NHC advised to come up with more affordable houses

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has asked the National Housing Corporation (NHC)’s board and management to put measures in place that will reduce the cost of affordable houses from 30m/- to between 20m/- and 25m/-.

In the same vein, PAC wants the housing body to put measures in place for a comprehensive housing policy as the country’s population continues to increase, especially in the urban areas.

Yesterday, PAC members visited the NHC headquarters in Dar es Salaam and held a meeting with the management before touring various areas where NHC is carrying out its projects.

Briefing journalists immediately after the closed door meeting, PAC Acting Chairman, Dr Haji Mponda said after going through the financial statements of the housing corporation, the committee was satisfied that it was doing well.

“As the watchdog committee we are satisfied that the taxpayers’ money spent in various projects is utilized well and we are glad that NHC is heading in a proper direction,’’ he said. According to him, NHC was making a lot of profit that makes it stronger every year.

In 2011, Dr Mponda said NHC made a profit amounting to 7.9bn/-, in 2012 the profit was 6.6bn/- while in 2013 the profit was 17.9bn/-. He added that in 2014, the profit increased to 36.9bn/- while in 2015/2016 financial year NHC retained the same profit as the previous financial year (36.9bn/-).

“However, we still have a challenge on the housing policy because the population of the country is increasing, so we have tasked the board and the management to come up with a housing policy,’’ he added.

Dr Mponda said the cost of purchasing houses was still higher compared to the income of people, pleading for cost cutting strategies that would see a house purchased at 30m/- going lower to at least 20m/- or 25m/-.

The parliamentary committee also commended NHC for tax compliance. According to him, last year NHC paid to the government 27.5bn/- in taxes.