The ‘Small House’ Phenomenon in Zimbabwe’s Urban Space: Study in Glen Norah-Harare.

Abstract

The ensuing study is an assessment of factors influencing the establishment of the common new marital arrangement and examining the power dynamics within this form of marriage and the effects it has on the family form and structure in Zimbabwe’s urban space. The findings made herein show that inasmuch as the general beliefs constrains small housing, residents of Glen Norah are knowledgeable actors who act in contrast to beliefs. Everywhere in Zimbabwe’s urban areas, ‘Small House’ phenomenon is a topical issue and now it seems as it is difficult to envisage an urban set up without this phenomenon. ‘Small house’ is a marital practice which allows the extension of the monogamous marriage institution into a quasi-polygamous system, in a nostalgic cultural way, creating a new form of marriage between two ideologies, that of modernity, and cultural adherence. Structuration thesis was utilised as a theoretical framework. To meet the study objectives, qualitative methodology instrumented by semi-structured interviews and key informant interviews were adopted. Purposive and convenience sampling were utilised as sampling techniques. Findings show that most adults in Glen Norah are involved in the modified-clandestine polygyny commonly known as small house institution. Socioeconomic and psychological factors are attributed to the phenomenon as individuals have various motives in small housing. The small house institution has similar functions, roles and structure as those found in established monogamous families. The small house union is an emergent form of a family which is ‘fluid and a floating structured structure’ which also resulted from the interplay between ‘conflicting structures’ and ‘convenient agency’. Small House practice in Glen Norah has become a social common denominator as men and women across social strata are practising this phenomenon.