  Provincial
Urban                       [UPA     j Centres
Non Poor   60        52         83      45        48
Poor       15        15         11      24        23
vely Poor   25  33         5       31        33
Olms: ourier ftW   va  1991 a  ;& UFA 19_
Table 3.2 Percentage of children mahnoud: Natonal, urban and city leveL
Height for age       Weight for height     Weight for age
PS      ZDHS          PS      ZDHS         PS      ZDHS
National                  39         40          6          S        22         25
_ __Urban __35                        33          7          5        20        20
1ARgab                    35         31          9          9        19         22
Copperb7__                 37         34         6           S        21        23
|| PSLS                   46         nla         8         a/a       25        n/a
5bam. PSoSurvey ""N). ZAMa* VeMO               (zi* s.
R--- 
Inter Urban Hetergnet#y
3.7   Urban poverty bas an important spatial dimension and understanding the role of locality
is central to un    g  urban poverty.  Heterogeneity within and between urban areas
frequntly makes the urban poor -invisible" with national urban or city level indicators masking
the exuremes of urban poverty found in lower income areas. In Table 3.2 for example the levels
of malmtition found in Lusaka as a whole (35 percent) can be compared to the considerably
higher levels found in the PSLS low income subsmple (46 percent).
3.8 Intra urban differences and distributional issues have become more acute; in 1985 the
poorest 25 percent in urban areas eamned only 3.1 percent of all income, compared to 7.1 percent
4 The poor are defined as those with an income equal of less thn K1,380 per adult male
equivalent unit per month. The very poor are those with an income equal or less than K961.
K961 represents the monthly income that would be needed to buy food alone, based on the
cost of a food basket for an adult male equivalent.
5



in 1974/75. It should also be noted that inequality between urban and rural areas has diminished,
with similar Gini coefficients for rural and urban expenditure distributions in 1991. It is
noticeable from Table 3. 1, that at the city level, the levels of pove::y in the Copperbelt are above
those found in a low income area in Lusaka (33 percent comnared to 31 percent).
3.9    Within this national context of increasing and deepening poverty the repercm sions and
outcomes of poverty have been different. Urban areas and households have responded to urban
poverty on the basis of existing skill bases. It is hypothesized that Lusaka's economy which is
based on more senior government services has provided the resources (human and financial) to
generate some new economic activity. By contrast, such resources are lacking in the Copperbelt
where a lower paid, less skilled parastatal workforce continues to predominate (see table 3.7).
Intra urban poverty analysis has not been carried olut in the Copperbelt and, given the results of
the UPA data and more detailed Priority Survey analysis carried out in Lusaka, it might be
expected that further extremes of poverty would be revealed by such an analysis. The UPA data
from Chawama shows the higher levels of poverty that are found within a "low income area",
while simultaneously underlining the level of heterogeneity; 45 percent of Chawama's inhabitants
are still found to be above the poverty line.
3.10   Table 3.1 illustrates the high levels of poverty in what can be termed the non
metropolitan areas i.e. the provincial centres, where 33 percent of the population are very poor.
Levels of poverty vary markedly by province, with the highest levels of poverty found in urban
Luapula (45 percent), Southern (40 percent) and Eastern (36 percent). It is interesting to note
that levels of urban and rural poverty do not necessarily correlate within the provinces, thus 80
percent of N. Western rural province are very poor, but some of the lowest levels of urban
poverty are 'ound in this province (25 percent). There is a need for further analysis of non
metropolitan poverty, in order to understand the economic linkages, in this case with the
urban/rural economy.
Urban Vunerablt
3.11   The concept of vulnerability captures some of the multidimensional, dynamic and
structura aspects of poverty (Moser 1993b). For the urban poor, vulnerability is directly related
to employment, the potential for a sustainable livelihood, and to assets at the community and
household level. At the community level, assets include access to urban services and related
insdtutions, which in turn are closely related to employment and urban productivity. At the
household level vulnerability is related to external factors such as amenities and internal factors
such as household structure, for example, dependency ratios. e changing context of employment,
comnwmity and household factors has important implications both for service provision and
service needs in urban Zambia and, given the complexity of urban y averty it is helpful to
complement poverty lines and indicators with measurements of urban vulnerability.
Urban Employment
3.12   Declining terms of trade, in particular the decline of world copper prices, coupled with
economic mismanagement and recession have had a devastating effect on Zambia's urban
economy. Since 1980 there has been a decline in formal sector employment, declining real wages
and a directly related increase in informal sector activity, where for the successful few, the
highest incomes are to be found, but where the majority are trying to survive at the margin. A
sumnary of current labour force indicators can be seen in Table 3.3.
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Table 3.3 Summary of labor force indicators based on cuvre  activity, 1991.
National                Urban
Both Sexes    Both Saxes     Male        Female
Total Population (000)                     7,896        4,266       2,086        2,180
Labor Force (000)                          3,215        1,165         731          434
Employment Rate                              78           66          75           50
Unemployment Rate                            22           34          25            50
% Population >7 years                        78           67          69           66
Economically Active Populatio.i. (E.4P)      52           41           51           30
Economic Dependency Ratio$                   147         266          185          402
uarce. Priority Surey 1991.
3.13 Fonnal Sector Employment An immediate result of the economic decline in Zambia
has been the contraction in the predominantly male, formal sector workforce. Between 1980 and
1990, formal sector employment declined from 23.9 percent of the workforce to 9.8 percent.
The share of people reportng to be unemployed has also increased. This group Is rather
heterogenous including formal sector unemployed, as well as some of the self-employed or
employed in the informal sector, given that there is a tendency for people to equate the term
"employed" with salaried employment, not with self employment.
3.14   DedinIng Real Earnings For those still in work there has been a signficant decline in
earings. While real earnings have declined across sectors by an average of 80 percent since
1975, some sectors have been harder hit than others, with the greatest declines seen in the
traditional sectors of mining, manufacturing and services. There are marked gender differences
in earnings from both wages and profits as illustrated in Table 3.4. Average incomes for women
are markedly lower in the professional, sales and production/transport categories. When average
monthly profits are considered in the case of employers and the self employed, a similar picture
emerges; male profits shown in Table 3.4 average 125 percent more than those earned by
women.
5   EDR defined as the Mm ber of perss not in e labor forzelOO of the labor force.
7



Table 3.4  Average monty urban wages and profits (kwaba) by gender.
l___________                 Earoingslmonti                    Profit/month
occupation              Male            Female           Male           Female
Mean   Med.    Mean   Med.    Mean   Med.   Mean   Med.
Prof./Tech.          14,371   6,000    7,569  6,000   14,203   6,720  16,831  3,250
Sales                10,900   4,500   10,715  3,750   27,285   9,600  13,815  5,000
Production/Transport    6,592   4,000    4,901  4,000   17,829   7,500   5,428  3,010
Total Average         8,248   4,500    8,157  4,700   20,883   7,000  11,541  4,000
be: Pronty      1991y i               _          _                     _
3.15   During the 1980's, the effects of the decline in real earnings in urban areas were
compounded by the removal of price controls and devaluation, causing the price of a basic staple
such as mealie meal to rise by 472 percent during the decade (PIC Prices and Incomes
Commission, 1991).  Using a fLxed basket of commodities, Table 3.5 illustrates the
disproportionately severe impact of rising prices on low income urban groups between 1980 and
1987. The most recent information coliected by PIC does not disaggregate urban and rural
households, but shows sustained increases in prices at the end of the decade. In 1991 nearly 60
percent of households had incomes which precluded the purchase of a nutritionally adequate food
basket (ibid.).
Table 3.5  Urban Consumer Price Index 196046 (1975=100).
11980    11981     1982     1983    1984    1985   1986   1987
Lowincome    1203       1231      260       311     373      513    733    938
High income     189       209     236       279      336     446    644
SYOWW I mes and ftp0d SMui Mts-- = =_ _
3.16 It is possible that, given macro economic policies on trade liberalisation, that the effect
of declining real earnings have been mitigated by the availablity of food substitutes and
increasingly stable prices. Reliable information is not available however, on the basis of evidence
gathered during the poverty assessment missie-, it is hypothesised that the effects on the poor
remain severe. Visits to low income compounlm howed that the cost of the most conmmon staple,
mealie meal, is now beyond the reach of many families who are forced to forego meals or
purchase the staple in small quantities (1 kg bags) at greatly inflated prices. This pict-ure is
consistent with information on household expenditure patterns considered below.
3.17 Changing Role of the Informal Sector In the context of declining formal sector
employment opportunities, the informal sector has been growing rapidly, at an estimated rate of
6 percent per annum since 1985, accounting for 43 percent of the total urban workforce. The
sector is characterized by its heterogeneity; including both the most dynamic and least productive
elemens of the economy. Median incomes in the informal sector are 63 percent higher than in
the formal sector. However, it is important to emphasize that success is only for a few;
significant differences in income distribution are found even within sectors such as trading
8



(incomnes range from KI,091/day to K30/day - Source: UPA). Growth in response to overall
socio-econoniic and labor market conditions has been mainy horizonta and in trading.-
Table 3.6 Trend in occupatIonal cafteories in the total Chawama workforce, 1978 and
:L          ~~1978    _____   ____1992    ____
Male      Female      Total      Male  Female   TOTAL
Prof/Tech                5.0           0         4.5       2.5      2.0       2.0
Management./Admin        0.5           0         0.5       4.0      0.0       2.5
Sales                    13.5        58.0       18.0      28.0    79.0       45.0
Clerical                 8.0          6.0        7.5      10.0      8.5       9.5
Service                  19.5        18.0       19.5       9.5      6.5       8.5
Agric.                   0.5           0         0.5         0       0          0
Production/Transport    51.5          8.0       47.0      46.5       4       32.5
Not Stated                1.5        10.0        2.5       0.0      0.0       0.0
informal                 15.0        54.0       19.0      37.0    81.0       52.0
Formal                  85046.0                 81.0      63.0    19.0       48.0
ure:UaSak. UPA 1994.
3.18 Shift in the gender balance of the workforce There has been an imPOrtant shift in the
gender balance of the workforce; e.g., in Chawama women's participation rates have increased
from 19 percent of the total informal sector workforce in 1978 to 52 percent in 1992 (Table 3.6).
Within the informal sector, women are concentrated in services and taiding and, within those
sectors, in the lowest earning categories. One study concluded that over 50 pmern of female
headed households in the informal sector were earnig a montlWy income of less than one sixth
of the avenage (Urban Informal sector Survey). The clear trend, supported by the occupational
breakdowns shown in Table 3.6 is of a growing concentraton of men in the previously female
dominated sales sector. Women are increasingly found in the low retmr area of petty sales,
while 67 percernt of men work in the more profitable area of market trading. In addition, women
spend almost twice as long in home based sales activity than men (43 hours a week compared to
the 25 hours a week by men) for a comparable daily income [UPAJ. This reflects both the
relative importance and the relatively poor remuneration of this type of economic activity to
women.
3.19 Suppression of Small Scale Economic Activity; the Regulatory Framework Growth
in informal sector activity has taken place in a context of restrictive regulatory and licensing
policies, limiting access to credit, inputs and markets, factors which explain in part the sector's
heterogeneity. A 1990 survey of operators indicated that 50 percent or more of them found legal
restrictions to have an adverse impact on their business' In spite of economic liberalization
6   SDurces: Maipoe 1990, Nordc 1I92 Sawsa 1993
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infonnal small enterprise sector operators still face a plethora of laws and regulations that inhibit
the efficiency and developmnent of the sector.
3.20 Present Status The current status of the urban workforce is shown in Table 3.7. The
inter and intra urban variations are marked and interesting, confirming the picture of urban
heterogeneity in terms of employment base and skills described earlier. In Lusaka, 29 percent
of employees are in the private sector while 27 percent are government employees. Within the
lower income subsamples of Lusaka (UPA and PSLS) the vast majority of the workforce are
either self employed or in the private sector. In the Copperbelt the predominant category is that
of parastatal employees, presumably associated with the mining sector.
Table 3.7 Employment status of the currently employed workforce.
Status              gational Urban      Lusaka    Copperbelt  Lusaka UPA        PSLS
Self employed               24.8         20.5          25.6         46.8        23.4
Government employed         25.3         26.5          13.1         10.3         17.5
Parastatal employed         24.8          21.9         36.4          7.4         15.6
Private sector              20.9         28.6          22.8         35.2        39.8
employed
Employer                     0.3          0.2           0.7            -         0.0
Unpaid farm worker           3.1           1.3          0.9            -         2.1
Other                        0.6          0.7           0.5          0.3          1.5
Total                        100          100           100          100         100
Prce: rnodt Suivey 1991.
The Urban Community; Assets and Networks
3.21   The distribution of urban poverty has both a social and a spatial aspect. It is the spatial
nature of urban poverty that defines both the environmental hazards and social fwegmentation
particular to urban poverty and makes a community level analysis necessary. The disintegration
of community structures potentially increases the vulnerability of the urban poor. Urban areas
in Zambia suffer from vandalism, violence, alcohol and drug abuse (Beneficiary Assessment
1993). These factors reinforce the levels of urban poverty, both raising the cost of service
provision and maintenance and restricting the participation and productivity of urban residents,
in particular women, the young and the elderly. Service provision at the community level, and
the potential for service improvements are in turn determined by community characteristics, in
particular the existence and strength of institutions, either formal government organizations or
informal community organizations. These issues will be considered in more depth as they relate
to the four services in the following chapters however they will be mentioned briefly here to
provide the context and illustrate the links between macro employment issues and household
issues, services and poverty.
10



3.22   Comm ity Institutions and Organizatons A combination of historical, political and
economic factors have resulted in weak institutional networks at the community level. The
declining resource base in urban areas has resulted in weak municipal governments; city councils
are constrained by the lack of both financial and human resources. In Lusaka City Council for
example, a Community Development Section with personnel responsible for projects in low
income areas was found to have most positions empty in November 1993.7 While communities
theoretically might expect the council to deliver services, they are institutionally and
administratively isolated, lacking the mechanisms to effectively communicate service demands.
The local political networks fostered by UNIP appear to have fragmented under the new
goverunent and the emergence of more genuinely participatory, democratic structures is likely
to be a slow process. Where some level of indigenous organization exists, such as the PTA, a
significant number of the poor are excluded.
3.23   The church is one of the few outside organizations involved at the comnmunity level. In
Chawama, 70 percent of those participating in organizations belonged to church groups. Clear
gender divisions were found to exist in the participation in community based activities. Fifty
percent of the organizations have 100 percent female participation while 10 percent indicate that
women constitute the majority of their membership [Lusaka UPA]. A number of interesting
NGO initiatives do exist and represent an important body of experience which should be taken
into consideration in future service design. (see Chapter Six).
3.24   Fragmented Sodal Networks Fear of violence is a prominent concern of low income
community residents who also complain bitterly of conmmunity level corruption and extortion.
Vandalism of public property, for example schools, is widespread, negatively reinforcing the
effects of limited resources within urban communities and poor service provision and limiting the
potential of community development projects, both social and economic. In the Lusaka UPA
research, 93 percent of the individuals questioned confessed to feeling unsafe, particularly at
night. At the community level, the response in all urban areas has been to protect public
property with the employment of prvate guards and through building "wall fences'. These
methods are largely ineffectual and represent a significant investment of limited resources.
7  See Chaper Six for a more detailed discussion on the sus of municipal goverment and its role
within the wider institutional fraework of service provision.
11



,   I ,  A
Table 3.8 Household ameitdies at the national urban and city levd.
Urban      Urban      Urban      PSLS   Urban   Coppert
(ZD HS)      (PS)       Low C^)               Poor*
Source of drinking water
Piped                              41      3         24           81 no figs         50
Public tap                     37         40         52          SI                  30
OthIer                         13         17         24           1 _  ._ 20
Type of Sanitation faclity
Flush toilet                   43         47         26          3       37          54
Latrine                        48         49         69          95      58          41
Bush                           32         n/a        n/a          1       1            1
Other                                      2          2         n/a      14           4
Type of lighting
Electric.                                 39         20          S       28          37
Pamffin              1                    58         77          90      70          61
Other                  _                   13  .      3       (candle)2 2             2
Type of cooking fuel
Electric.                                 26          9           1  nofigs          21
Charcoal                                  56         72          84                  70
Firewood                                   17        18          12                   8
Otler                                       I          1         3                     1
Gabage disposa
Collected                                  s 15      12          4       15          24
Pit -                                     48         47          34j    47           48
Dump                 1                    37         41          621     38          28
Includes totwls for poor   and ooor le. an  fW   Kl,Q0ln.
Source: ZDHS 1992 and Priort Suvey 1991.
3.25   FInanial Assets: commuity credit Constrained access to credit at the community level
illustrates the curent isolation of the urban meso economy, acdng as a significant constaint on
the development of the informal sector. The main source of credit in a low income community
such as Chawama is relatives and neighbors. While nrual kin sometimes send food, they were
not reported as sending cash to urban areas. More than one third (38 percent) of households said
that they borrowed money. with loan sources varying. Neighbors (23 percent) and relatives (22
12



percet) were the most common source of loans; only 3 percent borrowed from the bank, with
money lenders (13 percent) the second least popular source, both becuse of strict repaymet
requirements and high interest rates. With a down payment of K50,000 currnly needed to open
a bank account, few low income residets have access to formal credit networks in the wider
urban economy.
3.26   Amenities withi low Income communtes As noted above, poverty has a spatial aspect
thus, to some extent, access to household amenities is dependent not only on income but also on
connnunity level factors. Physical infrastructure is discussed in detail in the following chapter.
Nevertheless it is useful to compare national urban and intra-urban differences in household
amenities.8 Table 3.8 reveals important intra-urban differences. For example, while 47 percent
of the population have access to a flushing toilet at the national urban level, in the PSLS
subsample, an analysis of the same variable shows only 3 percent of the households to have
access to a flushing toilet. Similar comparisons can be made for access to electricity and water.
Again, the lack of sensitivity of the poverty line in urban areas is revealed in a comparison of
access to amenities within different urban communities.
3.27  It is important to note the differences between the Copperbet and national urban
averages. Although the Copperbelt has higher levels of poverty, this does not correlate with
service provision as expressed by household amenities. In the Copperbelt, 50 percent of
households have piped water (compared to an urban average of 43 percent), 54 percent have a
flushing toilet (compared to an urban average of 47 percent) and a higher percentage have refuse
disposal services. In a further stage of analysis, it would be important to break down these results
within the region, by poverty group and by compounds run by the council, in compaison with
those run by ZCCM.
3.28   At the sub-city level trend data from Chawnama (Table 3.9) introduces an interesting
complexity; showing a low income urban community that has relatively low access to amenities
but that has been able to consolidate over time.  This is to be exected over time in a
consolidatig communty and serves to illustrate the potential of "new" urban areas. Despite the
overall improvement in the quality of housing and basic services in Chawama, nevertheless the
basic infrastructure needs of the majority of the households are unmet.
8  Housing and the quality of homes is not considered here since housing is considered in depth in
chapter 4 of this report.
13



Table 3.9 Trends in access to housing and basic services In Chawama, 1978-1992.
Indicator                                                             1978                    1992
Waver
Mains in house                                                           0                      14
Public tap                                                              99                      84
Well                                                                     I
Other                                                                                            2
Total                                                                  100                     100
Toilet facility
Own facility                                                            41                      71
Shared facility                                                         52                      28
None/other                                                               7                       2
Total                                                                  100                     100
Rubbish disposal
Collected                                                               11                       5
Other                                                                   89                      95
bTot Sal a-UPA 2994 -                  .                               100                     10
Household Structures and Strategies
3.29   Changing economic opporunities and the productive/reproductive impact of declining
service provision have had the effect of altering both the roles and activities of household
members. Changes have occurred in both household size and composition and in terms of intra
household roles.
3.30 Increasing Household Size Poorer households are larger in size (Table 3.10) and appear
to be changing in structure; lack of access to housing and increasingly dim  ing incomes have
led to households and generations "doubling up" . Trend data from Chawama shows that mean
household size has increased from 4.3 in 1978 to 5.3 in 1992 [Lusaka UPA]. In urban areas, 54
percent of households consist of three or more related adults and one quarter of households have
one or more children under the age of 15 years who have neither their natural mother or father
living with them [ZDHSJ. A striking 81 percent of single female extended households are poor.
Of the 98 extended households, about 10 percent have one or more "single" mothers (Lusaka
UPA 1994; 27). Complex intra household structures, for example the existence of young single
mothers within extended families and changig patterns of dependency, are further complicated
by the burden of disease and AIDs in particular [ZDHS].
9   Depende  ratios are decreasing natioraly however they remain higher in urban areas. Almost one
quarter (24 pernt) of the non working individuals form part of an extended household network ie. they are
not a household head, spouse, or child of the household head and/or spouse. When the economic
dependency ratios are divided by gender of the individual worldng in urban areas, it is striking that the
dependency burden is almost three times higher on workig women, a ratio of 402 compared to ratio of 185
for men. Dependency ratios increase with poverty; in Chawama from a mean of 1.8 for the non poor to
4.3 for the poor (Lusaka UPAI.
14



Table 3.10  Mean urban household size by poverty group
National       Lusaka     Copperbelt   Sub Sample      Chawama
Urban
Non Poor                      5.42           5.65          5.20          4.71          4.50
Poor                          6.69           7.21          6.57          7.37          4.90
Very Poor                     6.96           8.28          6.93          8.38          6.50
Irce: Pronty Survey 19911-            - ,   1.  _
3.31   Household Headsip Often the most vulnerable within households are not revealed by
an analysis that focuses on headship. In urban areas the majority of female headed households
are not poor and it is bypothesised that in urban areas women nake considerable efforts to avoid
being left as the sole head of the household.'" There is an important, snall sub group of
female headed households who are living in extreme poverty. Anthropometric indicators show
69 percent of households in this group, living in low income areas, have stunted children. This
ataysis does not hold for the Copperbelt, where 40 percent of female headed households are
poor. Table 3.11 shows a more complex categorisation of household types, that includes
variables relating to both headship and size. It is the multi couple extended households in the
Chawama sample that have the highest levels of poverty, Lorrelating positively with the analysis
of household size (above).
3.32 Changing Roles within the Household Increasing numbers of women in particular are
.engaged in income generating activities, as described above. The gender distribution of
rproductive tasks does not appear to have changed, increasing the women's role burden. This
is within a context of declining service provision. Data from Chawama shows that although more
women are working than in 1978, the cultural norm that reproductive work is women's work has
not changed [Lusaka UPA]. Decision making within the household similarly shows a clear
gender division, with women responsible for decisions over food and to a lesser extent clothing,
but male spouses mantiing their control over larger expenditure decisions [Lusaka UPA].
'0 It is important to note in this context that while nationaw urban estinmtes for female headed households are
as high as 23 percet, not all female headed households are poor and, furthermore diversity exists between
urban areas. In Lusaka, it is clear that most poor women cannot afford to live with their offspring alone.
Only 4 percent of female headed households are very poor.
15



Table 3.11 Detailed categorization of household type, Chawama 1992.
Household type                                   Percentage  Categories included
Nuclear                                               47.6  Couple only
Couple nuclear
Couple extended                                       36.2  Couple extended
Multi-couple extended
Woman headed                                          10.4  Single female only
Single female nuclear
_______________  Single female extended
Male headed                                            3.8  Single male only
(Not nuclear)                                               Single male extended
Other                                                  1.8  Polygamous
Total                                                 99.8
(210)
rCe: t sash UPA, 1994.
The Household Economy
3.33   Assets The urban poor own few consumer durables (see Table 3.12). Less than half the
low income urban population owns a radio and other assets are even more limited (television 1
percent, bicycle 1 percent).  This low asset ownership has important implications for
vulnerability; the poor cannot protect themselves by "dissaving". The comparison of asset
ownership across and within urban areas shown in the table below reinforces the picture of inter
and intra urban heterogeneity discussed earlier. At the subcity level an important difference in
asset ownership was found to relate to headship; female headed households were not found to
own most of the assets listed, for example only 19 percent owned a radio [Lusaka UPA].
Table 3.12  Pecentage of households owning assets at the national and urban levds
National      -11 Urban     C'Belt  Lusa low   PSLS  Lusaka
cost SEG           <K1,380
PS  ZDHS       PS   ZDHS        PS         PS      PS         PS
Radio         39      39     61      59       54          52     46         56
Television     7       8     16       18      11           6      1          7
Fridge        16       7     16      15       12           7      2          7
Bicycle       18      19     12      16        8          12     11          1
Car            5       4      5       8        3           3      2          2
SFnrce. Pnonty Siey 1991 (S), Z'Mba Demographic and ital Suvey9
16



3.34 Household Expenditure Decreases in real household income have led to economies at the
household level. The poorest income decile spend 79 percent of their income on food compared
to 60 percent for the upper income decile (PIC). Low income households have had to reduce the
numbers of meals eaten, decreasing expenditure on celebratory activities and protein for exanple
[Lusaka UPA]. When non food expenditure is considered within Chawama, the pattern that
emerges indicates that households prioritise the essentials; energy for cookdng and lighting,
transport to work, housing and water and sanitation. The relatively low priority given to
education is interesting and may suggest that households are concerned by the relatively low
returns to education. Table 3.13 shows clearly the economnic impact at the household level of
declining and increasingly expensive service provision, within the context of the wider urban
economic recession.
Table 3.13 Houehold non food expenditure as a share of Income, Chawama, 1992
Expenditure                     Non Poor          Poor      Very Poor          Total
Education                         0.86%          2.74%         6.64%          3.26%
Housing                           6.07%         10.21%         15.91%         10.40%
Water/sanitation                  0.67%          0.81%         1.50%          0.98%
TranSport                         9.32%          9.49%         12.14%         10.29%
Energy:                           5.67%         14.37%        27.85%          15.31%
Lighting                           1.98%         4.85%         8.71%          4.96%
Cooking Fuel             1        3.69%          9.52%        19.14%         10.35%
urce: LAMUsa UPA, 1914.
17



CHAPTER FOUR: LAND AND HOUSING
4.1   In urban Zambia land is the pivotal issue, determining both service provision and the
productive potential of cities in terms of the location of enterprises and labor. At the household
level, the inability of the majority of the urban poor to achieve secure tenure and, therefore, a
firm basis from which to invest in housing and create an asset which appreciates in value over
time, is a critical obstacle to breaking the cycle of poverty. Currently there is an acute under
supply of land available for legal tenure and a large number of urban residents occupying land
either illegally or with short term licenses. Unlike many developing countries, Zambia has no
shortage of developable urban land and the issue of land and housing is one area where dramatic
poverty reduction can be affected without additional resource allocation.
4.2    Current Policy The official policy is still that illegal areas should be bulldozed. In
practice the government appears to be currendy tacitly accepting illegal settlements; the last
bulldozing took place in 1991, with an estimated 5,000 people made homeless. Ignoring the issue
however is not an adequate response and the legal constraints affect both the social welfare of
individuals and the growth of economic enterprises.
4.3   Histoncal Contew  The current regulatory environment in Zambia is one of the most
complex land ownership systems in Africa (World Bank 1993a; 112). It reflects two erroneous
concepts pioneered by the previous government. In 1975, in keeping with the "humanist"
philosophy of his UNIP party, Kaunda decreed that land, as a national asset, had no value and
thus could not be bought or sold on the open market, but rather could be aquired through
elaborate "allocation" procedures. Secondly, the belief or hope that the urban poor might return
to rural areas has continued to color both government and donor responses to land and housing
issues in particular ways. The assumption is not born out in reality; while urban migration has
slowed, the urban population is continuing to grow, augmented by those born in urban areas. The
decision of redundant public sector workers to invest their redundancy payments in constructing
homes in Chawama is just one example of the determination urban dwellers have to remain in
urban areas.
4.4   Presen Status The categorization of land and settlements is today unclear. At the city
level, confused and complicated regulations have contributed to the highly inefficient pattern of
land use that particularly disadvantage the poor. Large tracts of land are vacant in central
locations, while new high density residential areas are far from the city center. The exact status
of different areas and the numbers living in each area is a matter for dispute. Broadly, a
distinction can be made between illegal, legal and undeclared areas. The latter are areas where
residents legally own their homes but not the land they are built on. There is a further blurring
of categories where illegal areas have been added onto legal compounds, the extent of which is
unknown. Illegal allocation of land by unauthorized persons is an additional complication (Times
of Zambia October 25, 1993).
18



4.5    Access to Land   Conservative estimates for Lusaka" suggest 10 percent of the
population live in illegal settlements, with the resulting insecurity of tenure, limited access to
housing, employment and credit. They are "invisible" to service providers. Constraints on
access and use of urban land appear to be legal and political rather than spatial. There are
however differences between de jure and de facto access to land; legal changes per se may not
be sufficient. The gendered access to urban land is illustrative; allocations of legalized land are
made on the basis of conventional practice, with the documented mnarginalization of women.12
4.6    Inheritance laws are a further illustration of gendered access to land and the gap between
law and practice. The Interstate Succession Act no. 5 of 1989 and the Wills and Administration
of Testate Act no. 6 o. 1989 make provision for the surviving widow in terms of the land and
property. "Property grabbing" however renains a common practice and while legal protection
does exist for the widow, it is a protracted process and beyond the reach of the poor (World Bank
1993b; 36).
Housing
4.7    In low income areas, where 25 percent of the entire Zambian population live, housing
can be divided into three categories: (1) previously "plamned and upgraded" housing; no longer
'upgraded", but street planning means that improvements and basic services could be delivered
at relatively low cost; (2) "planned but not upgraded" areas where housing quality and services
could be improved with minor planning although at greater cost; and (3) "unplanned" housing,
settlements were land is either unsuitable; eg. construction on swampland in the case of Gabon,
or, because current plamning does not allow for service provision due to previous zoning eg. the
case of Missisi, a compound which has developed on land originally designated for industrial
use.13
4.8    Access to Housing Stock Distortions in the land market have an obvious and direct effect
on the supply of and access to housing. There is an acute shortage of housing stock and
dwellings which are available are largely or poor quality and expensive in comparison to
incomes. Increases in housing occupation densities from 2.2 persons/room in 1978 to 2.7
persons/room in 1992 (Lusaka UPA) and the changing balance between renters and owners
I Lsaka City Council estimate. The Ministry of Lands estimate that 57 percent of the total urban housing
stock in Lusaka is located in 25 'squatter' sewtlements, which would crrelate with a much higher
percenage of residence in *illegal- areas. There are no national official statitics.
12        See Siamwiza, R., Sikwibele, A., and Makonnen R., 1993, Zambia in the 1980's: A Historical
Review of Social Polkyy and Urban Level   rmiueons, TWURD Workng Paper #9, Washington
D.C.: The World Bank
3  Many of these restriction are embedded in plans now several decades old, which bear litte resemblance to
the development which has since overtaken urban areas.
19



discussed below are a consequence of the poor's constrained access to housing.'4  Under the
Building Society Acts, Cap 708, which provides loans for the purchase of houses, women require
written consent from their husbands before a mortgage can be authorized. Joint mortgages for
married women can only be authorized by the woman's husband, not another family member
(World Bank 1993b; 38). The act has implications both for women who want to secure property
in terms of home ownership, and for those who might wish to develop a business.
4.9    Home Ownership   Home ownership is higher among the poor; 40 percent compared to
an average of 19 percent for medium and high income areas (see Table 4.1). Those with access
to land and home ownership have a relative advantage compared to those who do not. They do
not only have a secure shelter which makes them less vulnerable under crisis situations, such as
in the case of unemployment, but can also use it in a range of strategies to prevent further
poverty, such as an investment against inflation, for example, as an inter-generational transfer
of assets.
4.10 Housing as an asset As an asset, housing is used primarily for rental purposes. In
Chawarna almost half of homeowners rent rooms in their dwellings. Women headed households
seeking income generating strategies that do not impose additional constraints on their time are
more likely to rent rooms than are male-headed households.Housing can also be used to generate
income through home-based enterprises. In Chawama 23 percent of households operate
homebased enterprises, engaged mainly in retail activities (67%), and workshops (31%).
Households with home-based operations have a higher household income than those who do not.
These are family run operations, primarily managed by women (76%) with some contribution
from girls (18%). Woman-headed households are more likely to run home-based enterprises, than
are male-headed households. Although less remunerative, this strategy is well-suited to female
heads since they are relatively time-efficient compared to other productive opportunities, such as
employment outside the house, as women face severe time constraints given their responsibility
to take care of all the household's reproductive tasks.
Table 4.1. National urban tenancy status by poverty line.
| (%)                               Non Poor           Poor      Very Poor       Total
Owned                                      25              41            45  37         100
| Rented                                   62              45            42  50         100
Free                                       10              12            12  11         100
l Other                                     3               2             1   2         100
urce: Priority survey 1991.
4.11   The Rental Sector The growth of the rental sector reflects the housing crisis. Rapid
population growth within low income urban areas like Chawama has resulted in tenant households
increasing by over 50 percent between 1978 and 1992. Tenants tend to be the newcomers with
14 Two types of housing programs have been designed to assist the urban poor; the sites and services schemes
of the 1970's and more recent squatter upgrading projects. The former projects reached few of the urban
poor, the latter, administered by NGO's (for example the Irish Aid project in Kamanga), have been more
successful in reaching their target group but operate on a relatively small scale.
20



an average stay of less than three years. They also tend to be more educated and with a larger
per capita income. This growing rental market is another example of failure of the government's
regulatory approach towards housing. In spite of official policy to discourage it, rental housing
has become the predominant housing alternative in Chawama since 1978. Rent generates
additional income that accounts for almost 30 percent of their overall household income. Absentee
landlords, who account for almost 40 percent of the market, also profit from the rental market.
Governmental policy restricting rental markets has been most detrimental to tenants who, given
the insufficient supply of rental accommodations, are now paying more as a proportion of their
incomes than in 1978.
4.12   Rising demand in the rental sector has been one of several factors leading to the current
inflation in rent levels. In 1987 a rented house cost K4,000 per month. This increased to
K20,0000 per month in 1989, and to an all-time high of K30,00 per month in 1990 (Kalinda et
al 1992; 33). In George, a low income compound rents of K1,700 per month per room were
found during field visits in October 1993. The private rental sector is increasingly the site of
tension, as landlords raise their rents beyond the reach of many and reportedly demand payment
of rent six to twelve months in advance (ibid.). Tenants have demonstrated both at the extent of
rent increases (up to 500 percent) and at the reluctance of landlords -., maintain properties
(Zambia Daily Mail; October 21, 1993). Table 4.2 illustrates the impact of current rent levels
on the poor; in Chawama, the very poor spend 18 percent of their income renting rooms which
an average of 4 people share.
4.13   While, as noted above, home ownership is higher among the poor there is a small but
significant group of very poor tenants, in urban areas, this group constitutes the poorest of the
poor. Data from Chawama show this group are forced to rent very small spaces (3.7 persons per
room) which absorb 18 percent of their income, almost three times that of the non poor. Among
the tenant groups it is the couple extended households who have the highest densities and pay the
highest rents in terms of rent as a share of income (UPA Lusaka 1994). This finding correlates
with that of Chapter Three where the poorest were found to be extended households. Finally, it
should be noted that very poor tenants had been in their homes for an average of 4 years in
Chawama.
Table 4.2. Housing characteristics of teuants by poverty group.
Non Poor     Poor      Very Poor    Average
Cost of rent/room (K)                  928         878         733        875
Persons/room                           2.3         3.2         3.7        2.9
Rent/room as % share of income (K)     6           13          18          l 1
Length of stay in the house (years)    2.2         2.2         4.0        2.7
Number                                 66  100%  30  100%  35  100%   131  100%
urce: Lusalka UPA 1994.
4.14   Housing Quality; construcion and repair In contexts where building regulations do not
actively prohibit informal extensions on the household plot - either extensions to the existing
house or the building of new structures within the plot - a common housing strategy is to provide
additional space for adult members of the next generation on the same plot. In Zambia, large
21



price increases in building materials make it difficult for the urban poor to construct their own
homes and impossible to satisfy conventional building codes. Prices for essential building
materials increased by more than 350 percent between 1987 and 1990, with the highest increase
of 488 percent in the price of common bricks. In George, attempts are constantly made to
upgrade property, but financial constraints mean that less than 10 percent of work is completed
leading to the frequent collapse of homes (Schlyter 1991).
4.15 Comparisons of trends over time in Chawama and George, two legal low income
compounds in Lusaka, are interesting. In George, Schlyter notes the growing disparity between
the rich and poor within the area, reflected in the increasing gap in quality between homes.
Trends towards small capitalist development in building that started in George in the early 1980's
are seen to have deteriorated due to lack of access to credit, security (workshops were robbed of
their tools) and increasing poverty among the majority of residents. In Chawama,extensive
building by retired formal sector employees has been observed. The UPA research documents
a trend towards the increase in the use of more permanent building materials, in spite of the
increased costs.'" Poor households however remain constrained; 88 percent of owner occupiers
reported that their homes were in need of urgent repairs, of these only 5 percent were reportedly
able to afford the cost of repair. The picture is one of a potentially dynamic local housing and
construction market from which the poor are currently excluded.
4.16 Institutional Framework Several govermment departments and ministries are responsible
for housing, with remits which cover low income compounds, including the Ministry of Local
Government and Housing, the Ministry of Works and Supply and the City Council. The latter
has a senior official whose department's sole responsibility is to coordinate low income housing.
Despite several reorganizations, the lack of resources and poor information systems mean that
even within this department, the numbers and status of those living in areas designated as low
income compounds are unknown. Furthermore, it must be emphasized that up to 60 percent of
the urban poor currently live outside the legal remit of these departments.
4.17   Many of the parastatals, for example ZCCM, and private companies provide housing or
an allowance for housing to their employees. Employer provided housing in Zambia has become
increasingly prevalent with the private sector becoming the largest supplier of housing (ibid.; 16)
however, provision is for formal sector employees, which by definition virtually excludes the
urban poor and in practice appears to exclude women who are not represented in the formal labor
force to the same extent as men.
4.18   Married women in formal sector employment are currently denied their housing rights
(ibid.). The Housing and Housing Allowance Section 41 of the Employment Act which requires
that employers shall either provide housing or pay an allowance where housing is not available,
refers to all employees. No distinction is made between male and female, married or unmarried
thus the current practice discriminates against married women. In the case of wives who are
separated from their husbands many employers will demand letters from the husbands indicating
their willingness that the wives be granted accommodation. (ibid.).
is For example the use of concrete blocks has increased froin 56 percent to 71 peroent while that of mud brick
has declined drastically fromn 35.7 percent in 1978 to 1.4 percent in 1992. In tenns of roofing maerials
there has been an increase in the use of asbestos materials from 43 percent to 49 percet.
22



Land and Housing Policy Recommendadons
4.19   The Zambian urban poor need access to land, security of tenure and affordable, safe
housing. A significant proportion of the low income urban population are currently excluded from
all three. Bulldozing is not the solution and any donor intervention in urban areas should be
conditional on a removal of this policy and agreements to retain existing housing stock in all
urban areas.
4.20 Legalize Land Trading Current confusion over the legal status and procedures with
regard to urban land mean that some urban residents are de facto trading in land. The most
urgent recommendation is the necessity to legitimize existing procedures. This will legalize the
trading of land, reduce rent seeking and ensure that the process is as equitable as possible. An
institutional body which has both the trust and institutional capacity for the task needs to be
identified. Guidelines should include flexibility for different procedures that legitimize land at
different levels. Use rights that expire within a given period will be important to ensure a level
of equitable distribution. Recognition of the sociocultural systems governing land access, for
example customs which constrain women's access, and, the value of social space within urban
areas should be weighted within the institutions procedures. An important and integral part of
these legitimization process would be the simplification of record keeping procedures, in order
both to minimize costs and ensure that the necessary limited records are indeed kept.
4.21   The conversion of more land for residential use in low income areas will in turn ease the
housing constraint. Home building is currently constrained not only by available financial
resources but also by a lack of security. With security of tenure the urban poor will have the
impetus to both build and improve homes and the collateral to borrow.
4.22  Minirnaze Housing Regulaions A precondition for donor activity in the housing sector
should be the limitation and, in some cases, abolition of expensive building regulations.
Consensus needs to be reached on realistic hazards such as fire and flood, which should then be
classified and enforced. The resources currently absorbed in building relatively sophisticated
model home in low income compounds should be redirected towards these local schemes. The
potential exists for a labor intensive strategy, with paid community labor. Potential multiplier
effects in terms of construction material demand and economic activity at the compound level are
demonstrated by previous experiences in George. Given the gender differentials in access to
housing and land, the importance of directing such a program and housing solutions in general
towards women should be emphasised.
23



CHAPTER FIVE: SECTOR SERVICES
Transportation
5.1    Many low income urban areas are without urban transport services, others are served
irregularly by overcrowded routes. The current exclusion of the urban poor from transportation
services is the result of both inadequate service provision and high costs in terms of fares, time
and personal safety. Poor planning and misguided regulations result in routes which do not
operate at the times or to the destinations that the urban poor need.
5.2    The constraints on productivity cannot be overemphasized; the difficulties the urban poor
face in terms of access to employment and other urban services are compounded by the lack of
transportation. It is also important to note that the transportation sector plays a direct role in the
provision of employment; 37 percent of the low income workforce are employed in transportation
or related services. The opportunity exists to consider transportation as a productive sector,
rethinking transport needs and provision from the perspective of the urban poor.
5.3    The historical development of the Zambian city and the distorted spatial distribution of
the urban population (see Chapter Four) have resulted in heavily subsidized transportation
services in the public sector. A recent review estimates that the sector as a whole imposes a
financial burden of K4.9 billion (nearly US$100 million) on the government, a sum equivalent
to 12 percent of all current revenues [World Bank 1993a; 86]. The proportion of this sum spent
on subsidies is unknown however Zambia Airways alone receives a subsidy of 2.5 billion,
supporting a service to which the vast majority of Zambians have no access.
5.4    Current policy. Transport policies are under review. Key emphases for the future are
expected to be the increased supply and standardization of equipment and improvement of roads.
No particular emphasis on transport provision to low income areas is contemplated. There is a
common (mis)conception that low income areas are by definition those who use and are serviced
by public transport.
5.5    Access to Transportation SeMiCeS16 At the national urban level ownership of transport
"vehicles" is low (see Table 5.1). In Chawama, only 6.7 percent of the sample own a bicycle
with a further 2.4 percent owing bicycles which are no longer working. Bicycle ownership in
urban areas is lower than in rural areas (22 percent ZDHS) and appears to be decreasing. Trend
data shows the use of bicycles has declined dramatically from 8.8 percent in 1978 to 2.8 percent
in 1992, primarily due to the increasing cost of this mode of transportation relative to income
over the years. The urban poor cannot afford their own transportation and are thus dependent
on public transport provision.
16  Most existing information on urban transporation comes from studies of Lusaa, supported by small stdy
in Livingstone. While there is a lack of documentation, it is important to emnphasize the different issues that
exist in the ZCCM compounds of the Copperbelt and in the non metropolitan provincial capitals.
Transportation servi.;es in the latter suffer from a system of planning which emphasized transport routes
from Lusaka to the provincial capitals, preventing potentially important links to both surrounding rural areas
and neighboring provincial capitals.
24



5.6    Service provision to the legal low income areas is predicated upon the needs of the
predominantly male formal employment sector with routes running between the city center and
compounds, at times that start and end with the working day ie. 6.00 to 19.00 hours. For the
poor who have access to transportation services, bus services are the most accessible mode, but
levels of service provision remain poor; 4.5 seats /1000 population in Livingstone and 7/1000
in Lusaka, figures which can be compared to the 50/1000 which are considered to be an
appropriate level (Heggie; 1994). Taxis are relatively plentiful in urban areas however they are
beyond the economic reach of the urban poor. A commuter railway is popular due to its low
cost, but serves only 2 percent of the urban population.
Table 5.1 Ownership of transport "vehicles".
% of ownership             DHS national urban        PS national urban        UPA Chawama
Bicycle                                 15.8                      12                    6.7
Motorcycle                                1.3                     10
Car/van/truck                            8.1                                            0.3
5.7    Trend data for public transport use in Chawama shows not only the limited provision of
transport in low income areas, but the changing nature of transport provision, illustrated in Table
5.2. The entrance of the minibus, non existent in 1978 but accounting for nearly one third of
users in 1992, have absorbed passengers from both the more expensive taxis and the less
expensive buses.
Table 5.2 Trends in tramsport use in Chawama, 1978-1992.
Transport mode (work only)                                  1978                       1992
Work at home                                                  1.3                       9.0
Foot                                                         43.9                      36.7
Bike                                                          8.8                       2.8
Own car                                                       1.4                       0.3
Employers transport                                          16.5                      11.6
Taxi/paid lifts                                              12.7                       2.8
Minibus/collective                                                                     29.5
Bus                                                          11.6                       3.2
More than one mode used                                       2.7
Other                                                                                   1.7
Total                                                       100.0                     100.0
(Total 1)                                                   (510)                     (346)
rce: Lusaka UPA, 1994.
5.8   It is important to emphasize that the most common mode of transportation to work is still
by foot and average walkdng distances are 3 kilometers/65 minutes.' Field visits to low income
17 These distances represent very high figures for the region and can be compared with average distances of
1.7hn in Dar es Salaam and 1.6kn in Harare.
25



compounds in Lusaka and the Copperbelt revealed that a number of compounds have no transport
services and in most compounds, buses will only go to the periphery due to the quality of the
roads and the resulting wear and tear on buses.
5.9   Financial Costs Direct financial costs to low income consumers vary. Fare levels for
formally provided transportation services (public and private) have risen out of all proportion to
incomes. Bus fares rose by 1,268 percent between 1987 and 1990 (Kalinda et al 1992; 33). The
fare system does not allow crossing over between routes, makdng journey's expensive for those
who need to travel to the city center to connect to another route destined for another area of the
city. Table 5.3 shows increases in fare levels in recent years. Table 5.4 illustrates average fares
in and around Lusaka at the time of the poverty assessment; the comparative expense is stark
when fares of K120 are compared to the poverty line of K961 per month.
26



Table 5.3 Fare levels for S kn bus journey, 1987-1990.
Year                                               Fare level              % Increase
May 1987                                                0.50                         l
August 1988                                             0.70                      40
December 1989                                           2.94                     340
November 1990                                           6.84                     133
surce. Adapted from Salindtat@ at. 199z.
Table 5.4 Fare levels on UTTA routes within Lusaka, October 1993, (K).
Town to civic center                                                              90
M'tendere to civic center                                                        145
Town to Chelston                                                                 175
Town to Chawama                                                                  120
Ce:Road rafc commisn 1993.
5.1O   For low income households fare levels are the most severe constraint on transport use,
a significant 71 percent of the very poor cannot afford public transport and walk to work (Lusaka
UPA 1994). In Lusaka, transport expenditure as a proportion of income is one of the highest in
Africa; monthly household expenditures on public transport range from over 42 percent for low
income households to 10 percent for high income groups [Heggie; 1994J. Trend analysis in
Chawama revealed that 63 percent of the subsample had either made cuts in transport expenditure
or changed their mode of transportation, reflecting that low income households have not been able
to sustain previous levels of expenditure.
5.11   7me Inadequate transport services represent high costs to potential users in terms of the
time which must be spent either waLking to destinations or queuing. The poor regularity of bus
services mean that long bus queues are the norm during peak hours (60 minutes average) and at
other times of the day urban residents were observed standing by the road side for extended
periods. Those who cannot reach the start of a route have little chance of getting onto a bus, a
problem for marketeers, the elderly and women with small children.
5.12  It is a condition of license provision that the designated route must be operated throughout
the day i.e. 6.00 to 19.00 hours. In practice there is little control over which routes are operated
and the poorest urban residents are those least likely to be serviced by public transport. Drivers
prefer to operate the routes near where they live and avoid the poorer areas where the roads are
the roughest. Routes with the least stops are also the most popular since the greater the number
of stops the greater the wear on the vehicle. The least reliable routes appear to be those which
run early in the mornings used predominantly by marketeers many of whom are women.
Restrictions in women's mobility caused by transport inadequacies are compounded by domestic
roles and the need to transport food, water and fuel which impose direct costs on labor time and
raise the opporumity costs of travelling to distant markets, employment or even community
meetings (World Bank 1993b; 42,43).
27



5.13 Health and Personal Safety Irregular bus services result in overcrowding. Women
complain that they are the first to be pushed off crowded buses. There is also the issue of safety.
Overcrowded vehicles tend to put the passengers' lives at risk. Safety issues are particularly
important in restricting women's access to public transport; women frequently cannot travel in
the evenings given the citing of bus stops and routes which end in parts of compounds which are
unsafe. In Chawatna, a headmaster of one of the primary schools told of the difficulties female
teachers face, in his school, when they have to commute to work. On several occasions the
teachers were frightened by male youths who roamed about the community, and did not report
for work. A headmaster in another school related how his daughter had been raped by a gang of
boys as she returned home from school (Lusaka UPA 1994; 125).
5.14   Institutional Framework The overall responsibility for the provision of transportation
infrastructure and services belongs primarily to three ministries in the central government, with
parastatals and the private sector also having important roles. The Ministry of Transport and
Communications has responsibility for policy formulation, coordination and implementation. The
District Councils, coordinated by the Ministry of Local Government and Housing are responsible
for roads and local land-use. The Road Traffic Commission is responsible for the control,
regulation and licensing of the private sector.
Transport Providers
5.15   In urban areas transport is supplied by a miix of state/municipal companies and private
providers. Among the parastatals, UBZ, the United Bus Company, is the most prominent
operator responsible for passenger services. 1980 - 90 bus operations declined from 0.11
trips/1000 population to 0.2, no longer operating in urban Lusaka. In the Copperbelt, UBZ is
assisted by Mulungushi Travellers, a Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) transport
company. In the private sector, United Transport and Taxi Association, UTTA, coordinate the
activities of private transporters. The market share for private passengers is estimated to be 90
percent (Siamwiza et al 1993; 26). UTTA has circa 2,500 operators affiliated.
5.16   Private operators. The Road Commission estimate there are 2,050 registered operators
in Lusaka (taxis, minibuses and buses). Of these the vast majority own only 2 or 3 vehicles. 40
percent of these vehicles are off the road for repairs at any one time. Private operators must
apply to the road transport conmmission for licenses. Private formal sector employers organize
transport to and from work for their employees, given the cost and irregularity of services.
5.17   Pirate operators. There are two distinct groups of pirate operators. The first, are owners
of pick up trucks or other vehicles who stop to give lifts to those waiting by the side of the road
and charge a fee which averages twice that of the formal private providers. The second group are
those who operate as a full time business illegally, often with their vehicles painted regulation
colors with apparently "official" numbers. Judging by the chaos on the roads on a day when the
Road Commission organized spot checks at strategic junctions, pirate operators are a considerable
force of transport operators."8
18  During the course of formal enquiries at the Road Commission, no figures could be obtained as
to the relative size of the pirate" sector.
28



5.18   Regulatoryframework. Regulation is currently haphazard. Obtaining vehicle licenses is
a costly and lengthy process and the criteria for selection are not entirely clear. An initial short
term license is issued for 13 weeks. The issuing of a full license depends on public sittings which
can last from one to five years. Applicants for full licenses must be Zambian nationals, with bank
accounts who hold proof that they are 'capable of running a transport operation". It was not
possible to obtain a legal or official definition of this capability and informal interviews suggest
that personal contacts are paramount. The Deputy Road Traffic Commissioner reports that 60
percent of those who obtain an initial short term license never return for further applications
apparently because they find it "too difficult".  Regulations preclude the provision of
differentiated services, limiting operators' ability to cross subsidize routes and offer cheaper
services in low income areas. Regulations controlling the operation of licensed transport include
detailed guidelines on bus colors and drivers uniforms. The Commission is under pressure trom
private operators to relax the procedures for regulation.
29



5.19 Maintenance and operational costs. UBZ clained that at any one time 45 percent of their
buses were on the road, UTTA estimated that 60 percent of their operators' vehicles were on the
road at any one time. Neither UBZ nor UTTA could provide reliable estimates as to what
proportion of their fleet could potentiaLy be repaired. No information could be obtained on
vehicle down times. For UTTA operators, the cost of vehicle maintenance is a constant problem.
Sixty percent of UTTA buses are over 10 years old. Poor roads lead to rapid wear and tear on
vehicles and given current weak enforcement of the routes, operators ry to concentrate on areas
with better roads. There is widespread agreement that spare parts are now available, costs are
however prohibitive, due to current exchange rate policies and the markup of suppliers. Smaller
operators are particularly vulnerable to the latter. The larger operators currently either import
spare parts or send vehicles across the border for repairs (see Box 1). Operators claim that,
despite charging fares which are prohibitive for low income groups, they face financial
difficulties. In the case of UBZ, the largest financial cost is that of personnel. UBZ have 20
operators/vehicle, compared to the UTTA average of 3.
5.20   Vehiclepurchase. Real interest rates of over 100 percent virtually preclude the purchase
of vehicles for transportation purposes. Vehicle imports are controlled by franchise; import
markups and duties double costs. Bodies are manufactured by LENCO, a parastatal. Operators
complain that the bodies are expensive and unsuitable. They are too heavy increasing wear and
tear and corrosion. Firncing vehicle purchase is both a complicated and tightly regulated
procedure. Vehicle leasing companies provide credit for vehicle purchase however, interest rates
are high and credit access is limited by requrements for comprehensive insurance. Ownership
of property other than the purchased or other vehicle is needed to obtain insurance. Once these
complicated and expensive prerequisites have been met and the vehicle is leased, it can
theoreticaly only be sold to a third person. To overcome this, expensive middlemen must be used
or a third person, who is not in reality an independent actor, persuaded to step in.
One Of elargest pivate opetoa, owbd bv th  ur    _ n haira o lA,
Taxisstarteds operaigI 1980wi*.th  veis. The       r
of whih a averae of -16 are running on any one   .  s i-1-    e e was
purcae in 1982, e nwes 1993.. MTe com-panybha 30 ezploye, iWudng mcais wt
an average salty of 25.0W aonth. -Opati 3 routes   te e ci     4   tes se
city, with an average of  stopsi pet oe and 12  iy R      yee   itve
brtAdowns -is conenatin on the routsnea his home; eser to         w ba ns.
The most seve operatg consurin U the cost f vcle  aintean.ce. The posin of
Fiat Taxis is eased to some extent by tse -of t  compay. Mca d a g aron
site and, the company tu e  lows for th* impo of spare -Pats, a- cos ae
saving. 50 fan belts acquired locly would os  74,500. mptd   I     t  osti
K20,00, including freigh, thus, even when daties Ae added, th sW   iis su
conmany has recay sent a bus needing minjorrepairs to l, ,eprnt  aot  substant
saving to fte company and a loss to Zambian industry.
Private Sector Operators: The Case of Fiat Taxis
30



Trasportation Policy Rondaions
5.21   The urban poor need cheap, reliable and safe public transport services to carry them to
where they need to go as required. Public transport is particularly important to the urban poor
in terms of potential access to employment. Transport policy recommendations must be
considered within the framework of the multiplier effects of both potential urban productivity at
the macro level and the wider access to services that could accrue to the urban poor."9
5.22  Lowering interest rates, faciitating vehcle purchase Urban transportation is constrained
primarily by an acute shortage of bus capacity. Investment in the sector is currently precluded
by real interest rates of over 100 percent. The ability to invest in vehicle purchase in Zambia
would directly promote competition, ensuring bus routes are operated to currently unserved areas
at lower prices. Vehicle investment would directly stimulate additional employment within the
sector such as bus assembly plants. As noted earlier, low income populations have widespread
experience in this sector and thus the potential skills to meet labor demand.
5.23   Regulatoryframework. While the ability to increase capital investment is paramount, an
altered regulatory framework is concurrently needed. Financial regulations imposed on transpolL
operators, in particular vehicle insurance and credit provision must be addressed.Operators nust
be allowed to differentiate their market, introducing higher fares on more luxurious services for
higher income groups which would enable operation of lower income routes which are more
expensive to the operator at cross subsidized rates. Route allocation should be packaged to include
potentially lucrative routes with those to more outlying compounds which involve poorer roads,
more stops and greater distances. The bidding procedures must be publicized and opened up.
Minimum standards should be drawn up to make sure that buses used on the "poorer' routes are
not so low in standard that they are dangerous. Community groups, including women's groups
should be involved in the setting of stops and terminals within low income areas to ensure that
women can safely use transport services.
5.24 Regulations regarding uniforms and bus colors should be simplified. For example, bus
drivers and conductors could be provided with badges as opposed to uniforms for identification.
Enforcement of regulations would in turn be simplified and resources should be targeted at
checking low income routes, unpopular times i.e. those areas of transport services that are likely
to be foregone. Fines for operators who transgress these regulations should be prohibitive.
5.25  Road Maintenance   The road sector suffers from a number of systemic weaknesses
which hamper the effective performance of the transport sector as a whole. Central problems
include uncertain lines of responsibility, weak institutional structures and under funding (World
Bank, 1992; 1). Effective road maintenance is a prerequisite for the provision of transport to low
income areas. Potholes in roads cost an extra $US 14,000 per annum in spare parts and welding
alone on an average truck or bus. Calculated another way, each $1 spent on road maintenance
is equivalent to an average $2.5 saving in vehicle operating costs. Periodic maintenance in turn
"9Non motorized transport such as bicycles are not considered in these recommendations,
given that bicycle purchase is currently beyond the reach of the urban poor (see discussion of
assets in Chapter Three) and, given the current condition of roads, which make cycling very
dangerous.
31



reduces costs.' Selective road maintenance ie. prioritising those roads used by public
transportation will facilitate the provision of transport services. Finally, it is important to note
that it is not the gradual deterioration of roads that deters transportation vehicles but the
emergence of potholes which increases transportation costs by 17 percent. In Zambia the PUSH
program (see Chapter Six) presents an opportunity to rehabilitate those roads with potholes for
public transport use.
20  Mainainug a paved road over 15 years cost about $60,000 per kn. If the road is not mntaied and
allowed to deeriorate over dt  15 year period, it will en cost about $200,000 per lkm to rehabilitate
(Heggie, 1994).
32



Water and Sanitadon
5.26   The urban poor face severe problems with access to water and sanitation services.
Existing supplies are directed to upper and high income consumers who extract rents from the
system, as lower income residents faced with either irregular or no water supplies are forced to
pay substantially higher prices for informal access. Additional costs incurred include those of
time spent in water collection and risks to health and personal safety, costs which are
predominantly born by women. Public facilities which have been provided have high breakdown
rates and are frequently vandalized; they are not based on what the poor want or are willing to
pay for.
5.27 Water and sanitation infrastructure within urban Zambia as a whole is severely
dilapidated. Access to water in urban areas has decreased from 70 percent of households in 1985
to 66 percent of households in 1990 (World Bank 1993a; 128). At the household level, one of
the most glaring outcomes of the decay in urban infrastructure is the steady increase in water
borne diseases (Seshamani et al 1993; 43). At the level of the firm, 29 percent of industries
claimed in a survey that water was a severe constraint, with obvious deleterious consequences for
urban productivity (World Bank 1993a; 18).
5.28   Current Policy. At the national level the govermnent objective is to dentalize and
commercialize water provision, in order to facilitate the extension of services to all households
in Zambia (Sianwiza et al. 1993; 19). In urban areas there are broadly two competing policy
initiatives; privatization and cross subsidization. It is not clear how current or future water policy
can be enforced in cities administae by private suppliers and there is a real danger that the
service needs of the urban poor will fall through the gaps.
5.29   Existing legislation for water resource managemernt is considered inadequate by donors
working in the sector. At the national level policy formudation is limited by the absence of a
defined "water sector". In urban areas there is no legislation placing groundwater abstraction
under regulatory controls; a problem both in terms of water table levels and water quality. No
policy or procedures exist for either the enforcement of or penalty for the contamination of water
resources (NORAD).
5.30  Access to Water and Sanitation Inifrastrucre Legal low income areas are officially
provided with standpipes (1/25 households). The real levels of water provision to the urban poor
are unknown. In "illegal" compounds such as Missis in Lusaka, there is no official water and
sanitation service provision. In all cities, population growth has far outpped the initial
standpipe provision thus in Kitwe for example one third of the residents are dependen on council
supplied standpipes and it is estimated that 12 percent of the "legal" population have no water
services. Field visits to Kitwe and other municipalities show that many standpipes are no longer
in operation and where they do still function water is frequently available for only a few hours
a day.
5.31 Residents in low income communities have responded to the limited access in water
supplies in a nunber of ways, including the sinking of shallow wells within the confines of the
household plot, and the purchasing of water from nearby farns (eg. Jack, Lusaka) or higher
income compounds (eg. Garden, Lusaka). Given erratic supplies, most residents while officially
supplied by a public tap, are dependent on a number of sources.
33



5.32   For the urban poor the main type of toilet facility is the latrine/buckets or a hole in the
ground (see Table 5.6). In Chawma latrines are predominant. As mentioned earlier there is no
connected sewerage system in the area. In terms of toilet facilities, there has been a substantial
increase in the proportion of households with their own facility and a corresponding decline in
shared facilities. However, in terms of toilet type there has been virtually no change. Chawama
is typical of low income areas in that it does not have a piped sewerage system and residents use
pit latrines. In both 1978 and 1992 over 90 percent of the toilets were pit latrines.
Table S.6 Type of toilet facity by poverty group, Chawama, 1992.
Toilet facility            Non-poor (%)   Poor (%)  Very poor (%)     Total 
Toilet connected                  45.4       27.3           27.3        11        100
Latrine/bucket/hole in Ground     45.7       23.6           30.7       199        100
5.33 Costs to Low Income Consumers Costs to low income consumers of these multiple and
informal water and sanitation systems are high. They fall predominanly on women, responsible
for the provision of water at the household level and should be measured in terms of financial
expenditure, time, health and personal safety.
5.34 Financial Costs The cost of water to low income consumers varies. Women pay prices
for access to water in other compounds, from gardeners or wealthy neighbors, for a better
position in a standpipe queue or to landlords who appear to charge different prices apparenly at
will. In Chawama for instance there are a high level of illegal connections, which is not
economically viable for the water company to disconnect (Zambia UPA 1994; 100). Unlike in
other countries, informal sales of water through tankers and similar systems has not been a
feature in Zambian cities either at the national or sub city level.
5.35  In terms of percentage share of income expenditure, Chawama residents spend an average
of 19 percent of their non-food expenditure on water services (Lusaka UPA 1994; 105) and as
illustrated in Table 5.7 is considerably higher for poorer groups. What is noteworthy is that,
according to officials, it is largely poorer consumers who are currenly paying their bills. Non
payment is a feature of high cost residential areas and parastatals.
5.36   77me Inadequate water services represent high opporunity and personal costs for women
in terms of the time spent queuing. Increasing population pressures and the numbers of broken
or vandalized water points have resulted in women walking longer distances and growing queues.
In the case of Chawama data from the subsample revealed that household members spend in
excess of one hour per trip fetching water. Furdter analysis of the subsample data showed that
households collected water at least twice per day, reflecting availability rather than immediate
need.
Table 5.7   Mean expenditure shares on water as a share of non-food expendture,
Chawamia, 1992.
Basic service            Non-poor             Poor         Very poor            Total
Water (X)                   14.16            21.29             24.66            19.331l
Lusak: a  UPA, 194.
34



5.37   Health and Personal Safety Serious outbreaks of cholera have been recorded in recent
years in all of Zambia's metropolitan areas, a direct result of the lack of water and sanitation
infrastructure. The situation in Chawama is characteristic of densely populated compounds in
urban Zambia (Zambia UPA 1994; 101).In the past three years there have been periodic
outbreaks of cholera and water borne diseases. Diarrhoea was one of the most common diseases
afflicting children in the area; 15 percent of children who were reported ill in the last year had
diarrhoea. Moreover, 32 percent of children and 40 percent of adults reported that they had an
infectious and parasitic disease over the past year.
5.38   During field visits women complained of the physical dangers involved in collecting
water. Women are frequently forced to collect water at night when water pressure is higher
however compounds are not lit and violence is a problem. In Chawama, over 90 percent of the
respondents (women) collected water in the morning rather than the evening time when the water
pressure is equally as good, possibly due to the increasing violent attacks against women during
the evening.
5.39   Water Quality Unreliable chlorination in urban areas is of general concern, as witnessed
by the media debate (Times of Zambia October 28, 1993). Previously a lack of foreign exchange
prevented the purchase of chemicals which are imported from South Africa. The current
monetary squeeze has again limited the amount of currency available and at the time of the
mission to Zambia water was reportedly untreated in urban areas.
5.40 The sources of urban water contamination include sewage spillage from poorly
functioning sewage works, back siphoning of blocked sewers into the water supply, and industrial
pollution. In the case of Lusaka, half the city's water supply comes from Kafue where water is
polluted from mining effluent. A tamery belonging to Bata and a fertilizer company further add
to the pollutants 2/3 km. upstream from Lusaka. In low income areas contamination of shallow
wells from pit latrines is a significant problem.
5.41   A visit to George conpound showed women both to be aware and concerned over the
quality of water. Drinking water is collected from a military compound several kdlometers away
from most homes because water that does come out of community standpipes is considered to be
suitable only for washing. Given the resource constraints on water provision and the numbers
currently not served by safe water, this differentiation of water use at the household level
represents an important strategy which can be built upon in the short term for cost effective
widespread safe provision of drinking water2t.
5.42 Institutional Framework. The sector is characterized by an enormous number of suppliers
and donors. A lack of coordination between the seven ministries responsible is a key constraint
on service delivery. Established responsibilities are unclear and are further confused by de facto
and de jure systems. With respect to low income areas it is important to note that there is no
central record of standpipe numbers or status kept within any of the institutions.
21 It is importa to note that subsequent field visits to Oer compounds in both LUSak and other metropolitan
areas have shown this to be a fairly widespread strateg.
35



5.43   In 1991, a reorganization of the water sector resulted in the creation of the Program
Coordination Unit (PCU) under the Ministry of Water and Energy. An important first step in
coordination has been the enumeration of key actors in the sector. Table 5.8 summarizes the
findings. The role of the PCU will be to recommnend policy reform and define the responsibilities
of ministries and agencies. Key areas for the urban poor are the decisions that will be taken with
regard to the feasibility/acceptability of cross subsidization and the extent to which
recommendations on coordination are implemented and enforced.
Table 5.8 Overview of actors and insdtutions in the urban water ad sanitation sedor.
Central Govt.                             Donors       Parastatals   Private Sector   NGOs
Ministry of Energy and Water              GTZ (lead    ZCCM        LWSC           Irish Aid
donor)
Ministry of Local Govt. and Housing       NORAD        ZESCO       Consulting     Oxfam
Firms
(numerous)
Ministry of Works and Supplies           _ICA                      Contractors    World
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _ _   _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ v ision
Ministry of Health                        EEC                      Industry       CARE
Ministry of Agriculture Food and Fisheries  Irish Aid                             Africare
Ministry of Community Development and     WFP                                     Churches
Welfare
National Commission for Development       FAO
Planning (NCDP)
Ministry of Environment and Natural       World Bank
Resources
Program Coordination Unit (PCU)           ADB
Task Force- Water Supply and Sanitation   WHO
Sector                                                            _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Ministry of Education                     UNICEF         l
FINNIDA                                           l
CIDA                  _____l
ODA
SIDA                     _ _ _ _ _
DANIDA
USAID
UNDP
urce: NORAD Plannin Docume for the Waier and SanrS  UND r                --_
36



5.44 Sectoral Financial Constraints The low, and to date decreasing, proportion of the
national water budget contributed by the two mainline ministries down to 2 percent in 1993 is
shown in Table 5.9. There is agreement among donors that financial constraints are however
unnecessarily exacerbated by the lack of flexibility in the use of donor funds. r.eficiencies in thie
budgeting and disbursement process are acknowledged. Budgeting is currently a lengthy process
and it is not clear what criteria are used to determine allocations. Cost rewcoery guidelines have
been issued by the Ministry of Finance and it is current government policy to phase out funding
for operations and maintenance. Revolving funds were set up in July 1993 for all water systems.
Collected revenues are expected to cover operation and maintenance costs, an improvement on
previous financial systems where collected revenues were "lost" in central government funds. To
date funds have been collected but no monies disbursed.
Table 5.9 Source of funds for water supply and sanitation projects.*
Year      National                Share of Budget through MLGH and MEWD
Budget K            MEWD(DWA)                            MLGH
Million           MW   DA   ___    ___                   LH     ___
Total K      % of  % extemal    Total K       % of         %
million    national    contrib.  million    nationa    extenal
budget                           budget   contrib.
1990         6,099          159        2.6         90
1991       10,049         269         2.7         91
1992      157,741          773        0.5         84      1,522        1.0
1993       231,935        1,365        0.5         90      3,579         1.5        88
1994      360,000        8,890        2.5         47     22,714        6.3        85
Govenmn and Housing.
5.45 Regulatory constraints The lack of a regulatory framework is closely linked to problems
of departmental and ministerial coordination. Various recommendations to unite water supply and
sanitation within one ministry or agency have to date not been implemented. Planned
decentalzation of water services requires that the regulatory function remain within a central unit
and the executive finction be delegated to local govenment.
5.46  Managenalladminstrative constraints. Institutional bottlenecks are as important as
financial constraints in terms of the problems historically experienced by the water sector
(Siamwiza et al. 1993; 23). There is a serious shortage of qualified and experienced personnel,
particularly in technical positions (Siamwiza et al 1993; 23). In addition lack of planning and
organizational procedures within the bodies responsible for water at both the national and urban
level, has in tum been compounded by the reorganization necessitated by decentralization. It is
important to note, that decentralization does not ipso facto mean the devolvement of authority.
5.47   Water Providers There are broadly three institutional frameworks for the provision of
water. The smaller urban townships (47 water schemes) are under the Department of Water
Affairs (DWA), whose emphasis is the development of a policy of cross subsidization which will
37



ensure water provision for low income areas. DWA are theoretically responsible for setting the
national policy agenda as discussed above.
5.48   In the larger metropolitan areas provision has been the responsibility of the City Councils
in Lusaka and in council compounds in the Copperbelt. ZCCM has been responsible for the
provision of water services in the mining compounds and it is important to note that these
compounds have traditionally been better served, reflected in the higher averages for service
access in this region seen in Chapter Three.22 In larger metropolitan areas, including Lusaka
and the Copperbelt cities, the target is privatization of the water providers. The policy is most
advanced in Lusaka, where water provision has been passed from the city council to a private
company Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC).
5.49 Privatization and the Urban Poor; Lessons from LWSC A private company that must
obtain a commercial profit, LWSC have no plans for upgrading services to low income areas.
The Managing Director of Lusaka Water Co. has prioritized the recovery of fees and a metering
system which he maintains will increase revemnes allowing for new/upgraded infrastructure. The
current emphasis is a K3,500,000,000 (US$ 10 million) project with the Zambian Survey
Departnent to computerize users in higher income areas to track which households are paying
their bill. In the context of urban poverty, it is important to note that this sum is equivalent to
providing basic community water and sanitation services to more than 2.6 million people ie a
number exceeding those that are currently unserved in urban Zambia.
Water and Sanitation Policy Recommendations
5.50   The urban poor need safe access to clean, regular and affordable water supplies. The
water and sanitation sector in urban areas is however in crisis. Current deficiencies in all areas
have a negative impact on the poor, particularly women. This has a direct mipact on health and
related care costs, and indirect costs in terms of reduced productivity, a result of illness and the
opportunity cost of time spent collecting water. Mechanisms that allow for diverse solutions and
that involve the community in the choice of arrangement and technology will be important.
5.51   There are two central issues that need to be addressed. Firstly, the policy gap through
which the needs of the urban poor currently fall between a de jure cross subsidization policy and
the de facto profit motives of private water companies. Secondly, the severe lack, and in some
cases absence, of potable water in low income urban areas. A suggested precondition for further
work in the sector is the negotiated agreement of the lines of responsibility between the two main
line ministries, to facilitate in turn the coordination of the other 200 actors. Failure to clarify
these issues is likely to lead to greater complications in the long term. There is an immediate
22  Subsidized provision and maintnce of water services and infrastructre is contiuing at the time of this
report's preparation however it is important to note that a combinaton of the declining copper prices and
the government's decbred intention to privatize the mining sector and the greater poverty levels of these
populations makes planning for future infrastructure mainenane a key area for consideration.
23  A recent World Bank mission estimated that in unserved urban areas, basic comnity water facilities
(boreholes and standpipes) could be provided for US$13 per peron served and basic sanitaton facilites for
US$25 per person served. (Zambia Urban Water Supply and Saniaion Project Identification, Mission Aide
Memoir, February 1994].
38



need to define the extent to which the cross subsidization policy generated by the DWA applies
to low income areas under the control of the private water companies.
5.52 Provision of water in low income communities Prioritising the provision of water in low
income communities is essential on the grounds of productivity and health. As in the case of
housing discussed above, the provision of water services to the urban poor constitutes the
provision of a direct asset to the poor; Schlyter's research in George notes how water connections
affect the value of property to a greater extent than the size and location of the property itself
(1991; 36).24 Given the scale of need and the problems of theft and vandalism, involvement of
the community will be critical in the provision and maintenance of water systems. Project design
must include the participation of communities, involving residents in the choice of technology and
the method for maintenance payments. Participatory exercises have established that communities
have different and definite ideas about the type of systems they want and can produce plans and
justifications. Building on these initiatives will be critical but will take time given the low levels
of existing community organization discussed in Chapter Three. Finally, it should be restated
that poor communities currently pay high costs for water; the opportunity thus exists to work with
these resources for more efficient water provision.
5.53   Rehabilitation of infrastructure Clearly some rehabilitation of central infrastructure is
required on pumping stations, pipeline arteries etc. The challenge however will be to rehabilitate
parts of the system in such a way as not to entrench the inequitable distribution currently an
inherent part of the infrastructure network. Given the scale of the problem and the limited
resources rehabilitation which will have a direct impact on the low income communities must be
prioritized for example, rehabilitating those pipelines that run through middle income areas
towards low income areas, ensuring that water pressure will increase for poorer residents,
reducing queuing times and personal safety hazards. In Zambia there is a unique opportunity to
ensure that equitable rehabilitation takes place, building on the impartial technical knowledge of
the PUSH engineers (see Chapter Six).
24  This point emphasizes the interonnections betwmeen water services and fte urgent need to amend land and
housing policy. Given the size of the rental sector in low income urban areas and that 40 percent of renters
have absentee ladlords, the provision of water within e currentfranwrk wll only fer dStort equlty
issues within urban Zanbia. It must be emphasized again tat addressing the land issue must be a
prcodition of intervention in the water sector.
39



Household Energy
5.54   For the urban poor household energy costs represent a significant drain on household
income. Low income areas largely do not have access to cheaper fuel sources such as electricity,
a factor which is compounded by the need to buy cheaper foods which need longer cooking.
Additional costs include the environmental impact of the current reliance on woodfuels and
household level costs such as the time spent on fuel collection and health hazards associated with
cooking and lighting methods, costs that are predominantly born by women.
5.55   Current policy. Electrification is currently being considered since Zambia has a potential
abundance of hydro electric power which could be used not only to extend coverage to low
income urban areas, but also to increase foreign exchange earnings. Given that this is not feasible
for all households in the immediate future, the second policy is the management of woodfuels
and, where possible, a search for alternative fuels. Problems of shrinking local supply and the
resulting environmental degradation are heavily concentrated in the central "spine" of Zambia,
where urban populations predominate. As sources of woodfuel become progressively more distant
from the centers of demand, prices increase with negative impacts on the income and food
security of the urban poor (World Bank 1993a; 123).
5.56 Access to Energy Supplies Charcoal is the principal cooking fuel for the urban poor (94
percent, about 1.6 million users in total) and is predominantly brought in from rural areas.
Access is to some extent seasonal; in the rainy season, when there is a need to boil water, fuel
prices quadruple. The positive correlations between fuel access and affordability and health and
nutritional status are important to note (Chiwele et al 1993; 5).  Electcity; ZESCO have
130,000 homes on their grid of which 50 percent are in low income areas but not in low income
homes. Electrification is a symbol of success and currently only the wealthy have access due to
the cost of initial connections (US$ 800). At the national urban level 39 percent of homes are
connected to the grid. Taking a low income sub sample, it can be seen that only 4 percent of
homes are connected. The case of Missis is a graphic example of the exclusion of the urban poor
from affordable services; residents currently are threatened with bulldozing; their houses are
unsafe, built under low slung power lines to which they have no access.
5.57  Costs to Low Income Consumers Energy costs represent an important proportion of non
food expenditure, an average of 25 percent of total household e, penditure ie. a sum equivalent
to rent. As indicated in the Table 5.10 expenditure on cooking fuel is twice the expenditure on
lighting. The proportionally higher expenditure on cooking fuel is due to the high price of
charcoal (the main energy source used). As indicated in the table below, there is a gradual
increase in the proportion of expenditure on cooking fuel vis-a-vis lighting from non-poor to very
poor households. The cost of charcoal for cooking is a proportion of household income which
falls disproportionately on poor households. It represents 3.3 percent of non-poor non-food
expenditure as against 20 percent of the very poor.
40



Table 5.10 Shares of housebold expenditure on energy by poverty group, Chawaia, 1992.
Use of energy    Non-poor (%)       Poor (%)   Very poor (%)                Total               (%)
Lighting                 36.35         35.48            31.74                207              34.58 l
Cooking Fuel             63.65         64.52             68.26               207              65.42
3durce. LAusaM UFA 1994.
5.58 Trend data from the UPA survey show ftat households surveyed are facing increasing
difficulties in meeting fuel costs. Eleven out of thirty households had cut back on fuel expenditure
(UPA 1993; 108). Given that fuel expenditure is relatively inelastic, these cuts can be interpreted
to represent households struggling to make ends meet. As in the case of mealie meal, many
households are now forced to buy charcoal in small 1 kg bags which last only one day and are
expensive."
5.59 Seasonal variations in supply, attributed to transport costs (43 percent of retail price) and
difficulties result in significant price rises during the wet season. As noted earlier this is when
charcoal is most needed for heating and, most inportantly, boiling water. During the dry season,
(May to November) there is a standard price for charcoal, but during the rainy season (December
to April) the amount of charcoal available on the market is reduced, resulting in price hikes.
During the rainy season of 1992/93, the price of charcoal was adjusted from 350 kwacha to 1200-
1500 kwacha per bag, roughly quadrupling the charcoal price (UPA 1993; 67).
Table 5.11    Charmoal puices (Kwacha) 1983-199Q, showing price in              oases and reail
nurkup*.
October 1983       February 1988        February 1989         August 1992
Price at source              2.50 (56)           15.00 (50)           50.00 (50)         150.00 (43)
Tranwort cost                 1.00 (22)           9.50 (32)           30.00(30)          150.00 (43)
Other                        0.60 (13)             2.00 (7)             2.00 (2)           20.00 (6)
Retail price                      4.50               30.00               100.00              350.00
Retail markup                     10%                  13%                 22%                  9%
hgIe5 11n brakets m@ici ua  the percentag ot te cost idement to te retail price
Source: Hibajene 1993.
25  Studies of charcoal use and production show conflictai  resuts. A study catried out by SIDA in
Chipata and Chainda (low income) conipoumds concludes that fuel is not peived to be an
imortant issue at the household level and that prices have remained stable in real tenms over the
1ast five years. Ibe study concludes that household ener8y expenditur for these low income
groups is only 6.4 percent much less than other studies have found, for instance the World
BanklDOE study in 198811989 where it was stated that as nmuh as 19 percent of the household
budget was spent on energy. The SIDA study attnbutes the discrepany of accurate figures for
fuel expenditure but inaccrate estimates of total expenditue, which do not take account of
inflation (Chiwele and Ellergd 1993).
41



5.60  Electricity Costs Those households who are connected to the electricity grid are not
metered and pay a flat rate of 11K/month. It is important to note however that charcoal remains
the main source of cooking fuel due to the cost of appliances. In Chawama four out of ten
electrified households use it for cooking because the price of electric stoves is unaffordable (UPA
1993; 64).
5.61  Indirect Costs For low income households costs in terms of the time spent in fuel
collection are substantial. The National Household Budget Survey (CSO 1993) shows that the
average metropolitan household collects fuel monthly to a value of KL1,099. This figure
represents a considerable investment in time and illustrates the extent to which "urban"
households are currently engaged in small scale gathering and production activities for survival.
Health hazards have been mentioned above and include the risk of fire and respiratory tract
infections.
5.62 Instituional Framework Both government and parastatal institutions have responsibility
for energy policy planning and implementation. The government institutions include the National
Energy Council (NEC) and the Department of Energy (DOE) in the Ministry of Energy and
Water Development. The NEC was formulated to provide policy advice on energy issues to the
Government. The DOE also has the mandate to make policy as well as responsibilities for
program implementation. There appears to be little coordination between these two agencies.
5.63 ZESCO The most prominent parastatal in terms of household provision of energy,
ZESCO estimate that a further 70-80,000 units could be immediately connected to the grid i.e.
those structures in low income areas where connections could be safely made. The objective of
the company's new managing director is to expand the customer base and plans have been drawn
up to comect a further 50,000 houses in the next two years. With the introduction of appropriate
technology, a "ready board system", even houses made with traditional materials can potentially
be connected. The director's vision is of electricity "kick stardng" the economy; electricity inside
homnes will improve educational levels and electrification of the market places will be a boost to
mnicro enterprise activity. The company is currently undergoing profound organizational change
under a new directorship. Future plans include privatization and retrenchment.
5.64 Charcoal Producers Woodfuels and other biomass sources of energy are controlled by
private entrepreneurs, often operating on a very small scale. Charcoal production, transportation
and distribution take place in the informal sector and represent a substantial trade. Annual
business in Lusaka is estimated at 6.5 billion kwacha, a turn over of 5 million bags (Hibajene and
Chidumayo 1993; 37). In terms of income and employment generation, the charcoal industry is
one of the most important industries in Zambia. It is estimated that a total of 45,500 people are
engaged in the charcoal industry (ibid). At the urban household level, 3,500 households are
involved in the small scale sale and distribution of charcoal (ibid; 38).
Household Energy Policy Reommendations
5.65  The urban poor need safe, reliable sources of energy. A policy framework for the energy
sector is however complicated by the conflicting needs to provide low cost fuels, predominantly
electricity, and a recognition of the important source of employment that the current organization
of the sector represents to low income urban families.
42



5.66   Electnficadion Given the potential multipliereffects on urbanproductivity, environmental
protection and reduction of household costs, that would result from electrification, such a
program would appear to merit support, although more detailed cost benefit analysis would be
needed prior to proceeding. Current connection costs of US$ 800 are calculated as an inverse
function of expected charges. Electrification for the urban poor is dependent upon bringing bill
to market levels thus reducing the capital costs of connection. To this end prices have been
increased by 400 percent over the last two years, contributing to a heated tariff debate (Times of
Zambia October 1993, various issues). This debate serves to accentuate how the current
discussions over service charges and the culture of non payment are generated from the interests
of the middle and upper classes and parastatals. From the perspective of the urban poor, a price
increase of 1000 percent/unit would result in costs of K110/month, much under the current
monthly expenditures on charcoal, thus making electricity attractive for low income households.
5.67   Low Cost Appliances Access to energy is determined to a large extent by the ownership
of (affordable) appliances. It has been noted above that low income urban households own few
possessions, reducing potential access to electricity in those areas where there is supply. A vastly
increased number of households connected to the grid, and the deregulation of informal sector
enterprises (see Volume One) would have the effect of drawing producers into the appliance
market, bringing costs down.
5.68 Improving the Efficient Use of Charcoal In the short run the price of charcoal,
particularly the increased prices during the rainy season can be brought under control by reducing
the supply bottlenecks. SIDA is currently funding an "Improved Supply and Marketing of
Charcoal Project" which aims to construct a network of charcoal depots in strategic areas. In
addition to increasing supply, interventions should also try to promote the more efficient use of
charcoal2s
Sector Services; Conclusions and Priorities
5.69   This chapter has considered the case of three sector services; transportation, water and
sanitation and energy. Reviewing the policy recommendations, what is clear is the extent to
which improvement in any one of the sectors is dependent on a review of land policy and, the
linkages between the sector services. In some cases, these linkages take the form of a positive
multiplier effect; changes in land policy for instance would both facilitate the improvements
suggested in the water sector and ensure that benefits do indeed accrue to the urban poor. The
lowering of interest rates is another example of a policy that would facilitate investment in all
sector services. In other areas the trade offs appear more complicated; in the short run for
example, real increases in the price of electricity that are accepted to be necessary, will have a
negative effect on the water sector increasing the cost of pumping for example. The most
26 Attnempts to introduce improved, appropriale technology have not to date been successful. A previous
NORAD funded project atempted to introduce improved charcoal stoves by training tin snmths in the
market place to produce the newly designed stove. A small grnt was given to the tin smiths for materials
and assistance was given with maeting. Representatives of the Deparment of Energy gave several reasons
for project failure, which included the thning of the project and the perceived complication of both
abricating and using the stoves. Most important however was that the stoves took longer to heat up, an
additional burden on women, which they were not prepared to bear.
43



significatt conflict however is that of resources. Given the extent of crisis in urban service
provision and the constraints on human and financial resources there is a need to carefully
prioritise actions, ensuring that, to the extent possible interventions chosen are mutually
reiorcing and have the greatest returns in terms of urban productivity, generating the resource
base for further improvements in the near fuiture.
44



CHAPTER SIX: THE RESPONSE
TOWARDS A FUTURE THAT INCLUDES TilE URBAN POOR
6.1    The Zamnbian urban reality is one of a fractured economy, declining services and
increasing poverty. There are however emerging signs of creativity; economic initiatives and
alternative service mechanisms. Those living in the low income areas have started to evolve
systems relevant to their lives. The challenge for the future is to support and foster these local
initiatives, building linkages and services which meet the needs of low income residents as
opposed to passing over their heads as in the past, literally in the case of Missis.
6.2    A successful response relies on a careful mix of immediate actions that address the
priority areas of today, with the initiation of a series of longer term measures, the implementation
of which are similarly urgent, since while their benefits may not be felt in the short run, a failure
to address the issues today will delay medium to long run recovery. In the short term the
emphasis should be on horizontal linkages, within urban areas, fostering the new economic
activities that are evident. In the medium term, the emphasis must be on vertical linkages
between urban areas and these nodules of growth, ensuring their reinforcement and further
expansion.
6.3    Central to this urban vision is a reconceptualisation of urban services; an integral part of
a productive economic strategy. Services provide direct employment to the urban poor (see the
cases of transport and energy), and have the potential to support the new informal sector.
Services should thus be prioritized as both a direct economic investment in addition to the
potential welfare benefits provided.  This chapter draws on and draws together the
recommendations of previous chapters focusing on how services might be provided and in turn
how service provision might facilitate urban production and appropriate institutions within the
new Zambian economy.
Horizontal Linkages; Promoting Intra Urban Growth
6.4    Within metropolitan urban areas (ie. Lusaka and the Copperbelt) the seeds of economic
dynamism in the informal sector are evident. The developments have been spatial, as opposed
to sectoral, with certain communities apparently showing increasing economic activity across a
range of enterprises or sectors. In Lusaka, Chawama, the site of the UPA research is one such
community, a site of growing small scale production and petty trading activity (accounting for
78 percent of the workforce in 1992 as opposed to 65 percent in 1978). Field visits and
participatory research would suggest that George is another dynamic, consolidating community,
drawing in labor from nearby poorer communities." Developments have been gendered, with
the growth of economic activity, if not always success, concentrated amongst women, making
their explicit inclusion in linkage strategies important. The challenge is thus how to support and
27 In the Coppetbelt fte relationship between mining and council compounds is more complicated and further
research will be needed to identify the potential of particular communities and the appropriate supporting
strategies.
45



broaden this economic growth within compounds in the short run, while putting in place
mechanisms that might replicate the experience in other compounds in the medium run.
6.5    Legal Access to Land The importance of recognizing "illegal" areas and, in the medium
run, simplifying access to urban land cannot be overemphasized. Recognition of 'illegal"
compounds should be mnade a precondition of any donor activity within Zambian urban areas and
a unique opportunity currently exists for concerted action with a nunber of donors such as the
World Bank, ODA and UNICEF poised for urban investment. Legal areas of Lusaka such as
Chawama and George are currently consolidating communities; the sites of construction and small
scale investment. Similarly, if poorer areas such as Missis and Gabon are to grow in the future,
security of tenure must be provided today.
6.6    Deregulation  The Case of Housing Construction  Legal and financial constraints on
small scale economic activity are significant. To date, deregulation in the financial and business
se, )r has been limited at the macro level and almost non existent at the meso level. Removing
rest *ctions will facilitate not only the growth of small scale enterprise but the private provision
of urban services, multiplying the potential that will result from changes in the legality of land
status and security of tenure. Deregulation of building codes and the location of businesses would
boost the construction industry, generating the further provision of housing and economic activity.
6.7   Promoting Urban Rural Linkages  A parallel strategy is needed to promote and
reinforce growth in the non metropolitan centres ie. the provincial capitals. Here the urban rural
distinction is not helpful since the dynamic space is that of the provincial capital and surrounding
rural area. Responding to poverty entails support to the potential of agro industry and in
particular food processing, targeting those areas with the highest levels of poverty such as Mansa
ad Chipata. Detailed reommendations are not possible on the basis of current studies and
evidence; the urban poverty findings point to the need to do more work in the area of urban rural
linkages in order to develop the strategy suggested here.
6.8    Deregulation  As above, legal and financial constraints appear to be a significant
restriction on agro processing activities. Pressure for deregulation should emphasize the current
constraints on maize marketing, thus reinforcing the rural response, moving to areas of more
exotic produce, whose processing would increase the value added of products and income within
rural and non metropolitan areas. Deregulation of local financial markets and legislation
concerning business location will be important. Success will entail understanding the local nature
of constraints and more research is needed here at the regional level. In the medium term, based
on greater regional knowledge, proactive support to "winning" products should be considered.
What is advocated here is not subsidies to successful agro business, but technical assistance in
marketing, and the choice of certain inputs such as technology.
Vertical Linages; LInking Centres of Urban Growth
6.9    As described above, promoting urban productivity implies, in the first instance,
decentralized initiatives to support the signs of intra urban growth that are emerging. The second
priority is the facilitation of liniages between centres of growth ie. within cities and between
regions. The provision of roads and transportation is thus advocated in the short run as a labor
response strategy to the urban problems of unemployment, while simultaneously building the
networks for the second stage of urban growth and poverty reduction.
46



6.10 Provision of Roads Roads are prioritized in the urban poverty response for two central
reasons. Firstly, if the vertical linkages which will be needed to support growth in the medimn
term are to be provided, it is necessary to begin basic construction and facilitate provision in the
short term ie. avoiding future bottlenecks. Secondly, as noted above, the provision of roads is
advocated as a supply response to the '-roblem of unemployment, in the short run, as alternative
informal sector initiatives expand.
6.11   Zambia has seen large scale infrastructure provision during earlier decades, it is thus
ix portant to emphasize the different nature of what is proposed here. The vision is one of small
feeder roads, that link compounds within urban areas and provincial urban centres both with each
other and surrounding rural areas. A judicious mix of central level planning, to ensure a public
works program that can respond in the very short term to employment needs, will be
complemented with important elements of community information that will ensure that works
meet the need of urban communities as opposed to powerful monopoly interests in the private
sector or political interests in the public sector. The institutional knowledge of PUSH will play
a vital role and it is recommended that the strengtis of this organization are used, not as a safety
net but rather to ensure the equitable provision of infrastructure. Municipal engineers in each
municipality know the needs of both road and water infrastructure. This localized and objective
knowledge should be included in project planning.
6.12 Transportation Facilitating the private provision of public transportation is linked
directly to the provision of roads and should be seen in a similar context. Addressing transport
provision must be seen as a direct input to urban productivity; facilitating labor access to
employment and, markets for suppliers and producers. Transport should also be seen as a
potentially productive sector in its own right and one which importantly, is labor intensive (37
percent of those who live in the Priority Survey low income subsample are engaged in activities
related to transport).
6.13   Deregulation and Reorganization The transport sector is currently tightly controlled
by vested interests and there are clear areas that can be immediately addressed.
i.    lowering of interest rates
ii.    deregulation of credit and insurance markets
iii.   deregulation of transport policy; the central allocation of routes and fares
iv.    reorganization of the ministry of transport; technical support should be provided to the
ministry of transport to enable them to play a new coordinating role as opposed to that of
transport provider. The financial burden imposed on the government by the transport sector is
equivalent to 12 percent of all current revenues (World Bank 1993). Resource constraints are
thus not the issue, what is needed is concerted effort on the part of the World Bank and other
donors to phase out public transport provision, using the resources for skilling an effective
regulatory body which can both supervise and ensure effective transport provision..
6.14   Community Linkges/Involvement Simple steps such as the consultation of community
women in the siting of bus stops would have potentially large benefits in terms of access to
transport and thus, education, employment and markets. Building on the PUSH linkages that will
be used under the roads component described above, it should be possible to include this
component in a cost effective and rapid manner.
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Institutional Linkages : the urban framework
6.15   The institutional framework for both enterprise activity and service delivery in urban
areas share a number of conmnonalities, rooted in the historical context of the formal economy,
institutional structures are centralized hierarchical and rigid, unsuited to the demands of service
delivery and economic activity of the current urban environment. It was stated at the outset that
how services are delivered is as important as what is delivered. Rethinking and relinking the role
of institutions is a precondition for service delivery that meets the needs and can be afforded by
the urban poor. Service delivery provision in turn provides the means to develop institutional
mechanisms and delivery systems. This section will thus summarize the history and current status
of both formal and informal urban institutions at the national, city and sub city level and draw
on service recommendations to illustrate a way forward.
6.16   National Government At the national level, several government departments and
ministries are responsible for urban service provision. The case of housing is typical, the
Ministry of Local Government, the National Housing Authority and the Ministry of Works and
Supply all have remits that cover low income compounds, in addition to the respective city
councils. Horizontal linkages between ministries and vertical linkages between for example the
Ministry of Local Government and City Councils remain unclear. The use of outdated maps
produced in 1968 within one ministry while another is producing current documentation illustrates
both the confusion and the resulting invisibility of the urban poor, the majority of whom do not
appear on the 1968 maps. The lack of a clear policy framework for all urban services is closely
linked to problems of departmental and ministerial coordination. From the perspective of the
urban poor this lack of clarity is an effective policy that preserves the inequitable distribution of
services and mitigates against their interests.
6.17 Municipal Government The declining resource base in urban areas has led to weak
municipal governments, constrained by the lack of both financial and human resources. In 1990
35 percent of local sales tax went to local authorities for services, in 1992 4 percent. These very
real resource constraints are compounded in turn by historical and political constraints, a lack of
will to deliver services to "illegal" settlements, training in "blu"-print" planning inappropriate to
the current urban reality and services whose original design, as noted earlier was inappropriate.
6.18   The organization of both local government and city councils is shortly to be altered under
the Public Sector Reform Program. Within the broad objective of decentralization, the programs
has three components: the restructuring of public services, support to human resources and the
strengthening of local authorities. The restructuring of public services entails in turn, the
decentralization of service provision and an emphasized role of the private sector. The role of
municipal councils in the decentralized provision of water and sanitation services provides an
interesting example of the altered structures that have resulted from the restructuring of the urban
economy and thus urban services, and some of the potential pitfalls for the urban poor. In the
short term there is a need to link council personnel to low income communities, incorporating
them in the initiatives emerging at compound level and building links to municipal government.
6.19 Community Institutions and Organizations Community organization in urban Zambia,
as noted in Chapter Three is relatively weak. Significantly, community organizations and non
governmental organizations (NGO's) do not have strong links/conummication channels with either
municipal or central government. Suppordng and exnding community leadership and genuine
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participation on a wider basis is likely to remain a slow process however, there are a number of
important organizational experiences and groups, which can be built upon. Within the Zambian
urban environment of theft and vandalism community organization and ownership must be
emphasized as fundamental to project sustainability and arguably to project implementation.
6.20 NGO's Initiatives such as OXFAM's program in Mufulira, World Vision's activities in
Chainda and Irish Aid in Kamanga. These activities and CARE's planned interventions under
PUSH I represent an important body of experience on which to build. World Vision, Oxfam
and the Church, under the Training for Transformation project have developed institutional
expertise in methods to facilitate community participation and organization which will be central
to giving communities a voice in the future design of services. World Vision, Irish Aid and
PUSH II have developed mechanisrns to incorporate council personnel in alternative community
based structures, providing a training for personnel in alternative delivery mechanisms. PUSH
networks provide an important model for potential consultation in the citing of physical
infrastructure. PUSH coordinators in each municipality are municipal engineers and, given their
combination of technical and community experience could potentially play a unique role,
providing technical expertise to community partners and collaborating in planning prooesses with
municipal governments, ensuring that structural service plans incorporate and where possible
prioritise the needs of the urban poor.
6.21   Water and Sanitation; linking the Municipality with the Comunity
The example of water services; using a need prioritized at the commnity level to meet service
demands while providing a means to build sustainable institutions, is illustrative of an innovative
approach as to how to address the issues. The World Bank's Urban Water and Sanitation Project
will attempt to facilitate participatory structures at the community level, reorientate the
bureaucracy at the municipal level and establish the links between the two. It provides a potential
model for promoting institutional linkages which will underpin the urban response.
The envisaged process will build on concrete empirical experiences and methods that already exist
in Zambia (Oxfam, Irish Aid, World Vision, PUSH, CARE, Catholic Church, NORAD,
UNICEF etc.), drawing them together in a coherent framework. The objective is to improve the
cham by which community needs can be made known at government level and communities can
in turn access services within the currently constrained environment. Central to the project
process is the idea of matching social with physical infrastructure, supporting the ctal links
which are seen to underpin the urban response.
6.22  Participating communities will be expected to form  some sort of representative
organization, with the support of a community partner, such as an NGO. A process of needs
identification, project design, water maintenance and monitoring plan will be produced and an
application will be made to the council for funding. The municipal council will provide technical
assistance to community water systems, in the initial provision and for major mintenance,
responding to needs expressed at the community level.
6.23   Significant changes within the municipal government are implied, which are both
philosophical and administrative and can be termed as bureaucratic reorientation, BRO. The
process of project design in which key figures spend a week in the community observing the
project design process will be the first step. A central compoent of the technical assistance
planned in the project will be training in participatory processes and facilitation. The emphasis
will be on ways of supporting flexible processes as opposed to imposing blueprint planning. The
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technical assistznce component will also provide central skills to the municipal councils to ensure
that they can meet the demands of the community organizations, building skills within the
municipal government.
Coiudcsons: the prioritized response
6.24   The above example of a planned response to the urban water crisis, emphasizes the
components that will be central to an urban poverty reduction strategy; community participation,
a stress on the locality, appropriate and affordable levels of service provision that provide the
opportunity to reorient institutions towards the emerging economy and needs of the urban poor.
Resources, both human and financial are limited and a realistic response must set priorities, in
the Zambian urban context, the legalization of land and provision of water and transportation
services are paramount. Human capital, the urban residents, provide the supporting base;
adequate education and localized skill training must be the foundation of the above response.
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