Zambia bars councils from allocating unplanned plots as Hichilema pushes serviced housing

President Hakainde Hichilema has directed Zambia's councils to stop allocating unplanned plots, saying the practice keeps producing shanty compounds and unplanned settlements. Speaking at State House while swearing in Lukulu South member of parliament Christopher Kalila as housing minister, he said all 116 local authorities countrywide must ensure that the land they designate for housing is properly planned.

Hichilema said plots released by local authorities should come with basic infrastructure such as properly designed roads, as well as standards for housing. He also ordered the construction of roads, drainage, water and sanitation in existing housing areas that lack them.

"We cannot continue allowing councils to allocate plots which are unplanned, essentially continuing building up shanty compounds, unplanned settlements. No," he said. The president told the newly created Ministry of Housing to deliver affordable houses or a functional mortgage system, arguing that public servants currently spend too much time supervising their own building sites. "The mortgage system must work. Public sector officers spend a lot of time at their construction sites, which they never account for," he said.

He questioned why some rural houses built for teachers, nurses and agricultural officers were bigger than necessary, suggesting up to two smaller but decent units instead, including designs for couples with children or single occupants. Once standards are set, he said, government can monitor and control the cost of a house because it will know how many blocks go into it.

Hichilema also swore in nominated MP Charles Milupi, previously infrastructure, housing and urban development minister, as transport and logistics minister. He said strategic projects including the Lobito Corridor, the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority and Zambia Railways should translate into increased trade, lower transport costs and job creation.