Lusaka\u27s Colonial Legacy: Town Planning, Public Health, and the Making of a Segregated City, 1913–1963. A Study of Power, Inequality, and Urban Development

Abstract

This paper explores the intersection of town planning and public health policy in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia), during the colonial period (1913–1963), which was a time of significant urban growth and transformation. British colonial authorities adapted Ebenezer Howard\u27s Garden City principles to design and manage Lusaka, but these measures perpetuated spatial control, segregation, and social engineering, thus exacerbating racial and socio-economic disparities. By analysing secondary and primary sources, including planning ordinances, zoning regulations, and public health policies, this study reveals how these measures shaped the city\u27s development and reinforced inequalities. Despite colonial intentions for a white settler-city, Lusaka evolved into an African majority urban centre, with 89% of the population comprising Africans by 1963. This research offers valuable insights for scholars, urban planners, and policymakers grappling with the legacies of colonialism and urban inequality, thus informing strategies to create more equitable and sustainable cities