NHA SECURES US$6.5M FOR LUSAKA HOUSING COMPLEX

Elias Mpondela - NHA CEO

The National Housing Authority (NHA) says it is scouting for 100 hectares of land in all the 73 districts of the country to effect its national housing projects.

NHA Chief Executive Director, Elias Mpondela said the authority has so far secured land in Livingstone, Kitwe and Luanshya adding that all the councils have expressed interest to negotiate with them.

He said the authority will mobilize soft loans from quasi government institutions over a long term, and also partner with other institutions to finance the construction of the houses.

Mr. Mpondela has meanwhile said that NHA has secured a US$ 6.5 million loan from Shelter Afrique for the construction of a housing complex on the Great North Road in Lusaka.

He said the loan was secured in July this year and its agreement will be signed in the second week of August, 2010.

Mr. Mpondela said this at the just ended 84^th Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka.

He said 345 housing units in total will be constructed at the site of which 200 units will be semidetached while 145 will be stand alone houses.

He disclosed that preliminary works on the site have already commenced with the construction of roads and a police post already completed.

He said NHA has also embarked on an ambitious programme of urban renewal project to upgrade compounds in the country and make them habitable.

Mr. Mpondela said the programme will start with the upgrading of Misisi and Kuku compounds in Lusaka which will cost an estimated US$ 200 million.