Government says Zambia requires approximately 4.6 million housing units to adequately accommodate its growing population, as the country continues to face an estimated housing deficit of 1.5 million units.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Prof. Albert Malama, said the shortage of accommodation remains a major national challenge requiring urgent investment in affordable and quality housing.
Speaking during a media briefing on OneSquareK Property Development Plc’s intention to list on the Lusaka Securities Exchange (LuSE) Alternative Market, Prof. Malama said Zambia’s population, estimated at 23 million people in the 2023 national census, has increased demand for housing across urban and rural areas.
Prof. Malama, who was represented by Ministry’s Director Dennis Kasonde, explained that using an average family size of five people, the country needs around 4.6 million housing units to reasonably accomodate it’s citizens.
“Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development has estimated that the shortage of dwelling house accommodation is approximately 1.5 million. Assuming a family of five members, this means that the country needs approximately 4.6 million housing units to reasonably accommodate the population,” he said.
Prof. Malama noted that current housing stock means only 67.4 percent of citizens are properly accommodated, while 32.6 percent are either living as dependants in other people’s homes or staying in structures that do not meet acceptable housing standards.
He said the housing gap presents significant opportunities for private sector developers to invest in accommodation projects targeting low and middle-income earners, students and young professionals.
Prof. Malama commended OneSquareK Property Development Plc for helping address the shortage through its operational studio apartments in Kalingalinga.
He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to creating an enabling environment for increased housing development as part of broader infrastructure and urban growth plans.
“The Government of the Republic of Zambia remains firmly committed to creating an environment in which Zambian businesses can grow and in which Zambian investors have meaningful opportunities to participate in that growth. We want to see more Zambian entrepreneurs building businesses of scale,” Prof. Malama added.
