Review of national housing policy begins

Local Government Minister John Phiri has disclosed that government has started reviewing the 1996 national housing policy in a bid to make it relevant to the prevailing accommodation challenges in the country.

Speaking during a media briefing this morning, Dr Phiri says President Edgar Lungu has to this effect instructed his ministry to deliver a national housing policy that will address challenges of housing in the country.

Dr Phiri says as a signatory to the United Nations and regional treaties protecting human rights and housing provision, government recognizes the huge challenges it is facing to provide housing for the people.

He explains that it is in this regard that govern is eager to have a functional policy that will guide sustainable housing development in Zambia.

The Local Government Minister states that government is also aware of the unfavorable factors that hinder successful housing development such as inadequate housing finance, high interest rates, inadequate access to land mortgages and unaffordable building materials.

And Dr Phiri has directed all local authorities in the country to streamline the land allocation system and enforce laid down procedures of allocating land and plots.

He has further directed the local authorities to implement the policy direction of allocating 30percent of land plots to women and vulnerable groups to ensure that the poor access land and participate in housing developments.