urbanisation
Land grabs and muggers

Land grabs and muggers

Surging crime and broken dreams reveal the underbelly of this rapidly expanding east African capital Michael Mwaura graduated from the University of Nairobi’s School of Business in 2009 and within two months secured a...

Sidelined by policymakers

Sidelined by policymakers

The ANC and previous regimes have all seen rural areas as more deserving of attention and resources than cities, making it nearly impossible to talk seriously about urban policy Since the end of apartheid a central...

Where justice is measured in dollars

Where justice is measured in dollars

Kinshasa is set to become one of Africa’s largest megacities by 2030, but its land governance is in need of major reform Antoine* bought a plot of land in Kimbanseke, on the outskirts of Kinshasa, nearly 12 years ago....

Living on the periphery

Living on the periphery

The African middle class isn’t strong enough to drive the economic development required to cope with the influx of new urban dwellers Obed Ndhlovu laughed a hearty chuckle that was tinged with bemusement. A rat had...

Living on the frontline

Living on the frontline

Development efforts by local authorities in a bid to deal with urbanisation have increased incidences of forced evictions, sometimes with deadly consequences The bulldozers arrived late at night after residents of...