Govt. procures 8 housing units for Prisons Service

Home Affairs Deputy Minister Alfreda Kansembe has disclosed that government will build over one thousand houses for Prison Service officers countrywide.

Ms. Kasemba said government has not turned a blind eye to the challenges which Prison Service officers and other security wings were facing.

She said government was fully aware and concerned about challenges such as inadequate and at times substandard accommodation the security wings were facing.

She was speaking in Lusaka today when she handed over eight houses in Twin Palm area which were purchased from National Housing Authority at a cost of KR 2.78 million for the Zambia Prisons Service.

Ms. Kansembe said government takes infrastructure as a key component to sustainable economic development.

She noted that accommodation crises exist in most parts of the country but said highly populated places such as Lusaka were the most affected.

She said government has since embarked on a massive construction of housing units for security officers around the country.

Ms. Kansembe noted that the removal of fuel and maize subsidies by government was one of the moves that will benefit officers in different government security wings because savings will be used on building more houses which will in turn reduce the crisis of accommodation countrywide.

And receiving the eight houses, Commissioner of Prisons Percy Chato thanked government for alleviating the accommodation shortage for Prisons Service staff that are based in Chainama East, Lusaka Central, Lusaka Remand, Lusaka Regional Office, the Parole Board and the Ministry.

Mr. Chato said the eight houses were a clear demonstration of government’s commitment towards cushioning the accommodation crisis for Lusaka based officers.

He said it was disheartening that against the population of about 2,400 prison service officers, the service only has 900 houses, out of which only 512 were habitable.

The Commissioner of Prisons however warned the officers who will be accommodated in the newly constructed houses to take care of the units adding that any damage to the houses will attract a charge.

Mr. Chato further reminded the officers to take good care of their families and not to sleep out of the quarters without prior permission from their supervisors.

The eight houses have been built on 20 by 20 metres plot each and have three bedrooms, combined living room and dining, kitchen, separate bathroom and toilet facilities with reasonable outdoor verandas.