Lafarge launches $1,8 million housing project in Epworth

Lafarge Cement yesterday launched a $1,8 million housing project in Adelaide Park in Epworth, which is expected to benefit a substantial number of its employees.

Speaking to NewsDay on the sidelines of the launch, Lafarge Cement chief executive officer, Amal Tantawi said the project was formulated 2 years ago but it has been difficult to secure support from financial institutions,

All commercial banks were not interested and the interest rates were also not feasible. We contacted them (National Building Society) in August this year and they were quick. This is the first phase of our project. We will have many more projects. It’s a learning process.

Tantawi said 85 houses would be constructed under phase one and these would be ready for occupation in February next year. She said the company had 280 permanent employees and most of them wanted to benefit from the housing project, adding Lafarge had contributed to the success of the project by providing affordable materials for the construction of the houses. The launch was a combined effort of Lafarge, National Building Society and Shelter Zimbabwe.

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