By Christopher Jimu:
The 5o new houses currently under construction at Parachute Battalion in Salima, have completely changed the outlook of the area.
The houses ten for Senior Officers and the rest for other ranks will definitely increase morale among the soldiers, since many are currently putting up in single bedroomed houses.
Not only that many who do not have houses inside the battalion are forced to rent in surrounding villages.
Most of the houses currently in use were built by the first president Kamuzu Banda in the 1980’s.
The new houses have a master bedroom, two toilets a common bathroom a big pantry and a very spacious veranda.
When the. Atlas visited the construction site this week workers were busy with landscaping, a sign that works. are nearing completion.
The houses a wonder to behold when one is driving from or to Sunbird Livingstonia Hotel.
Solid Construction Company supervisor Gift Chimangeni, said they are still on course to hand over the units on time deapite a slight delay.
“The project is going according to plan and though we faced some hitches they were not very serious,” said Chimangeni.
Chimangeni cited rains and some administrative issues as some hitches they faced along the way.
Some soldiers interviewed said the project could not have come at a better time when proper housing is what everyone is looking for in the 21st century.
“These houses are what we need in these modern times. The small houses we have been staying in could not force us to buy more household equipment because of lack of space,” said one of them but asked for anonimity.
A fishmonger Owen Labano could not hide his excitement seeing the project nearing completion.
“I know that many officers who were staying outside will move in hence more business for me,” said Labano.
The government has placed housing for security agents in the country among it’s priority areas.
