SITTING tenants of Kafue Gorge institutional houses yesterday became the latest beneficiaries of the Government’s housing empowerment scheme as 346 of them received offer letters to buy the housing units some for as low as K475,000 to be paid over a period of five months.
The handover of the letters followed President Rupiah Banda’s promise to the sitting tenants who had petitioned him during a ground breaking ceremony of Kafue Gorge Lower Hydro Power Station recently.
And several beneficiaries could not hold back tears as they received the offer letters while thanking and praising the Government.
Speaking during a colorful handover ceremony attended by hundreds of the beneficiaries, Energy and Water Development Permanent Secretary Teddy Kasonso said the Government had embarked on numerous projects that would provide support and stimulate socio-economic development in the country.
He said the offer to sell the houses to sitting tenants was not a political move but part of Government’s programme to empower citizens and uplift their living standards.
“This has been demonstrated through the new schools, new roads and new foreign direct investment in critical growth sectors of the economy which include electricity generation, agriculture, manufacturing and mining sectors,” he said.
Mr Kasonso said the final award of the letters was a demonstration of the commitment by President Banda’s Government to improve the living standards of Zambians.
He said the Government was committed to ensuring that citizens were empowered with homes so that they could become landlords.
“May I also take this opportunity to remind you that as new owners of these properties, it will now be your full responsibility to ensure that they are well maintained,” he said.
He urged the beneficiaries to guard their houses jealously and be alert to always protect the Zesco installations.
Speaking earlier, Zesco managing director Ernest Mupwaya said the total purchase price would be paid over a period of five months and the objective of the scheme was to make housing affordable for the benefit of the community of Namalundu.
Mr Mupwaya said an initial deposit of 10 per cent for the purchase value would be paid as confirmation of acceptance of the offer of sale and title of properties would be processed upon full completion of the payments.
He said Zesco was certain that the home ownership would safeguard the future of the families and add greater security to their children.
Meanwhile, several beneficiaries expressed happiness at the opportunity to own houses, with Marvis Nyambe, John Botha, Doreen Banda and Sara Kumwenda saying they used to pay K30,000 as monthly rentals for the houses but that they were now happy to be landlords.
They thanked President Banda for the gesture and pledged that they would ensure that they voted for him so that he could continue empowering Zambians.
[Times of Zambia]
It doesnt matter please “NI DON’T KUBEBA” take those houses, they are yours , u are entitled but come 20/09/2011 Ni pabwato fye
African way of doing pilitics..we all know what these mmd fookers are upto but ni DONTCHI KUBEBA fwe
These people have no shame! In as much as it is a good thing, there are those of us who know what the Negroes in power are trying to achieve.
I for one have decide to dedicate the remainder of my life to expose ratchet& greedy scams like these. We will expose them for what they really are.
Houses Poken and pay for them Vote YENU ni pa BWATOO ifi fyonse ni DONT KUBEBA RE LOADED
Plse MMD cadres think twice the reason why u re supporting Rubbish Bin (RB), this man is not good for our country. Dont you realise selling houses at such cheap price is putting the council at pressure? the council will have no assets & money. Plse dont just support because it the rulling party even were it wrong, we will swallow the bitter pill in future by that time RB will be enjoying corrupt money while will be suffering.
Vote wisely on PF
BUY PEOPLE WE ARE BEHIND U, BUT UKUBEBA NI DONCI..VOTE PF
LT please improve your reporting. What is the connection between the flood gate picture and the sale of housing units at Kafue gorge namalundu area. I have pictures of some houses in that area and you should have asked me for two and I would have given you. To be honest this is shameful and embarassing reporting. Its not acceptable by any standard. You were better off not putting a picture at all.
Where can you buy a House at K475,000.00. Ba MMD, we are not all blind and deaf. Watch out.
We seriously need to change this Government.
The timing and motive behind the sales of these institutional housing units stinks and you don’t have to be a genious to know why. This so called empowerment scheme is all about one very powerful and manipulative man thirsty to remain in office by any means. Shame!
Something is seriously wrong with this country!!!
Rb chweeelaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa…2011
So if you are handing out Institutional houses like scones, how is the institution going to accommodate the next wave of employees. Have you built replacement?…in a Motel? Backward mentality no progression!!
Those houses were built in the colonial days and are supposed to be free. MMD should have demolished thema nd then build new ones and then sell them at K475,000.00 to sitting tenants.That when they can win votes otherwise, Donchi Kubeba
Its just a name of the house…the fact is they are in a bad state.
#14, Pedro, Okay, where can you buy a piece of land for K500,000 (US$100) if your argument is that the houses are in bad shape? Be honest. Where?
Sata will not win this year’s election. VIVA HH & Real change team. ViVA RB & MMD… VIVA anybody but Sata.
An old man who does not think about sustainability. Eat everything but GOD is seeing every thing you are doing to blindfold the poor people of this Great Nation.
OOOPs how can the gov sale houses at $98 U.S.D.
Shame
\:d/:)>-**== Cry for the beloved country
Thanks for the Houses, Outgoing President RB , AND THE MMD. But don’t Kebeba
MMD KUYA BEBELA
I am fed up with the timid nature of Zambians. Seriously, such actions are simply unacceptable; it is called corruption (much as the benefit a few people) and it is being perpetuated by the president while the timid Zambians sit back and watch. The plunder by MMD government of national assets seems to know no bounds. Where will future teachers live if houses are sold to sitting tenants? Where will future employees of the gorge live if all local accomodation has been sold off under the feet of the owners? Has ZESCO got a Board of Directors? When did they resolve to sell the houses? There should be a law stopping a sitting president from making such decisions at least one year from date of elections.
Imwe pa PF, we got the house and we dont need anyone to tell us who to vote for, we are grown up..ok!
A house to cost less than $100. That is a joke. Blacks are indeedniggaz. Viva rb
Boma ni Boma.chwe chwe chwe chwe
RB should think for his grandchildren if he is truely a zedian,look at chiluba children,they are not doing very fine despite FTJ wealthy he had,dont put the curse on your kids or gradkid BUT break the chain.the law of indemnity cannot be avoided if cousciencely know what u are doing is WRONG.the biggest problem is THE MENTALITY of zedians ,iam sorry its not ok,many pipo need to pass pa chainama or see a counselor b4 assuming leadership roles ,otherwise it will take us 100 years b4 we find selfless leaders ,who can put the country interest first and leave a good ligacy.
i would rather vote for a pig than sata.
So, who is the pig that you are voting for instead? Nafuti Nafuti, your statement…?
I think the big man has run out of plans.where are his advisers.let’s think twice over this man
Are these people serious?! Plots of land in the Kafue area, with its great climate, prime agriculture opportunities and excellent scenery would hardly EVER go for £475,000 in Western economies let alone K475,000! Most Zambians are seriously under selling themselves. People complain when foreign powers take advantage of Zambian land, yet when your own government does it, it’s O.K?! Zambia-Heart of Africa, literally-look at any Atlas! My country has so much potential, but it’s being frittered away by hapless governments. To the people of Kafue, refuse this offer, you deserve more.
Just get the houses, ni DONCHI KUBEBA, come 20thSept, vote Mwaaamukolooooo! Pa Bwato!!
You will STILL BE OWNERS OF THE HOUSES AFTER 20TH!! IT is actually PF’s gift , rather than MMD, who are UNDER IMMENSE PRESSURE BEGGING FOR YOUR VOTE!!!!
Breaking News!!! The sitting tenant in Plot 1 has put in an offer to buy the property, arguing that he is a sitting tenant, & that it has been the norm under MMD for a long time to offer sitting tenants their houses!!!!!!!