By KETRA KALUNGA
ABOUT 279 vulnerable households in Makululu compound have been issued with occupancy licences by the Kabwe Municipal Council.
Habitat For Human Zambia assisted the residents acquire the licences. Bwacha Member of Parliament Sydney Mushanga said the licences given to the vulnerable families in the biggest informal settlement in Kabwe was cardinal to protect their property rights.
He was speaking in Kabwe at the weekend during the launch of the Solid Ground Security of Tenure Project For Vulnerable Households in Makululu compound. Mr Mushanga, who is Central Province Minister, said lack of clear property rights undermine inclusive growth. It also makes the urban poor more vulnerable to land grabbing, unlawful evictions, and corrupt property acquisition.
Mr Mushanga added that statistics showed that close to 70 percent of the urban population in the country reside in areas such as Makululu and the greatest challenge faced at the household level was the security of tenure. “Zambia is the fastest developing lower middle-income country, and this has offset a phenomenal rate of urbanisation where most of our citizens have been migrating to the towns and cities to harness economic opportunities,this has unfortunately resulted in a proliferation of settlements such as Mukululu,” he said. And Kabwe Town Clerk Joel Shawa said security land and property rights for the residents was a key precondition for the local authority to contribute to the fulfillment of the global sustainable development goals (SDGs), particularly, the SGD number 11 and Zambia’s Vision 2030. Habitat for Humanity Zambia and Government partnership which commenced in 2017 has seen the construction of 122 decent houses for the vulnerable, differently-abled and orphans. Five water kiosks, eight hand pumps boreholes, and three solar-powered boreholes have been set up to provide clean water to the residents of Makululu compound. Habitat For Humanity Zambia has through the council partnered with Medeem which is spearheading the Occupancy License programme in Kabwe.
