The Zambia Council for Social Development has called on the government to revisit the National Housing Authority Act under Article 19 and realign its vision and implement rapid interventions to combat housing poverty in the country.
The call for action comes amid growing concerns about access to adequate housing for many Zambians.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, The Zambia Council for Social Development Executive Director, Leah Mitaba emphasized the need for swift and effective measures to address this pressing issue, urging the government to prioritize housing development and improve living conditions for all citizens.
According to the National Housing Policy of 20202024 as well as in accordance with the Public Health Act Considering all necessary demographic factors, current housing stock, housing production rate, and quality characteristics, Zambia has a housing deficit in the region of 1,500,000 units of which is expected to rise to about 3,300,000 housing units by 2030.
This housing challenge is most pronounced among low income groups which constitute nearly 80% of the population. Zambia Council for Social Development Executive Director Leah Mitaba said, there is need for Government to swiftly intervene and resolve the housing deficiency being faced by the county.
“When we take a look at our statistics as a country in terms of housing and access to housing by the majority of our people we find that we have a serious housing deficit and we see that the vulnerable people according to statistics in the 2020-2023 National Housing Policy in the country indicate that vulnerable talk of the elderly, children, asylum seekers, people living with disabilities, people that are homeless, Women and some internally displaced persons are currently facing housing poverty and are in need of decent and affordable housing which sadly as a country are not able to offer them,” She said.
She added that according to the 2010 National Population and Housing Census, it showed that Zambia produces about 73,000 housing units per year of which only 40% meets minimum requirements for health and sanitation.
“When we look at these statistics as an organization we are concerned because when you look at these statistics there are from the 2010 census statistics meaning that currently, we can even find that these numbers concerning housing units have gone up,” She said.
She added that currently there is an estimated number of about over 65% of the housing supply who are living in unsuitable human habitation.
“We are not seeing any effort by the Government to ensure that the slums or the Peri-urban areas are actually done aware with and people are offered alternative sources of housing,” She alluded.
She further added that Zambia is vast of and there is still a lot more land to develop. She further called on the Government to relook at the national housing authority and be able to reconnect with its objective regardless of having competing priorities as a country there is still a need to look at the glaring housing deficit.
