IN efforts to improve the housing sector in the isles, President Hussein Mwinyi has directed the Zanzibar Housing Corporation (ZHC) management to sell its new houses to Zanzibaris without charging Value Added Tax (VAT).
The good news was revealed here yesterday by ZHC Director General (DG) Mwanaisha Ali Said, who informed journalists that the construction of the intended houses for sale is currently underway.
According to director general of the real estate developer, the project is expected to be completed in July next year.
“We thank President Mwinyi for enabling ZHC to get 9.8bn/- for funding the housing project at Mombasa Street in Zanzibar City. The project includes construction of four blocks with two and three room modern houses,” Ms Mwanaisha explained.
She called on Zanzibaris and Tanzanians in general, including the diaspora and public servants, to apply for purchasing the houses because the government under Dr Mwinyi wants to see all citizens live in decent structures and environment, insisting that the new ZHC houses are affordable.
“The cost of a two-room house is 137m/- while the three-room building is sold at 154m/-. The payment can be made in installments (30 percent first deposit, 15 per cent second deposit, 20 per cent third deposit, 25 per cent fourth deposit and 10 percent last deposit) for thirteen months, payable in cash and mortgages through PBZ and CRDB banks.”
The DG mentioned Dar es Salaam based company- Simba Developers- as the contractors, and the Zanzibar Building Agency (ZBA), a government executive agency under the Ministry of Lands and Housing, as a consultant.
Ms Mwanaisha said that ZHC has been growing faster since President Mwinyi decided to support it, and that plans are underway to implement housing projects in different areas in Unguja and Pemba, for sale and renting to public servants, foreign workers, and ordinary people.
