Govt cautions against ghost beneficiaries in housing subsidy

The ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development has cautioned officials involved in the Decent and Affordable Housing Subsidy Programme (DAHSP) against incorporating ghost beneficiaries.

Minister responsible Dr. Jean Kalilani gave the caution during the official opening of the third phase of the programme in Mzuzu.

Kalilani said government has put in place measures that will detect any ghost beneficiary and if found, will be dealt with accordingly.

She called upon beneficiaries to pay back their loan so that the program reaches out to more vulnerable people.

DAHSP also known as Malata and Cement Subsidy Programme started in 2015 and so far at least 26,000 households have benefited.

14,000 of the beneficiaries have their houses completed and are using them while the rest have the materials but are yet to complete the building of their houses.

From Mzuzu city constituency the two phases have so far reached 150 beneficiaries across the 14 housing development groups.

In each phase 75 households are reached out per constituency.

One of the beneficiaries in Mzuzu city constituency who lives in Luwinga, Love Zangazanga was all thanks to government for helping her build a three bedroomed house.

Zangazanga said she could never have managed to build such kind of a house in her life time from her tomato business.