By Peter Chilongo
The Salima district council intends to construct 30 houses for vulnerable people in the Decent and Affordable Houses Program (DAHSP) which is aimed at improving the well being and livelihoods of marginalized communities.
Speaking in an interview with the Malawi News Agency (MANA), Salima District Housing Officer, Bilswick Nakhaonga said that the project is set to start anytime soon and it will include people with albinism and the needy.
“We are more than ready to start. We have the funds already allocated to us for the project. We expect to build five houses for persons with albinism and 25 for the needy,” said Nakhaonga.
In a separate interview with MANA, Principal District Social Welfare officer for Salima, Fedda M’bwana pointed out that good accommodation is a necessity for everyone and the project beneficiaries should make sure that they utilize the opportunity.
“The initiative is very important since it is meant to support and empower the vulnerable communities however, the beneficiaries are supposed to make sure that they take care of the houses so that they can make the best out of it,” said M’bwana.
He further hailed government for the initiative saying it is going to help uplift the social well-being of vulnerable communities.
“This is a commendable gesture by letting 30 inhabitants to own affordable houses, this will help empower the communities economically since some people will get employed to help in the construction of the houses,” said M’bwana.
She said the project has the potential of enhancing economic development of the district which she said is a great move in economic empowerment of the people in the district.
In his sentiments one of the beneficiaries, Malaki Mbewe said he was grateful for the support from DAHSP, saying their families would be safe from natural disasters and any form of attack to all persons with albinism.
“We are poor we cannot afford to construct a good house on our own that is why we are so grateful for the gesture. The houses that we were sleeping in are not in good condition thereby exposing us to attacks and theft by people of bad will,” said Mbewe.
The Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (DAHSP), popularly known as Malata, Cement Subsidy was launched in 2014 by President Professor Peter Mutharika.
