Stanbic Moves Forward with Home for Chilanga Family

A couple and their seven grandchildren from Linda Compound, Chilanga, whose house collapsed, is to benefit from a brand new low-cost house that Stanbic Bank has started building in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Zambia.

This is the second house the bank is building since it signed a memorandum of understanding with Habitat for Humanity last year as a corporate sponsor in providing low-cost housing to vulnerable families in Zambia.

The agreement covers a period of five years and will see two vulnerable families benefit from decent shelter annually. In addition, the families will be facilitated with the acquisition of titles to land, in securing land tenure as well as social empowerment through training in HIV/AIDS prevention, Orphans and Vulnerable Children (OVC) care, inheritance rights (succession planning) and home maintenance.

In October 2016, Stanbic built the first house under this partnership for the family of Luckson and Agness Sakala and her 10 grandchildren, who had been living in a tent for more than six years prior to the construction of their new house.
This time, Morfia Chisaka and his wife Bertha, along with their seven grandchildren are set to be the new beneficiaries of a house, whose construction by volunteers, who are employees of Stanbic, commenced today.

Speaking at the ceremony marking the start of the construction, Stanbic Chief Executive Charles Mudiwa said decent housing made the biggest contribution to enhancing human dignity among the basic needs of the vulnerable people living in urban areas
.
“Without decent shelter, we are all devoid of one our most basic right and by extension, our dignity. It is our sincere hope that the house we are starting to build today will also change the lives of Mr and Mrs Chisaka and their family for good,” said Mr Mudiwa.

“Stanbic Bank Zambia is constantly seeking opportunities to better the lives of the Zambian people. As a bank we say Zambia is our home and we drive her growth. We believe that this partnership with Habitat for Humanity Zambia will drive Zambia’s growth by providing decent housing for those Zambian families out there who cannot afford to better their lives.”


Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development Ronald Chitotela, whose speech was read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Director of Human Resources, William Katongo, said his ministry welcomed efforts by private institutions to address the plight of housing that exists among the vulnerable in society.

He said the issue of housing was top on the agenda of government’s development initiatives and was included in the new National Urbanisation policy, and in the Seventh National Development Plan.
“I urge other organisations to emulate what Habitat for Humanity Zambia and Stanbic bank are doing to add quality to humanity,” he said.
 “As government, we are tirelessly looking at ways in which to address issues surrounding poverty housing. Poverty housing is a complex as it is not just lacking adequate housing. There are issues of secure land tenure and property rights,” he added.
Currently, Zambia is facing a 1.3 million housing deficit which is projected to reach over 3.3 million by 2030. Statistics show that the country produces a dismal amount of 73,000 housing units annually with only 40 percent meeting the minimum health and sanitation requirements in accordance with the Zambian Public Health Act, while, 75 percent of households do not have an improved toilet facility that is not shared with other households.
Households in urban areas have greater access to an improved source of drinking water than households in rural areas (90 percent versus 47 percent). The lack of or limited access to sanitation facilities combined with poor hygiene is linked to skin diseases, acute respiratory infections and diarrhea diseases
To reduce the housing deficit there is need to construct nearly 222,000 new housing units annually between 2016 and 2030 to alleviate this housing deficit. This implies 149,000 housing units have to be added to the current production levels of 73,000 units annually. Taking into account the 60 percent of the housing supply which is unsuitable for human habitation implies that the annual housing supply target should rise to 193,000 units.
The housing challenge is most pronounced among low income groups which constitute nearly 80 percent of the population



The Chisaka family and Stanbic Bank and Habitat for Humanity representatives celebrate their new home.



Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Director of Human Resources William Katongo laying a block at the Stanbic Bank-sponsored new home for the Chisaka family.



Stanbic Bank Chief Executive Charles Mudiwa lays a block for the  Chisaka family's new home, watched by Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Director of Human Resources William Katongo.

About Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited
Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited is part of the Standard Bank Group, Africa’s largest bank by assets.  The Standard Bank Group, with strong African roots and leader in emerging markets, has on-the-ground representation in 20 African countries
Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited is the largest bank in Zambia by balance sheet, offering a full range of banking and related financial services. The Bank is well capitalized and its capital position is above the regulatory minimum.
The Bank which has close to 60 years’ operating experience has a huge network of branches countrywide offering full spectrum of financial services from retail to corporate and investment banking
Our strategy is to be the leading financial services organisation in, for and across Zambia, delivering exceptional client experiences and superior value. We believe we can achieve this as Zambia is our home, we drive her growth. The Bank has been an integral part of the Zambian economy and is a leading player in the country’s financial services sector.

http://www.stanbicbank.co.zm/