The housing deficit menace in Ndalatando city, capital of the northern Kwanza Norte province, will be a thing of the past as the central government plans to start construction of a new town by March 2014. Locals will benefit from the construction of a new town which will comprise 4000 flats.
This is according to the provincial deputy-governor for technical and infrastructural affairs, Erlindo Ernesto Lidador. The project is an initiative of the central government aimed at eliminating the housing deficit in the province.
Lidador said that the preliminary works for the construction of the new town is already underway, especially for topographical reconfirmation, targeting the launch of the work within the deadlines. The official said that the contract under the responsibility of Sonangol Real Estate Company (SONIP) comprises an area of 400 hectares where buildings of three to five floors will be built. N’Dalantando has an area of 24,110 km² and a population of approximately 400,000.
Decent housing continues to be a challenge in Africa with a majority of its population living in substandard housing conditions. The housing challenge is further compounded by the exploding population growth and the rural to urban migration phenomenon with most African cities awash with slum dwellings which are overpopulated and lack sanitation and drainage.
Uganda’s current housing deficit stands at 500,000 units with Kenya grappling with huge housing deficits in urban and rural areas estimated at 200,000 and 350,000 units respectively. The Egyptian government is yet to meet demand for housing which stands at 360,000 units per year. Nigeria sits on a growing housing deficit estimated at 17 million housing units with South Africa’s housing backlog standing at 2.1 to 2.5 million units and the deficit continues to grow.
The housing deficits above are just the tip of the iceberg as most African countries are in dire need of housing resolutions. Key market players, especially real estate developers and banks have attempted to address the challenge but mortgage interests still remain high with real estate developers focusing on high and middle income earners largely ignoring low cost consumers.
It is crucial for African governments and other stakeholders to make decent, low cost housing a priority and demonstrate such commitment with the necessary policy instruments and budget allocations to boost the continent’s housing sector.
