THE Government is continuing efforts to upgrade informal settlements and provide secure land tenure to families who have lived for decades without certainty of ownership or access to basic services, Minister for Housing and Local Government Maciu Nalumisa told Parliament on Tuesday.
He said improving living conditions in informal settlements remained a key priority for the ministry.
“Over the past three years, the ministry has made significant progress in advancing settlement upgrading initiatives across the Central and Eastern divisions, as well as the Northern Division,” Mr Nalumisa said.
He noted that only three settlements had been completed under the previous government despite leases being secured for 48 areas.
“Out of the 48 Government leases secured by the previous Government under the informal settlement upgrading program, only three informal settlements, namely Cuvu, Ledrusasa and Waidamudamu, have been completed prior to this Coalition Government taking office.”
“We have been working to demonstrate our commitment not only to sustain progress, but to accelerate the pace of upgrading, ensuring more families transition into tenure and improved living conditions.
“To sustain this progress, this Government has consistently increased budgetary allocations for the Informal Settlement Upgrading Programme, with $10million in the 2023-2024 financial year, $13.4million in the 2024-2025 financial year and $14.6million in the 2025-2026 financial year.”
He added that several projects were underway or planned across the country, while the ministry was also reviewing the Development of Informal Settlements Act 2022.
“As these projects progress, the ministry is also undertaking a review of the Development of Informal Settlements Act 2022 to address emerging implementation challenges and strengthen the legal and policy framework guiding settlement upgrading.”
