14/10/2026
Zambia Hosts AUHF Housing Conference
By Hellen Bwalya
Zambia will host the 42nd Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting of the African Union for Housing Finance (AUHF) from November 10 to 14, 2026, marking the first time the country has secured the hosting rights for the continental gathering.
Over 200 delegates from across Africa, Asia, and international markets—including government ministers, senior policymakers, investors, financial institutions, and developers—are expected to attend the event in Lusaka.
The announcement was made on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, during the AUHF Media and Sponsors Breakfast Meeting held at the Zambia National Building Society (ZNBS) head office in Lusaka.
Ministry of Finance and National Planning Permanent Secretary for Economic Management and Investments Mr. Mulele M. Mulele stated at the event that housing is a powerful engine for industrialisation, inclusive wealth creation, and economic growth rather than merely the provision of shelter.
Mr. Mulele commended ZNBS for securing the hosting rights, noting that over 200 participants have registered, with approximately 90 percent visiting Zambia for the first time. He highlighted that the conference will feature international exhibitors showcasing innovations in building technologies, construction materials, and modern housing solutions, along with site visits to selected housing projects to facilitate knowledge exchange, technology transfer, and investment partnerships.
According to Mr. Mulele, the housing sector directly aligns with the government's Grow Zambia Agenda as the nation transitions from economic stabilisation to accelerated, inclusive, and sustainable growth.
He explained that housing construction generates extensive economic backward and forward linkages by driving demand for raw materials such as cement, steel, timber, roofing, and electrical equipment, while creating employment for engineers, architects, builders, electricians, and plumbers.
Furthermore, he noted that real estate development stimulates broader commercial activity across banking, insurance, transport, and related service sectors.
Addressing housing accessibility, Mr. Mulele emphasized that many Zambians, particularly informal sector workers, face barriers to conventional mortgages due to strict income requirements and high costs.
He called for the development of innovative financial solutions tailored to ordinary citizens, including affordable mortgage products, housing microfinance, incremental housing loans, rent-to-own arrangements, and credit guarantees. He also urged the mobilization of long-term domestic capital from pension funds, insurance companies, capital markets, and development finance institutions through housing bonds, alongside reducing construction expenses through access to serviced land and locally manufactured materials.
Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development Permanent Secretary Prof. Albert Malama noted that the government under President Hakainde Hichilema has prioritized housing, infrastructure, and urban development as essential drivers of improved living standards. Prof. Malama stated that access to decent and affordable housing is an economic imperative that unites household dignity with broader economic development.
As urban areas expand, he stressed the growing need for planned settlements, serviced land, water, sanitation, and transport systems to render cities inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.
To operationalize these objectives, Prof. Malama outlined three core strategic mechanisms: establishing a National Housing Task Force or Coordination Committee to enhance policy alignment, formulating a clearly defined National Housing Strategy featuring actionable project pipelines to attract capital, and implementing an optimally functioning supply-and-demand National Housing Finance Framework to unlock affordable credit.
ZNBS Acting Managing Director Mr. Mwansa Kapeya provided historical context on the continental organization, noting that the AUHF was established in Kenya in 1984 and has since developed into a premier platform connecting housing finance stakeholders across Africa.
Mr. Kapeya announced that the 2026 conference theme, "Innovation, Technology and Value Chain Synergies," reflects the role of modern technology in altering how homes are designed, constructed, financed, and managed. He confirmed that over 150 delegates had already finalized registration, and noted that ZNBS has reserved a dedicated post-conference day for participants to explore local tourism destinations.
Highlighting the tourism and trade impact, Zambia Tourism Agency Chief Executive Officer Mrs. Beatrice Muntali stated that the conference directly supports Zambia's long-term goal of attracting 5 million tourists by 2031.
Mrs. Muntali noted that business delegates attending meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions represent an important tourist segment. She explained that Zambia's central geographic location among eight neighboring countries, political stability, safety, and international aviation connectivity position the nation as an ideal destination to host major continental events, while offering opportunities to market infrastructure investments and natural attractions, including the Northern Circuit and over 21 waterfalls.
