JOIN DRIVERN TAXI AS PARTNER DRIVER TODAY!
Zambia Daily Mail by Online Editor on 6/5/13
By NKWETO MFULA
THE National Pensions Scheme Authority (NAPSA) board has approved the budget for the construction of housing units in three districts in the country.
The company has completed its earlier projects of 438 housing units in Kalulushi with water and electricity being connected, while sewer system is yet to be finished.
And NAPSA has since identified Chinsali, Choma and Solwezi districts for the development of housing and office block projects
NAPSA director Charles Mpundu says the authority is currently finalising formal requirement for the identified pieces of land.
Mr Mpundu was speaking in an interview at the just-ended Copperbelt, Mining, Agricultural and Commercial show in Kitwe, with a theme: “Mining and Agriculture for Continued Development and Prosperity”.
“We are looking at viable real estate projects across the country to also contribute towards economic equity,” he said.
“The budget line has been approved by the board for all these plans for the development of housing units and office blocks in identified districts,” he said.
However, Mr Mpundu could not disclose the budget for housing units’ development in Chinsali, Choma and Solwezi.
He said in Chinsali, two places have been identified for commercial project and housing units, with land being subdivided.
“In Chinsali, we have reached an advanced stage, with the council and other stakeholders doing some subdivisions of the two pieces of land that the firm have been allocated,” he said.
He said the company is committed to contribute towards economic development through estate development.
Meanwhile, Mr Mpundu said the forerunner to NAPSA, the Zambia National Provident Fund (ZNPF) members were claiming their benefits.
He said there were some delays in paying out benefit as the company needed to check on the track records of the former ZNPF members.
“Under NAPSA, the age limited for members to qualify for benefits is 55 years, while, that of ZNPF was 50 years,” he said.
“All things have to be verified, it has to go through the system for verification. We require co-operation from the members,” he said.
He said NAPSA is doing everything possible to ensure that no member is inconvenienced.
Mr Mpundu also said that the company faced challenges such as fraudulent people claiming benefits for their deceased relatives.
