Entry Instance

HTTP 200 OK
Allow: GET, PUT, PATCH, DELETE, HEAD, OPTIONS
Content-Type: application/json
Vary: Accept

{
    "id": 777003,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/777003/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 286,
    "type": "other",
    "speaker_name": "",
    "speaker_title": "",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": "going to be used to come up with those structures in those slums. This is very important because if we do not do that, there is going to be a very serious problem. The first slum upgrading initiatives have failed to deliver adequate housing prototypes in terms of affordability, design, location, accessibility and livelihood. This is because if one puts up very expensive housing, most of the people will not afford it because they are poor. It is important for the Government to come up with a proper mechanism for affordable housing. The other day we were in in the US with the Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, and the US Government has a housing scheme mechanism where people are provided with loans and are able to afford better houses in their country that are not very expensive. We must, therefore, come up with a mechanism where we shall have affordable houses where there is lighting, water and ventilation, so that they live a proper life. On issues of infrastructure, one will find very poor roads in those slums. How can one improve those houses and infrastructure so that the people living in the slum areas can access their houses? Roads in slum areas are miserable, muddy and have not been worked on for a very long time. I believe that if we approve this policy, it will improve the lives of people there. This policy will also address the high cost of access to basic services such as electricity, water and inadequate socio-physical facilities such as schools, markets, day- care centres, social and health centres. One will find that these facilities are not improved. Due to overcrowding, one will sometimes find that the schools do not have playgrounds for children and even markets are not available. I think, clearly, the policy is addressing all the facilities that need to be put in place. Due to overcrowding, small dispensaries that are available are unable to take care of the ever-increasing population. This requires a lot of planning. There is also unavailability of space for physical planning and social infrastructure. Once you have a slum in place, then it means that you will be unable to improve the infrastructure. It is important for us to address all those factors. There is also lack of proper management and maintenance of infrastructure in slum areas which is not being taken care of. If we come up with this policy, it will be able to address all those issues. Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I believe this is a very straightforward Motion. The policy should be put in place because we have lived as a country for many years and our slums are not in good condition. It is very important for us to come up with proper structures in place in terms of planning, security and housing because, constitutionally, those people who are living in those areas have a big problem. Once we pass this Motion, we can bring together various stakeholders and allocate money in the Budget to make sure that we have done the right thing. There are also donors, civil society and private sector who have come together to see how we can help people in the slums in this country. There is also the issue of sales and rental for upgraded housing. Those small things need to be put in place. On fundraising and housing, we can as leaders do fundraising and be able to improve the lives of people living in slums. The electronic version of the Senate Hansard Report is for information purposes only. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor, Senate"
}