THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC STATUS OF WINDHOEKS INFORMAL SETTLEMENT RESIDENTS: A CASE STUDY OF HAKAHANA

A RESEARCH PROPOSAL SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF

MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION

OF THE UNIVERSITY OF NAMIBIA BY

MALAKIA HAIMBODI

APRIL 2012

Supervisor : Prof. Piet van Rooyen Co-Supervisor : Mr Hopkins Namakando

1. Title The socio-economic status of Windhoeks informal settlement residents: a case study of Hakahana. 2. Introduction 2.1 Orientation of proposed study

The focus of the research is to perform a study of socio-economic status within informal settlement residents in Windhoeks Hakahana informal settlement. The preliminary report for the Namibian National Census 2011 (National Planning Commission, 2012) notes that urban population in Namibia increased from 33% in 2001 to 42% in 2011 and is expected to continue increasing. This means that urban planners have to take note of socio-economic problems that confront them therefore the need to research about them. This is particularly important because according to (Warah, 2004), informal settlements represent zones of silence in terms of formal research and developmental policies.

Kok (1994:273) defines an informal settlement as legalised housing usually (but not necessarily) provided with some of the most basic urban infrastructural services such as roads, water and sanitation. What distinguishes formal and informal settlements according to Urban Foundation (1991c:24) cited in Kok (1994:273) is the type of housing where informal housing is usually built with unconventional building materials acquired informally, that is, outside the formal housing delivery mechanisms. According to this definition, Hakahana qualifies to be an informal settlement.

Lugalla (1995:97) outlines

some of the services and facilities that characterise an urban

settlement. These are: provision of acceptable health care, access to education, recreational facilities, access to electricity and water supply, sanitation and drainage, bank, postal and telephone services, and urban transport systems. The proposed study will look at water and sanitation as well as income and employment as measures of socio-economic status

The research will also be guided by the theoretical framework as suggested by Maris (1970) cited in Lugalla (1995:73) when he says: The systematic analysis of squatters, shantytowns or slums receives scant attention in general textbooks, but in political and social affairs these irregular residential areas figure prominently. Indeed a

mention of them tends to be in terms of problems which need solutions. Yet, it is not always clear for whom the squatters constitute problems. For urban administrators, for politicians or even for themselves? This quotation suggests that the research area is receiving little attention from academics. The proposed thesis will try to answer some of the questions raised in the quotation above within the context of Windhoeks Hakahana informal settlement. 2.2 Statement of the problem

According to Warah (2004:5), slums are an expression of urban poverty. He further argues that most governments do not recognize slums, or informal settlements, in their urban plans, which make the situation of slums even more precarious. Additionally, Warah (2004) proposes that there is generally an absence of data on slums in official statistics, which shows that slums
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represent zones of silence in terms of public knowledge. Namibia is no exception with regards to this gap that exists on knowledge about informal settlements. This research will attempt to narrow the gap by providing information on the zones of silence that is represented by informal settlements.

2.3 Research Question What is the socio-economic status of Windhoeks Hakahana informal settlement residents? 2.3.1 Sub - Research Questions

The sub-research questions will include:

1. What is the status of housing and sanitation in Windhoeks Hakahana informal

settlement?
2. What is the status of employment and income in Windhoeks Hakahana informal

settlement?

2.4 Hypotheses of the study The research will test the following hypothesis: Hypothesis: The socio-economic status is low in Windhoeks Hakahana informal settlement. 2.5 Significance of the Study

Socio-economic status disparities can be the cause of various social problems such as shackdwelling in Namibias urban areas. As noted by (Warah, 2004), informal settlements represent

zones of silence. This study fills the knowledge gap on the nature of differences between dwellers in formal settlements and informal settlements in Windhoeks Northern suburbs. 2.6 Limitations of the study

The scope of the study will be limited to socio-economic status, service delivery and living conditions within Windhoeks northern suburbs. In particular, the study will compare Wanaheda, a formal settlement against Hakahana, an informal settlement. The researcher recognises that other causes are equally important but because of time constraints and resource availability (the researcher will not employ people to help in the research and will conduct it alone that is Research Assistants), considering all the causes would be unmanageable.

3. Literature Review

Literature Review will examine literature with a view of discovering what other sources have to say about socio-economic status, service delivery and living conditions.

The Namibia 2011 National Housing Census (National Planning Commission, 2012) will provide valuable data on socio-economic status, service delivery and living conditions in Windhoek, Namibia. The source has been chosen because this is the latest survey that is available. A census also produces valuable data about the whole population of Namibia.

Chandan et al (2008) will also be used because they wrote a report about the issues under investigation. This source will help to focus the researcher on which areas still need to be researched. The same applies to Shileka (2008) who has also researched about the problems of
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informal settlements on behalf of the Ministry of Regional and Local Government. The source will also be helpful in pointing this researcher to other primary, secondary and tertiary sources of data which will help to bring clarity to the research.

Another valuable source that will be examined to help to focus the research is the work of Africa growth and Opportunity Act Info (AGOAInfo, 2008:26) which also provides information on various socio-economic conditions in its country profile report. Literature review will establish the context of the topic or problem and rationalise the significance of the impact of unequal income distribution on informal settlements. The research has been motivated by a lack of current information to help decision makers to make informed decisions.

Kok (1994:144 - 161) has written on the challenges of urbanisation in the South African context. The sections of his work that would be relevant to this research include the major issues about squating and informal settlents. This source provides valuable insight into the research that has taken place already about living conditions.

Another source that will be used in the review of related literature is Broaden (1992:147) whose work would also provide valuable clarification about the theoretical framework about formal and informal settlements.

Lugalla (1995: 73) has been selected because, as well as providing information about research that hass taken place in urbanisation and poverty, it would also help to inform the researcher on how to design the reaearch instruments. His work on questioonaires and interviews would be

useful in helping to focus this reasearchers instruments as well.

Gilbert (1997) s work poverty and development issues in cities has also been found to be relevant to this research and will help to clarify this researchers focus. The same applies to Smith (1997) whose work would inform the researcher on what has been done in this area and what still needs to be done.

4. Methodology

4.1 Research Design

The study will mainly use quantitative research method in a form of a survey of informal settlements in Windhoeks Hakahana settlement. Questionnaires will be used to gather data from informal settlement residents complemented by interviews of key informants in the City Council of Windhoek, Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Rural development, National Housing Enterprise, Residents Association and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) that deal with service delivery issues and informal settlements.

4.2 Population

The population consists of all the informal settlement residents of Hakahana settlement of Windhoek Citys Northern Suburbs. The population will also consist of key informants from the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing and Rural Development (MRLGHRD), the City of Windhoek, National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and NGOs. 4.3 Sampling and sampling techniques Research sample

A random sample size of 200 will be drawn from the population. The sample will be drawn from the same database that was used for enumeration for the 2011 National population census. The sample will consist of individuals. The sample will be broken down into two groups, one hundred being the study group from informal settlements and one hundred being the control group from the formal settlement residents. This would ensure the results of the sample can be generalised to the population.

The sampling technique used for the questionnaires is a random sampling technique stratified by gender and generational age. Interviews will be carried out with key informants who include officials from the Ministry of Regional, Local Government and Housing and Rural Development (MRLGHRD), the City of Windhoek, National Housing Enterprise (NHE) and NGOs. The purposive sampling technique will be used to interview them.

4.4 Research Instruments

The questionnaire The research instrument to be used is a questionnaire developed for individuals in the City of Windhoeks Hakahanas informal settlement using a random sampling technique. The
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questionnaire will be written in the English language. The inclusion of open-ended questions in the questionnaire will enable the researcher to elicit the respondents unique views on particular issues.

4.5 Procedure

The researcher will ask the respondents the questions from the questionnaire. By employing this technique, some of the weaknesses of questionnaires such as poor response rate would be overcome. The researcher will also gain an opportunity to explain some of the components of the questionnaire and reduce incidents of incomplete data from questionnaires. 4.6 Data Analysis

Data will be analysed using SPSS to get descriptive statistics such as frequency tables, pie charts and bar charts. The researcher will capture socio-economic indicators for access to water and sanitation as well as employment and income. As well as the descriptive statistics produced by SPSS, the package will also be used to generate correlation data about the indicators under study between the study group and the control group.

5. Research Ethics

The researcher will abide by the ethics of research. In particular, the researcher will give credit to sources used in the research. Particular attention will also be paid to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of the respondents. Respondents would not be requested to provide personal

information on questionnaires. Information about the research will only be disclosed to third parties with the consent of the parties involved. 6. References
AGOAInfo. (2004). African Growth and Opportunities Act: Bilateral Overview. Retrieved April 08, 2012, from http://www.agoa.info/?view=country_info&country=na: http://www.agoa.info/?view=country_info&country=na Broaden, B. ,. (1992). Informal Settlement: Theory Versus Practice in KwaZulu/Natal. In D. M. Smith, The Apartheid City and Beyond: Urbanisation and Social Change in South Africa (pp. 147 - 157). London and New York: Witwatersrand University Press. Gilbert, A. G. (1997). Cities, Poverty and Development: Urbanisation in the Third World 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press. Kok, P. G. (1994). Urbanisation South Africa's challenge Volume 2: Planning. Pretoria: HSRC Publishers. Lugalla, J. (1995). Crisis, Urbanisation and urban Poverty in Tanzania. Maryland: University Press of America Inc. Namibia Planning Commission. (2008). A review of poverty and inequality in Namibia. Windhoek: Central bureau of Statistics. Namibia Planning Commission. (2008). Namibia household income and expenditure survey (NHIES) 2003/2004. Windhoek: Central Bureau of Statistics. National Planning Commission. (2002). Namibia Country Report. Fourth Meeting of the Follow-up Committee on Implementation of the DND & ICPD-PA. Yaounde. National Planning Commission. (2004, June). Vision 2030 Document. Retrieved April 09, 2012, from National Planning Commission: http://www.npc.gov.na/cbs/index.htm Smith, D. D. (1997). The Third World City. London: Routledge. Warah, R. (2004). Divided City: Information Poverty in Nairobi's Slums. Dialogue on Communication and Cultural Diversity, Barcelona 2004. Barcelona.

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