A research report on evaluation of the Housing project by habitat for Humanity Zambia: A case of Palabana affiliate Housing Project

Abstract

Zambia's population has increased from 3.4 million in 1964 to 7.3 million in 1990 at the rate of 3.5% per annum. The 2000 preliminary report stands at 10.3 million, out of which 64% live in town and 36% live in rural areas. It is also projected that by the year 2010, the population will have reached the 13.2 million mark. The national housing stock, however, has not increasing sufficiently to accommodate the increase in the population. Unconventional, traditional or squatter housing continued to increase from 59.4% in 1987 to about 65% in 1994. This means that the majority of the households in the country, both in rural "d urban areas continue to live in unconventional houses. Government, in an effort to give accommodation to its citizens sold council and government pool houses, accommodating about 18,000,households in the last five years meaning only about 0.32% of the total population has been catered for. Government in the last few years put up policies towards provision of decent houses to low income groups through:

a. To positively encourage members of communities to improve their living environment through community participation in projects, and b. To encourage joint ventures between the public and private sector, in housing development.

Habitat for Humanity Zambia whose mission statement is to build decent shelter with the people of God regardless of colour or religion took up the challenge and identified communities in Zambia and Palabana affiliate is one of the eleven since its inception in 1984. The overall objective is to uplift the standard of living through provision of decent houses and pit latrines. The loan inform of revolving fund is given to the community to enable the members have building materials for their houses. The vision of the organization is to reach all children of God in need of decent shelter the world over.