Limitations of Co-operative Housing Development in Tanzania

Abstract

It has long been recognised that decent housing or what is sometimes refereed to shelter, along with food and clothing is one of the basic needs of man. However, the neglect of housing as a factor of human development coupled with the scarcity of resources has today aggravated the deficiency both in the quantity and quality of decent accommodation for the majority of the Tanzania population. And although there is a need of improving the shelter problem, not much is being done to this effect. The onus of house building lies in the hands not only of the individual owner builders but also the responsible government, It has also long been recognised that co-operatives and in this case, housing co-operatives are an important element in the improvement of housing and living conditions particularly for the low income families. The co-operative movement has had a long tradition and a strong position in Tanzania, at least until 1976 when they were officially dissolved. In the case of housing co-operative however, they are a recent addition, the first housing co-operative being registered in 1971, but up to now only a few of them have in constructing any houses. This then constitutes the essence of my paper. It is intended, in addition to analysing the associated problems, open up more fruitful discussions which may eventually help us altogether in arriving at a framework for action towards solving our national shelter requirements. Before analysing the problems related to the development of co-operative housing as a solution to our shelter improvement requirements, it is worthwhile looking first at the existing position we occupy in terms of housing needs/demands. This is so in order also to appreciate the role of housing co-operatives in terms of solving our shelter problems and hence the need for a brief review off the magnitude of the existing housing conditions particularly in relation to demographic changes