By PASSY HAACHIZO and SYLVIA MWEETWA –

HOME Affairs Minister Davies Mwila has announced that Mukobeko Maximum Prison in Kabwe will receive 246 out of the 1,000 housing units allocated to the Zambia Correctional Services.
Speaking at the ground breaking ceremony for the construction of the 246 housing units in Kabwe yesterday, Mr Mwila said the Government had demonstrated its commitment to cushion the accommodation crisis among prison officers.
The 246 housing units are part of the 12,000 the Government was constructing for the security wings across the country.
The first phase under the 246 houses would see the building of 10 high cost units on site one, 42 low cost units on site two and 109 medium cost units on the third site, while 84 comprising both medium and low cost units would be built on site four.
Mr Mwila, however, noted that the 2010 census had projected Zambia’s housing deficit at 3,000,000 hence the need to scale up efforts aimed at addressing the problem.
“This problem cannot be overcome by my Government alone, it requires concerted efforts by all stakeholders who should forge partnerships with the Government with the view of providing decent but affordable houses,” he said.
Mr Mwila disclosed that 48 newly built houses for the Zambia Police Service had already been completed and handed over by President Edgar Lungu last month.
Zambia Correctional Service commissioner general Percy Chato said it was unfortunate that almost all correctional service camps were inadequate and in deplorable conditions.
Mr Chato noted that the commencement of the housing project was a fulfilment of the Government’s commitment to alleviate the shortage of staff accommodation.
AVIC International project manager He Deyu said his company would give the security services the best housing units within the stipulated timeframe.
Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja has said that construction of 241 houses for police officers in Kitwe will start next month.
Speaking in an interview  yesterday Mr  Kanganja  explained that  241 houses  were earmarked  for construction in Kitwe’s  Kawama  township and that  the Police Service was interested in ensuring  its  presences  was  felt.
He said construction of houses  was one way of motivating police  officers  and that he was happy with the  political will  from the Government in providing accommodation for officers.
He said  he would today  be at the  ground  breaking ceremony which  signified the readiness of the works.