The Chairperson of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs Affairs, Hon Maxwell Kabanda, MP, officially opened a two-day’s workshop which was held from 26^th to 27^th January at Protea Hotel Lusaka Tower, Lusaka. This workshop was organized by the European Union Support to the National Assembly Project team as one of their key interventions to enhance the capacity of four selected Committees of Parliament in the area of Public Finance Management.

In his speech, the Chairperson urged Members of his committee to identify key issues on the topical issue they were dealing with, “The housing situation in Zambia,” to help them interact with stakeholders when the committee commences its sittings.

Hon Kabanda reminded the Committee Members that, during its sittings, the Committee was expected to consider this topic and that the workshop provided a platform for Members to identify key issues so that they could be well informed as they interact with stakeholders.

He also informed the Members that the workshop would further provide an insight to them on the following sub areas; “Access to Affordable Housing and Cost-Effectiveness of Private Sector Participation in Housing Delivery in Zambia”, and “The Changing Role of the State in Housing Delivery and Regulation for the Growing Urban Settlements in the Era of Fiscal Austerity”

On behalf of the National Assembly of Zambia, Honourable Kabanda thanked the European Union for the support it had rendered to the National Assembly of Zambia and for the Support to the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs for arranging the workshop.

The Support to the National Assembly Project intends to enhance economic governance in Zambia through improved public financial management, strengthened accountability processes and increased management for results.