Minister of Lands Kezzie Msukwa says government has completed construction of 231 institutional houses for security institutions out of the pledged 10, 000 houses.

Msukwa disclosed this on Monday in Parliament when he was giving an update to the lawmakers on the progress of the construction.

According to the Lands Minister, the second phase of the construction of 1, 000 is expected to commence soon.

“We are constructing houses men and women in uniform in every district of the country so many will actually benefit because almost every constituency has got a police formation.

“So far we have done 231 houses and the other lot that that will be complimenting the 1, 000 houses has already been advertised and is due for award this week,” said Msukwa.

But reacting to the progress, lawmaker for Nsanje Lalanje Gladys Ganda questioned the Lands Minister to furnish the House with details to do with distribution list of the houses in accordance with constituencies.

She said: “For the sake of transparency and accountability I did ask the Minister to bring to the august House a distribution list or a breakdown of the houses per constituency so that each and every parliamentarian should be able to go up and follow up on these things.”e

Legislator for Nkhata Bay Central Symon Vuwa Kaunda has commended government for revising construction of the houses from the initial 10 to 24 houses in the District.

“First is to thank the government for the initiative that they are constructing houses for the police, the army and the immigration.

“In Nkhata Bay, we were promised 10 houses and now we have been told that we need to allocate more land because the houses have been increased to 24 so this is communication in Nkhata Bay,” said Kaunda.

According to Msukwa, government will spend over K600 billion in the next five years and that the funds will be accessed through bonds.

He added that government is optimistic by 2025, less than 10, 000 will be constructed.