By Princess Eugene Majuru
The ongoing refurbishment of Matapi Flats in Mbare has been widely celebrated as a sign of development. Authorities point to new pipes, fresh coats of paint, tiled toilets, and toilet seats as evidence that residents’ dignity is being restored. While any improvement to living conditions is welcome, Zimbabweans must ask themselves a difficult question: is this truly development, or are we merely applying cosmetic fixes to a structure that should have been replaced decades ago?
The replacement of old pipes is necessary. The existing plumbing system dates back to the Rhodesian era and has been plagued by bursts and leakages for years. Residents have endured frequent water problems, unhealthy living conditions, and infrastructure failures that no modern urban community should tolerate.
Yet the fact that, forty-six years after independence, residents in the capital city are still celebrating the installation of toilet seats speaks volumes about how low expectations have fallen. For generations, residents have used toilets consisting of little more than holes in the floor. This is not a standard that should exist in any modern city.
Officials claim these renovations restore dignity. I disagree.
What dignity can exist when twelve to fourteen people are crowded into a single bachelor flat? What dignity can be found when entire families are forced to divide one-room living spaces using blankets, sheets, and makeshift partitions? What dignity exists when parents continue raising children in severely overcrowded conditions that were never designed for family occupation?
Dignity is not created by paint.
Dignity is not created by tiles.
Dignity is not created by fitting toilet seats.
Dignity comes from providing human beings with safe, healthy, and adequate housing.
The reality is that Matapi Flats were designed for a different era, a different population, and entirely different living arrangements. They were never intended to house the large families that now occupy them. Over the decades, overcrowding has placed immense pressure on the buildings, their plumbing systems, sanitation facilities, electrical infrastructure, and overall structural integrity.
This is why many urban planners around the world would argue that the long-term solution is not refurbishment but demolition and reconstruction.
There are several reasons for this.
First, the buildings fail to meet many modern health and safety expectations. Contemporary residential developments are designed with improved ventilation, adequate living space, safer electrical systems, emergency exits, fire suppression equipment, and accessibility considerations. Many of these features cannot easily be retrofitted into aging structures.
Second, the current design encourages overcrowding. Even if every wall is painted and every pipe replaced, the fundamental problem remains unchanged. Families will still be squeezed into spaces that were never intended for family life.
Third, the risk of fire and emergency situations remains a major concern. Modern residential complexes are designed with multiple escape routes, additional staircases, fire detection systems, extinguishers, and easier access for emergency services. Residents of densely populated buildings deserve the same protections enjoyed elsewhere in the world.
Fourth, continuous patchwork repairs often become more expensive over time than comprehensive redevelopment. Governments frequently spend decades repairing the same failing infrastructure instead of investing once in modern housing that can serve communities for generations.
Renovating a deteriorating building without addressing its fundamental design flaws is like fixing a broken bed with bubble gum and claiming the problem has been solved. The structure may look better for a time, but the underlying issues remain.
As Princess of Harare and Sovereign Custodian of the Mbari Clan, I also speak from a historical perspective. The suburb of Mbare derives its name from the Mbari people, ancestors whose legacy remains deeply connected to the history of Harare itself. Yet even the names associated with that heritage have been subjected to spelling distortions that have persisted for decades. In my view, Mbare should properly reflect its origins in Mbari, just as Harare reflects the historical legacy of Haarari.
Beyond the question of names lies a larger issue of respect and dignity—not only for living residents but also for the communities and histories that shaped this city.
Zimbabwe is a nation blessed with abundant natural resources. Yet while a privileged few enjoy the benefits of this wealth, millions continue to live in poverty and overcrowded housing. The conditions found in places such as Matapi Flats should embarrass a country with such vast economic potential.
Many residents will understandably welcome the renovations. When people have been denied basic services for years, any improvement feels significant. Their gratitude is genuine and should not be dismissed.
However, gratitude should not be confused with progress.
People are appreciating what is available because they have no alternative.
Zimbabweans deserve more than patched-up colonial-era housing. They deserve modern homes built according to contemporary health, safety, and human dignity standards. They deserve communities designed for families, children, and future generations.
The truth must be told.
- These renovations may improve appearances, but they do not solve the underlying housing crisis. Real development would mean replacing obsolete structures with modern, safe, and dignified housing. Until that happens, claims that dignity has been restored remain premature.
Zimbabwe can and must do better.
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