THE COPPERBELT

UNIVERSITY

THE SCHOOL OF BUILT

ENVIRONMENT

COURSE.ES 510-
Housing Policy &
Economics

LECTURER : B.ZIMBA

November 15 1
LECTURE: The 1996 Zambian National
Housing Policy
CONTENT
1. INTRODUCTION

2. ENABLING SHELTER STRATEGY

3. THE NATIONAL HOUSING POLICY GOAL AND

OBJECTIVES

4. THE HOUSING POLICY IMPLEMENTATION

APPROACH
1.INTRODUCTION

HOUSING CAN BE SEEN AS A BASIC SOCIAL NEED

AFTER FOOD AND CLOTHING, AND AS WITH OTHER
BASIC NEEDS IS SEEN AS FORE-RUNNER TO
NATIONAL SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. ITS
INADEQUECY HAS A SERIOUS IMPACT ON HEALTH,
THE ENVIRONMENT AND ON THE GENERAL
WELLBEING OF COMMUNITIES.
IN 1996, ZAMBIA LAUNCHED ITS NATIONAL HOUSING
POLICY , IN LINE WITH THE UNITED NATIONS
‚OVERALL ‚ ENABLING SHELTER STRATEGY‘

AT THE TIME,THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE HOUSING

POLICY WAS SEEN AS A STARTING POINT FOR
ZAMBIAS SUSTAINABLE MARCH WITH THE REST OF
THE WORLD TOWARDS „SHELTER FOR ALL“ BY THE
YEAR 2010.
2.WHAT IS AN ENABLING SHELTER STRATEGY?

BACKGROUND
 THE CONCEPT OF THE ENABLING APPROACH TO
SHELTER WAS INTRODUCED WITH THE ADOPTION
OF THE GLOBAL SHELTER STRATEGY TO THE YEAR
2000 (GSS)

 PRIOR TO THIS ,THE GOVERNMENTS PREDOMINANT

ROLE WAS THAT OF FORMULATING AND
IMPLEMENTING SHELTER HOUSING POLICIES AND
STRATEGIES
 GSS INTRODUCED A NEW COMPREHENSIVE
FRAMEWORK FOR ACTION-TOWARDS THE GOAL
OF FACILITATING ADEQUATE SHELTER FOR ALL BY
THE YEAR 2000, THAT CALLED FOR A MAJOR SHIFT
IN THE ROLE OF GOVERNMENT.

 THIS WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ENDORSED AND

ELABORATED IN THE ISTANBUL DECLARATION AND
THE HABITAT AGENDA, WHICH PROVIDED A BLUE
PRINT FOR ACHIEVING TWO GOALS-‘ADEQUATE
SHELTER FOR ALL‘ + ‚ SUSTAINABLE HUMAN
SETTLEMENT DEVELOPMENT‘
 AN ENABLING APPROACH ENTAILS THAT THE
GOVERNMENTS ROLE IS ESSENTIALY AN ENABLING
ONE-MOBILIZING THE RESOURCES FOR OTHER
ACTORS AND FACILITATING THEIR DEPLOYMENT FOR
THE EFFICIENT PROVISION OF HOUSING.

 IT IMPLIES THAT THE PEOPLE THEMSELVES CAN

IMPROVE THEIR HOUSING CONDITIONS ACCORDING
TO THEIR NEEDS AND PRIORITIES THAT THEY
THEMSELVES DEFINE [PARTICIPATION]
 THE ENABLING APPROACH DOES NOT MEAN THAT
GOVERNMENTS SHOULD WITHDRAW COMPLETELY FROM
HOUSING , BUT RATHER THAT, GOVERNMENTS HAVE A ROLE
TO PLAY IN CREATING AN APPROPRIATE
LEGAL,INSTITUTUIONAL, AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT,
AND ENSURING AVAILABILITY OF HOUSING FINANCE FOR ALL
SECTORS OF SOCIETY.

 THIS ENABLES THE OTHER ACTORS IN THE SHELTER

PROCESS TO FULFILL THEIR OWN POTENTIAL AND TO
OPTIMIZE THEIR OWN CONTRIBUTIONS TO HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVEMENT.
HOUSING POLICY EVOLUTION FROM THE DIRECT
PROVISION TO THE ENABLING APPROACH
3.THE NATIONAL HOUSING POLICY GOALS AND
OBJECTIVES
POLICY GOAL- THE MAIN GOAL OF THE HOUSING POLICY WAS TO
PROVIDE ADEQUATE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR ALL INCOME GROUPS
IN ZAMBIA

HOUSING POLICY OBJECTIVES

INORDER TO ACHIEVE THE HOUSING POLICY GOAL, THE FOLLOWING
OBJECTIVES WERE IDENTIFIED AND HAD TO BE ATTAINED:

I. AN ALLOCATION OF A MINIMUM OF 15 PER CENT OF THE NATIONAL

ANNUAL BUDGET TO HOUSING TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME;

II. MAKING SERVICED LAND AVAILABLE FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT

AND STREAMLINING THE LAND ALLOCATION SYSTEM;
III. STREAMLINING OF BUILDING STANDARDS, REGULATIONS
AND OTHER CONTROLS SO THAT THEY ARE IN LINE WITH THE
CAPABILITIES, NEEDS AND ASPIRATIONS OF THE VARIOUS
SECTIONS OF THE POPULATION;

IV. ENCOURAGING THE PRODUCTION AND USE OF LOCAL AND

AFFORDABLE BUILDING MATERIALS;

v. ASSISTING THE POOR TO ACQUIRE DECENT SHELTER

THROUGH ALLEVIATION OF THEIR AFFORDABILITY PROBLEMS;
VI. FOSTERING HOUSING AREAS THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL,
HEALTHY AESTHETICALLY PLEASANT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY
FRIENDLY; AND

VII. THE PREPARATION OF A NATIONAL HOUSING

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY.
4.THE HOUSING POLICY IMPLEMENTATION
APPROACH
 THE NHP HOPED TO PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR SUSTAINABLE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENT , BY PROVIDING A MECHANISM FOR
ENSURING THAT LIMITED RESOURCES ARE PUT TO THEIR
OPTIMUM USE ,THUS, ENSURING POVERTY ALLIEVIATION

 THE NHP ATTEMPTED TO DEFINE THE TECHNICAL ,FINANCIAL

AND ADMINISTRATIVE FRAMEWORK NEEDED TO CARRY OUT
HOUSING PROGRAMMES , INCLUDING IDENTIFYING THE
AGENTS,BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE, RESPONSIBLE FOR THE
IMPLEMENTATION
4.1 HOUSING FINANCE

PROGRESSIVE MACRO-ECONOMIC POLICIES SHOULD

LEAD, ALL THINGS BEING EQUAL, TO ECONOMIC GROWTH,
JOB CREATION AND GREATER AFFORDABILITY FOR
RENTAL HOUSING AND HOUSE PURCHASE. THE MAIN
PRINCIPLES TO BE FOLLOWED WOULD BE:
 TO PUT HOUSING IN A CENTRAL POSITION IN NATIONAL
POLICIES ALONGSIDE HEALTH AND EDUCATION;
 TO MOBILISE HOUSING FINANCE FROM THE PUBLIC
SECTOR, THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND FROM
INTERNATIONAL AGENCIES;
 TO GIVE POSITIVE INCENTIVES TO INDIVIDUALS AND
INSTITUTIONS TO INVEST DIRECTLY INTO HOUSING OR
DIRECTLY THROUGH AN APPROVED HOUSING FINANCE
SYSTEM;

 TO DEVELOP MECHANISMS TO ASSIST VULNERABLE

GROUPS;

 TO SEEK AVENUES FOR THE CREATION OF SEED CAPITAL TO

ASSIST PRIVATE SECTOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
INVOLVED WITH HOUSING;
 TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUAL HOME OWNERSHIP; AND

 TO DEVELOP A SECONDARY MORTGAGE MARKET.

4.2.LAND DELIVERY

LAND DELIVERY WILL RELATE TO THE NATIONAL POLICY ON

LAND, ITS TENURE, DISTRIBUTION AND INFRASTRUCTURE
DEVELOPMENT. PRIORITY WOULD BE TO:

 ENCOURAGE THE PROVISION OF ADEQUATELY SERVICED

LAND WITH SECURE TENURE TO ALL INCOME GROUPS,
ESPECIALLY THE POOR AND THE VULNERABLE;

 ENCOURAGE THE PROVISION OF SERVICED SUBDIVISIONS

FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING ESTATES FOR SALE
OR RENT;
 ENCOURAGE COMMUNITY EFFORT IN PROVIDING
INFRASTRUCTURE FACILITIES DURING UPGRADING
PROGRAMMES; AND

 ENCOURAGE THE PREPARATION OF TOWNSHIP LAYOUTS

THAT ARE FUNCTIONAL AND ECONOMICAL.
4.3 HOME OWNERSHIP
IN THE NHP THE GOVERNMENT SUPPORTED THE PRINCIPLE OF
HOME OWNERSHIP AS A MEANS OF PROVIDING SECURITY,
STABILITY AND ECONOMIC POWER TO THE FAMILY UNIT AND AS
A BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF ECONOMICALLY STRONG
AND MOTIVATED COMMUNITIES. THIS WAS TO BE DONE
THROUGH THE FOLLOWING:

 REMOVAL OF RENT CONTROLS

 WITHDRAWL OF EMPLOYMENT TIED HOUSING

 SITE AND SERVICE SCHEMES

 SQUATTER SETTLEMENT UPGRADING

4.4 BUILDING STANDARDS AND BYE-LAWS
 THE NHP STATED THAT BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION
STANDARDS WILL BE REVISED SO THAT THEY WOULD
BECOME FUNCTIONAL AND PERFORMANCE BASED
RATHER THAN PRESCRIPTIVE. IT WAS HOPED THAT THEIR
FLEXIBILITY WOULD REFLECT THE AFFORDABLE
PRINCIPLE BY ALL INCOME GROUPS.
 THE NHP STATED THAT TO ENSURE THAT DEVELOPERS
COMPLY WITH MINIMUM APPROVED BUILDING
STANDARDS, THE PRINCIPLE OF REINFORCING BUILDING
INSPECTORATES IN ALL LOCAL AUTHORITIES WOULD BE
SUPPORTED THROUGH TRAINING AND ENCOURAGEMENT.
4.5 LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS

THE NHP HOPED TO PROMOTE THE DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF

LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF BUILDING
COMPONENTS. THROUGH THE FOLLOWING MEASURES :-

 BY ENCOURAGING RESEARCH IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF

LOCAL MATERIALS PRESENTLY IN USE SO AS TO EXTEND THE
PROJECTED LIFE SPAN OF STRUCTURES;

 BY ENCOURAGING THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO MANUFACTURE

AFFORDABLE BUILDING MATERIALS THROUGH TAX INCENTIVES;
 BY FUNDING DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMMES AIMED AT
POPULARISING THE USE OF LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS;

 BY ENCOURAGING TRAINING PROGRAMMES FOR THE

YOUTH AND THE UNEMPLOYED IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
LOCAL BUILDING MATERIALS;

 BY ENCOURAGING THE SETTING UP OF SMALL SCALE

BUILDING MANUFACTURING INDUSTRIES TO SERVE LOCAL
COMMUNITIES;
 BY ENCOURAGING THE USE OF LOCAL MATERIALS
ON GOVERNMENT-FUNDED CONSTRUCTION
PROGRAMMES; AND

 BY PROHIBITING THE USE OF HAZARDOUS

BUILDING MATERIALS.
4.6 INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
 THE NHP STATED THAT, GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS THE PRINCIPLE
THAT PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE SERVICES, SUCH AS
WATER, ROADS, STREET LIGHTS AND SANITATION, STIMULATES
HOUSING PRODUCTION BY THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS;
 GOVERNMENT WOULD, FOR PURPOSE OF HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT, SUPPORT THE PROVISION OF INFRASTRUCTURE
SERVICES OPERATED ON A SUSTAINABLE BASIS WITH REGARD TO
FIXED INVESTMENT, OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE. IT SHALL BE
MANDATORY THAT ALL LAND WITHIN TOWNSHIPS BE PROVIDED
WITH BASIC SERVICES PRIOR TO ALLOCATION; AND
 GOVERNMENT WOULD CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT TO
ENHANCE THE PROVISION OF BASIC SERVICES IN RURAL AREAS
FOR HOUSING DEVELOPMENT.
4.7 RURAL HOUSING

THE NHP ADDRESSED RURAL HOUSING POLICY

WITH AN AIM TO IMPROVE LIVING CONDITIONS IN
VILLAGES, AGRICULTURAL SCHEMES, COMMERCIAL
FARMING AREAS AND RURAL CENTRES.
4.8 IMPACT ON THE BUILDING INDUSTRY
AND EMPLOYMENT

 ADOPTION OF LOCAL TECHNOLOGIES FOR LOW INCOME

HOUSES CREATING JOBS FOR LOCALS

 HOUSING INVESTMENT LINKAGES TO THE GROWTH OF

OTHER DOMESTIC INDUSTRIES

 GROWTH IN THE LOCAL BUILDING INDUSTRY

4.10 LEGISLATIVE BASE
THE LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THE GOALS AND PRINCIPLES
OF THE POLICY, AND ADOPT HOUSING DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES AND
PROGRAMMES, WOULD INVOLVE CHANGES TO THE FOLLOWING EXISTING
LEGISLATION.
 THE NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY ACT
 THE HOUSING (STATUTORY AND IMPROVEMENT AREAS ) ACT
 THE LAND (CONVERSION OF TITLES) ACT
 THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT OF 1991
 THE PUBLIC HEALTH ACT (BUILDING REGULATIONS)
 THE TOWN AND COUNTRY PLANNING ACT
 THE RENT ACT
 THE RATING ACT
 THE LAND SURVEY ACT (CADASTRE)
4.11 INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK
THIS POLICY AIMED AT RATIONALISING EXISTING INSTITUTIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS AND CAPACITIES IN ORDER TO IMPROVE
EFFICIENCY AND ENSURE ENHANCED AND SUSTAINABLE HOUSING
DELIVERY TO COPE WITH POPULATION NEEDS AND DEMANDS.
 MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING
 NATIONAL HOUSING AUTHORITY
 LOCAL AUTHORITIES
 PRIVATE SECTOR DEVELOPERS
 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
 COMMUNITY BASED AND COOPERATIVE HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT
 LOCAL PLANNING AUTHORITIES.
Discussion

THE HOUSING POLICY WAS AMBITIOUS –WHAT WAS

GOOD ABOUT IT?

WHAT NEEDED TO BE EMPHASISED?

THE WAY FORWARD.

SOURCES

I. MAKASA , P. ,(2010). ‚THE 1996 ZAMBIAN NATIONAL HOUSING

POLICY-SUSTAINABLE URBAN AREAS SERIES‘,
AMSTERDAM: IOS PRESS BV.
II. UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME –
UN-HABITAT, (2004). „ENABLING SHELTER STRATEGIES:
DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION GUIDE FOR
POLICYMAKERS”, NAIROBI:UNON
III. UNITED NATIONS HUMAN SETTLEMENTS PROGRAMME –
UN-HABITAT, (2012). “ ZAMBIA URBAN HOUSING SECTOR
PROFILE”, NAIROBI: UNON