GOVERNMENT says it is in the process of engaging various stakeholders and the international community to build one million houses along the line of rail and some rural parts of the country.
Minister of Local Government and Housing, Benny Tetamashimba, disclosed that Government has so far received offers from China, India and United Sates of America (USA) to build approximately one million houses across the country.
Mr Tetamashimba said in an interview that half of the houses would be sold on cash basis upon completion of construction while one quarter would be offered to Zambians for long-term payment while the other quarter would be rented out by the investor for a period of time before handing over the infrastructure to local authorities.
“We are receiving offers from China, India and USA to build houses. 55 per cent of these will be sold out-rightly while 25 per cent will be sold to people who can pay in 15 to 20 years while the investor will put the other 25 per cent on rent and hand them over to councils after some years. We believe that’s the way we can move out of the accommodation problem,” Mr Tetamashimba said.
He said Government will in the next three months engage residents in Lusaka’s illegal settlements such as Kuku townships in an effort to demolish them to pave way for more modern housing structures.
Mr Tetamashimba said a Chinese investor is willing to erect pre-fabricated houses with a life span of over 60 years. He said that this will alleviate the shortage of accommodation in Lusaka.
He said the investor is able to build hundreds of houses in a short time as five pre-fabricated housing can be erected each day.
H, however, said Government is yet to make concrete agreements with investors to meet the shortage of about one million houses across the country.
He said Solwezi is among towns with a huge accommodation demand triggered by a rapidly growing mining industry.
Meanwhile, Mr Tetamashimba has warned illegal estate agents against exploiting people seeking accommodation.
He has urged the illegal estate agents to register their companies.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
That is great news. But what has NAPSA, Pensions office, ZSIC been doing since MMD took office? One would have thought they are the ones we could have seen take up such initiatives in conjunction with councils.
Yaba why did Chiluba sell houses belonging to councils when he knew very well it was their source of income. Ubu kopo
this is good news.this is what we want to hear from you teta and not the c…p you say everytime.
Well it is a good idea BUT, DO WE HAVE TO DEPEND ON FOREIGN INVESTORS TO CONSTRUCT HOUSES??? How easily will these foreign Investors acquire Land??
Helping Zambians by making acquisition of Land easier and cheaper would empower Zambians with home ownership. Planning departments, Housing directorates in Councils and Ministry of Lands all need to corroborate and ensure Land is easily made available and that building plans are quickly approved and standards strictly enforced.
Otherwise, good housing improves lives and generates wealth for all involved in the process, hence the interest by foreign investors.
Iwe, ka Teta, why do you want ba choncholi to build prefabricated houses ? What happens then after 6o years ? Such reasoning is not wanted in this era. Do you want them to be of lowere quality than the old Chilenje houses that are still standing. Bwatako fimbi
typical of teta you want to bring investers why not strengthen capacity National housing authority and znbs…..so the money circulates within. just hope that wont give priority to first clan like ZNHA did. its a very good idea but improve ZNHA first
I hope these so called investors whether local or foreign will not be sold our people’s land on which they will build these homes. Let the be leased the land.
Can we have more details on the land policy in this development plan bwana minister?
Competition is good for the country.Parallel to the services of National Housing, and other institutional funds facilitating housing projects in the country. Zambia needs interested private investors. Be they local or foreign we e’m with long term investment plans to develop this sector.In the US we see the Department of Housing putting up houses for the low income citizens and refuges but very open to investors venturing in the real estate market irrespective of capacity or national origin.We have seen leaders like Mobutu, Jews, Arabs, Latinos, Chinese,Africans and all shades of real estate moguls with big money putting up large scale properties in the USA. Zambia cannot afford to embrace isolationism.Keep Creating space for all and ignore these armchair critiquing protectionists.
“Erect pre-fabricated houses with a life span of over 60 years”?This is another lie from this boy Teta, how does he arrange for cheap and lifeless houses of such a short life span?that is crazy, in short Teta meant to say that the first 25% will be put on rent, then another 25% will be sold later on a long term bases then lastly but not least the other quarters will be sold on a cash deal meaning that first come first serve basis and then the so called investor will leave Zed and these house quarters will fall and kill people.
I will comment after the houses have been built – and I hope they dont use asbestos roofs this time.
This Senior Fimofimo, is just a pain in the neck, please give other people chance to say something.
along the line of rail. mmmmmmh. Dual politicians. How can a former villager bring about development mwebantu. u are even saying good news. its the chinese who will build there homes in zambia. some times i feel like vomiting when i read some of these articles. chilankalipa sana why we can not vote for modern people into power.
houses with a lyf span of 50,if u ask me this is not great news
sory meant 60 years
1 million houses !!! this just sounds like an eyesore of brutal architecture waiting to happen. Houses are meant to last at least 100 years and should appear post modern so as to be relevant in the future. Building houses that last for 50 years just sounds like they will erect dodgy structures that are not up to standard in a bid to make money and move on
teta is jus makin noise
Us Zambians we dont want substandard houses which will be just moulded like that without any beauty nor any guarantee of good longevity. Who does not the chinise, they will come there to build useless houses as they will be moved by profit motives. So bwana Teta let your govnment find “infesters” who will build good, beautiful and long lasting houses for Zambians.
Tetamashimba, who do you think you are fooling? We know that your rubbish talk about building of one million houses is just a cheap MMD 2011 election campaign strategy. Why do you find it difficult to shut up sometimes? Why have you not commented on the scandal of the pregnant cow your boss sent to Tanzania and the salary his wife is pocketing under false pretences?
First is it China, Indian and USA men and later it becomes investor as in “We are receiving offers from China, India and USA to build houses. 55 per cent of these will be sold out-rightly while 25 per cent will be sold to people who can pay in 15 to 20 years while the investor will put the other 25 per cent on rent and hand them over to councils after some years. We believe that’s the way we can move out of the accommodation problem“. Funny enough some years may mean the councils’ 99 years.
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Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan?
Zambia may be on sale/sell by our MMD GRZ mis-rule for 99 years is not a simple time to allow foreigners to occupy our land and worse still infrasturcture.
Following “Mr Tetamashimba said a Chinese investor is willing to erect pre-fabricated houses with a life span of over 60 years” and “He said the investor is able to build hundreds of houses in a short time as five pre-fabricated housing can be erected each day“, the proposed Chinese structures appear to be sub-standard for Zambian/African contitions.
Be blest.
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Jeremiah 12:5 If thou hast run with the footmen, and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with with horses? and [if] in the land of peace, [wherein] thou trustedst, [they wearied thee], then how wilt thou do in the swelling of…
We need cheap houses. 80% of Zambians live in abject poverty can’t afford K100,000 million house. Only politicians and thieving civil servants can afford them. There are over thousands finished houses on the markent in Zambia right now because they are too expensive. I live and work abroad even I can’t afford them. I would rather build my own house. It’s cheaper to build your own house than buying already finished houses in Zambia unfortunately the government claims that there’s no land in LSK.
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zambia doesnt need investors to build houses, its the duty of any governingpower to do that for its people; In some developed countries houses are a great income earner for the state ; you shouldnt continue crying for houses which were sold years ago that is being lazy talk about what next.
If a minister cant do basic arithmetic then we have a serious problem – read this excerpt – ‘We are receiving offers from China, India and USA to build houses. 55 per cent of these will be sold out-rightly while 25 per cent will be sold to people who can pay in 15 to 20 years while the investor will put the other 25 per cent on rent and hand them over to councils after some years. We believe that’s the way we can move out of the accommodation problem,” Mr Tetamashimba said.
So Teta doesn’t know that 55 + 25 + 25 = 105. What percentage is he talking about? Lishamo sana kwena!!
Iwe ka Teta get serious, 5 Houses per day.?!! Bushe fitele mulepanga guys ? This is insane !!!
Chiluba has no concept of development. He is a reknowned thief from childhood but he is such a sweet talker that very few people really understand his criminal mind. Amwaiche Chiluba wabufi shatala monapo!!!!
#23, nshilimubemba: Are you sure about your statement?! It is govt’s job to build houses for its people?!! We need to stop this “DADY” mentality of looking at govt. Sure, govt has a role to play in providing housing and shelter for its citizens. But a better way of accomplishing that is by creating conducive environment in which private investment and innovation can flourish.
I don’t know how it is done where you are in Britain, but here in the US, housing development and construction is mainly done by private developers and not govt. Govt tried this already and fail miserably at it. Remember the housing projects of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, and what came of them? There are certain things govt is good at, building good housing is not one of them. WHAT TETA SAID IS SENSIBLE, period!
Pipo, lets stop commenting on what we don’t understand. stop scandalising others if you don’t know anything. Yes, you can build a prefab to last 70 years, yes you can build even more than 5 of them in a day. yes the Chinese, American and Indians can do this without the asbestos chemicals. Yes, these houses can be built to beautie of your eyes. i am not a supporter of Mr. Teta but this is possible and very cheap. imagine a 2 bedroomed house being sold for 1000 dollars, how many zambian would afford? many and the houses will be much better than those in chibolia and other townships. you go in any tall, buildings in the west, all the interio is prefab to say the least. with the technology that these countries have, yes, these materials can be used for outer walls. you can challenge me on…
Also stop this government stuff. in all countries i have been to, private developer, most being foreign do the building of houses. its a big business for god skae and that is how you improve the quality of housing. do you still want the mining houses of the 40s? all i would say, lets hope we have some brains that will look at the prefab technology they are bringing in, test the chemicals used and certify them. with that i have no objection and hoping the GRZ is not doing a lip service.
for God sake, sorry guys
These investors won’t come here and build $10,000 houese for people living in chibolia or kanyama. They will come here to make $millions in profit. I
ONE MILLION HOUSES FOR A POPULATION OF 10 MILLION ! I CANT BELIEVE THAT EVEN ENLIGHTENED BLOGGERS ON THIS SITE ARE ALLOWING THEMSELVES TO BE DUPED
JUST TO ADD ON -HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN FORMAL EMPLOYMENT IN ZAMBIA? MAYBE 350 THOUSAND AND ARE THEY THE TARGET MARKET SINCE THEY HAVE A REGULAR SALARY?EVEN WHEN YOU INCLUDE THE INFORMAL SECTOR 1 MILLION HOUSES FOR A POPULATION OF 10 MILLION JUST DOES NOT ADD UP.
AND BY THE WAY ZAMBIA IS NOT CONSIDRED A PRIME HOUSING MARKET LIKE CAPETOWN- FOR INTERNATIONAL REAL ESTATE INVESTORS
#34, seeker…: And how did Capetown become a prime housing market? By sitting back waiting for the heavenly savior to come and do his magic? Look, people in these place you are praising took it upon themselves to change their lot. You do this by utilizing every means possible to move forward. One million houses today, two million the next time, and b4 you know it the face of Zambia is changed. If not now, what is your best suggestion when developmental projects of this magnitude should start? By the way, constructing these houses will open up another industry that has the potential to employ a lot of people—-it is called the construction industry. Imagine how many local suppliers of building material would benefit from this. NEGATIVITY & PERSIMISM IS NOT NECESSARY HERE, sorry!!!!
Shame to Teta..What is his ministry doing when foreigners are asked to built houses for zambian?? Those investors are milking Zambia to enrich their home countries.
… And when chinese will be asked to build those house they will erect their traditional roofs. Whereby Zambian culture of house construction will fade out.. Watch against deploring investors on things that Zambians can do themselves.
Let anyone who wants to build, build. Govt just ensure institution that enforces standards is equal to the task. Foreigners cannot uproot houses when they decide to leave. We’re safe.