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The Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, working with the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, says it has handed over 50 housing units to poor and vulnerable households in Namwala, Sinazongwe, Pemba and Gwembe districts under the Social Housing Project.
Phase one of the project reportedly aims to deliver 50 decent and affordable housing units to Social Cash Transfer beneficiaries in each province nationwide.
Construction of the units began on November 14, 2022 and was completed on 30 September 2024 at a total cost of K19,562,640.78.
Speaking during the handover ceremony in Namwala on Friday, Community Development and Social Services Permanent Secretary Angela Kawandami— in a speech read on her behalf by Director of Social Welfare, Morris Moono— reaffirmed government’s dedication to reducing poverty and improving the welfare of citizens.
Kawandami said the delivery of the 50 houses demonstrated government’s life-cycle approach to social protection, which seeks to support citizens from birth to old age and ensure access to adequate, safe and affordable housing in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11.1.
“We remain committed to ensuring that this life-cycle approach is fully actualized in every aspect of our work, which calls for ensuring access to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services for all by 2030,” she said.
She added that the first phase of the project, which started in the Southern and Eastern provinces, was now being extended to the North-Western, Central and Western provinces.
The Permanent Secretary hailed the strong collaboration between ministries, noting that such partnerships were crucial to enhancing the implementation of social protection programmes.
“The Ministry will continue to collaborate with various stakeholders to enhance synergies and linkages in the implementation of social protection programmes beyond the Social Cash Transfer, to ensure that people live dignified and empowered lives,” she said.
Speaking at the same event, Ministry of Infrastructure and Urban Development Permanent Secretary, Professor Albert Malama, said the handover highlighted government’s commitment to delivering inclusive, people-centred infrastructure that improves living standards and promotes social stability.
He noted that the units handed over in Southern Province formed part of a national programme aimed at ensuring no community was left behind in accessing decent housing.
“Just last week, we were in Eastern Province where 50 housing units were handed over to families in Vubwi, Sinda, Chadiza and Mambwe districts,” he said.
Malama added that government had prioritised housing development under the Eighth National Development Plan to help address the national housing deficit, estimated at 1.5 million units.
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