NHC spends 2.45bn/- on CSR in four years

KILIMANJARO: THE National Housing Corporation (NHC) has spent a total of 2.45bn/- on serving communities through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) unit during the first four years of the sixth phase government under President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

This was revealed recently by the NHC Information and Public Relations Manager, Mr Muungano Saguya, during the handover ceremony of a house built by the corporation for a person with disability in Simanjiro District, Manyara Region.

Mr Saguya said the construction of the house was part of NHC’s long-standing commitment to serving disadvantaged members of the community through its CSR initiatives in areas where the corporation operates.

“The construction of this house is part of NHC’s tradition of serving the needy through our CSR unit in the communities we work in,” he said.

He explained that the house was built in Simanjiro District, where NHC is currently constructing an international market for Tanzanite minerals in Mererani, Manyara Region.

According to him, the Tanzanite market centre project is the result of collaboration between NHC and the Simanjiro District Council (SDC), aimed at increasing the value of Tanzanite by ensuring that the mineral is sold exclusively within Simanjiro.

“Our partnership with the Simanjiro District Council continues to grow and future plans include collaborating on the development of a large shopping mall in the district,” he said.

Mr Saguya added that the proposed shopping mall would create opportunities for various services, including offices for financial institutions, which would contribute to improving the economic growth of Manyara Region.

Commenting on the donated house, Mr Saguya said its construction cost a total of 60m/-.

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“This house is part of our annual plans to contribute to the community through our CSR unit and today we are handing it over to the Simanjiro District Council so that it can be officially handed to the beneficiary,” he said.

For his part, the beneficiary, Mr Ally Marwa, expressed gratitude to God, the government through the Simanjiro District Council and NHC for the support, saying the house had transformed his life and that of his family.

“If there was a challenge that deeply troubled me and my family, it was the lack of reliable accommodation. At times, I was evicted from houses I lived in for failing to pay rent,” he said.

He added that he once attempted to join a Village Community Bank (VICOBA) group to improve his economic well-being, but his application was rejected due to lack of permanent residence.

“They told me I didn’t have a reliable and stable place to live. This house is a true relief for me and I am deeply grateful to NHC,” he said.