PF MP Salutes Banda

18 April 2011

Patriotic Front (PF) Kalulushi Member of Parliament Anson Simama has praised President Rupiah Banda for ordering the write-off of all outstanding balances for 3,338 former parastatal houses that were sold to sitting tenants.

Mr Simama said people in his constituency and the country as a whole would re-elect President Banda in this year’s elections because he meant well for their welfare.

The parliamentarian said the affected tenants in Kalulushi had suffered financial challenges after losing jobs and, therefore, the decision by the president would offer them a lot of relief.

“I am happy with the move President Banda has taken. In fact it is long overdue and I have no doubt that Zambians will support him during this year’s elections because his Government has good policies.

“Most people were even evicted on account of failing to settle their house purchase debts but with President Banda’s move, they shall claim back their houses and lead normal lives,” Mr Simama said.

Women for Change executive director, Emily Sikazwe welcomed the decision and appealed to the Government to come up with a rural community fund to enable people in rural areas to build decent housing units.

“Good shelter, clean water, security, health and education are basic rights of every citizen and as Women for Change, we welcome the presidential directive to empower Zambians with shelter,” Ms Sikazwe said.

She said every Zambian needed decent shelter and the Government, through the Ministry of Local Government and Housing, should come with a support fund that would give out loans to people in rural areas so that they could build decent houses.

Former president Frederick Chiluba praised President Banda for the decision he had made, saying the move had extended the housing empowerment scheme he initiated in 1994.

Dr Chiluba, who spoke through his Press aide Emmanuel Mwamba, said the move by President Banda would excite many Zambians.

“The move is a direct benefit to Zambians and in particular the sitting tenants. I am happy that President Banda also resolved outstanding issues regarding the earlier sale of houses on the Copperbelt,” he said.

The former president also praised Mr Banda for his directive to parastatal bodies to sell their housing units to sitting tenants so that more Zambians could benefit throughout the country.

Meanwhile, a sitting tenant at the Zambia State Insurance Corporation (ZSIC) Nawaitwika flats in Ndola has urged President Banda to help speed up the process of offering the units to the sitting tenants.

Mark Nyasulu told the Times in Ndola yesterday that Mr Banda’s move to write off outstanding balances on more than 3,000 housing units on the Copperbelt and offer them to sitting tenants was commendable.

He said the president should extend the move to sitting tenants at Nawaitwika flats, some of whom had been sitting tenants for more than 15 years.

Mr Nyasulu said the tenants at the ZSIC Nawaitwika flats had been by-passed when sitting tenants at the Itawa flats were offered the units last year.

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