Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development acting Permanent Secretary Doreen Matambo says the country needs to address the housing deficit currently standing at  1.5 million housing units.

Ms Matambo says most of the compounds have poor housing conditions coupled with no proper water reticulation systems and sanitation facilities.

Speaking when she inspected 180 housing units that were recently handed over by Habitat for Humanity Zambia to beneficiaries in Kabwe’s Makululu compound, Ms Matambo underscored that decent housing is a human right.

‘ Partners such as the Habitat for Humanity Zambia who are supplementing the government’s efforts to mitigate the housing deficit must be commended, “ she said.

She  further disclosed that the government was also constructing 40 houses and four housing units for the elderly in Central Province.

The Permanent Secretary called on other cooperating partners to emulate the generosity by Habitat for Humanity Zambia and join the efforts aimed at addressing poor housing conditions.

Meanwhile, Habitat for Humanity Zambia Business Development and Partnerships Manager Fred Nkowe said the humanitarian organisation has constructed over 4000 houses countrywide.

Mr Nkowe said the humanitarian organisation has so far handed over 180 houses to beneficiaries in the sprawling compound of Makululu in Kabwe District of Central Province.

He said the project which commenced in 2018 is still ongoing and more houses would be constructed as a way of empowering vulnerable members of society with accommodation.

“We call the 181 houses here in Makululu the Greenfield Land, we are happy that our beneficiaries now have their occupancy licenses for the houses,” he said

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Meanwhile, one of the beneficiaries, Lousia Chilufya has said owning a house and being a landlord is like a dream.

Ms Chilufya lamented that she could only compare her previous house to a toilet and has thanked Habitat for Humanity and the government for giving her a decent place she can now call home