By ANDREW MULENGA –
THE National Housing Authority (NHA) is targeting to build 10, 500 houses across the country under the rent-to-own housing scheme starting this year.
This is under the project in the authority plans to build 50, 000 housing units countrywide in the next few years.
NHA board chairperson Nalukui Milapo says the 10, 500 houses will be constructed in the first
phase of the scheme and that identification of the would-be tenants/buyers had already started.
Dr Milapo said the
scheme would mostly consist of two and three-bedroomed houses that the authority would sell at prices ranging between K150, 000 to K300, 000.
NHA would build 100 houses in Chisamba, Chibombo, Luano, Lufwanyama, Luanshya, Masaiti, Mpongwe, Lundazi, Kawambwa, Rufunsa and Nakonde while 300 housing units would be constructed in Kabwe, Ndola, Chipata, Mansa, and Chinsali.
Luangwa would have 150, Chirundu 250 and Kitwe 200 housing units.
She said NHA was determined to provide affordable accommodation to civil servants and the rest of the work-force.
“The authority has already acquired land from local authorities in various districts for the housing scheme,” Dr Milapo said.
She added that the 40, 000 recruited civil servants in the health and education sectors had opened up business opportunities in the housing department.
Dr Milapo further explained that the rent-to-own housing scheme would address the accommodation challenges faced by the country’s work-force, especially the civil servants.
The authority would allow clients to rent the houses while topping up an extra agreed upon amount dedicated towards the purchase of the house.
Dr Milapo said the initiative was one way of spreading standard infrastructure development across the country which was in line with President Hakainde Hichilema’s vision.
She further said the authority would engage the ministries of Education and Health as well as other relevant stakeholders for memoranda of understanding that would allow employees on the scheme to maintain their work areas until they fully paid up for the houses.
Dr Milapo encouraged all civil servants in areas where the scheme would be undertaken to take interest and start the registration process with the NHA.