Urban data (un)availability and (in)accessibility in African secondary towns: insights from a ‘left behind’ Zimbabwean town

Abstract Secondary cities and towns across the Global South face complex challenges that create substantial barriers to their development. Previous research has shown that these challenges include inadequate financing, weak governance structures, and a lack of resources. This research paper acknowledges this scenario and seeks to explore beyond these well-documented challenges, examining the scarcity of urban data and information in these cities. It thoroughly analyses the intricacies surrounding the (un)availability and (in)accessibility of research data in Norton, a secondary town in Zimbabwe. The study draws heavily on the researchers’ firsthand experiences conducting research in the town, documenting the availability and accessibility of data and information, as well as the gaps encountered. The researchers conceptualise data as an essential resource for urban governance and development, arguing that its unavailability and/or inaccessibility at the city or municipality level is counterproductive and significantly hinders development. Conceptually, the paper depicts small and secondary towns through the concept of “left-behind places”, which are characterised not only by a lack of financial resources and adequate infrastructure but also by deficiencies in urban data availability and accessibility. Based on the researcher’s experience, this data scarcity presents serious challenges that deter researchers from conducting studies in such towns, substantially impacting planning, administration, governance, and development. This study highlights the unique challenges of data scarcity faced by secondary cities and suggests that addressing this issue is crucial to mitigating the effects of being left behind.