Matambo urges councils to prioritise land for the poor as 22 homes handed over in Kalulushi

Copperbelt Province Minister, Elisha Matambo, has called on local authorities to make planned land allocation for the poor a top priority, warning that housing development cannot be sustained without deliberate pro-poor policies. Speaking in Kalulushi on Monday during the handover of 22 newly constructed low-cost houses under the Stanbic Bank Buy a Brick campaign, Matambo urged councils, banks, businesses and civil society organisations to strengthen partnerships aimed at addressing Zambia’s housing deficit. The Buy a Brick initiative—implemented in collaboration with the People’s Process on Housing and Poverty in Zambia (PPHPZ) and the Zambia Homeless and Poor People’s Federation (ZHPPF)—has so far invested over K5.5 million and delivered 89 housing units across the country.

Matambo said the project represents the government’s commitment, under President Hakainde Hichilema, to ensuring that every citizen has access to safe and dignified housing. “Today we do not just celebrate this handover, but the people—the mothers and fathers who have long prayed for decent shelter for their children, and the children who will now sleep without fear of leaking roofs, floods or collapsing walls,” he said. He described housing as the “bedrock of a healthy society,” noting that without it, families remain trapped in poverty and children’s education is disrupted.

The minister added that the housing scheme follows a revolving fund model in which beneficiaries repay affordable loans that are reinvested to build more homes. “Legislation and financing alone are not enough. Planned land allocation for the poor must become a priority, not an afterthought,” Matambo said, urging councils to take decisive action.

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Stanbic Bank Zambia Chief Executive, Mwindwa Siakalima, said the project aligned with the bank’s commitment to inclusive and responsible growth. “We believe that growth only matters when it reaches households and communities. Buy a Brick is about working alongside people, not ahead of them, to support dignity, stability and opportunity,” he said.

PPHPZ Country Coordinator, Nelson Ncube, said the 22 homes mark new beginnings for the beneficiary families, adding that the organisation has already facilitated the construction of more than 3,000 houses nationwide with support from partners such as Stanbic. The Zambia Homeless and Poor People’s Federation, representing more than 50,000 members, emphasised that sustainable housing solutions work best when communities participate from the start. “Housing solutions work best when communities are involved from the beginning,” said National Facilitator Alice Phiri, adding that the revolving fund model allows each home to help unlock the next, strengthening communities over time.

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