eBusiness Weekly
BH24 Reporter
HARARE – Zimbabwean Mr Mehluli Mpofu has been appointed to the board of the The Africa Union for Housing Finance (AUHF), which is the continental association of housing finance institutions.
The new AUHF board appointment was announced at its 34th Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting that was held in Abidjan, Ivory Coast between the 23rd and the 25th of last month.
Mpofu is currently the chairman of the Zimbabwe Association for Housing Finance, and is also the deputy managing director of CABS.
The African Union for Housing Finance was established as a member based body of housing lenders in 1984.
Comprising 47 members from 17 countries, the AUHF seeks to promote the growth of housing finance across Africa, building institutional capacity at the local level and working with governments for the development of policies conducive for market development.
Through its meetings and activities, the re-search it undertakes and the news it disseminates to its members, the AUHF has consistently championed the growth of housing finance markets for the benefit of Africa’s populations
Speaking on his appointment to the AUHF board, Mpofu it will give local hopsuing financers a broader platform to establish critical networks and having their voice heard at a global scale.
“Being on the board, means our voice as housing financiers operating in Zimbabwe can be heard on a bigger platform, it will therefore easier for us to get solutions to some of the impediments we face.
“As a country, we currently have eight institutions that are members of AUHF and a former chairman of the AUHF, Mr Colin Chimutsa, who is a life member. It is therefore a great opportunity to leverage on this membership to build capacity locally,” said Mpofu.
“As an example, this year we held a training here in Zimbabwe in partnership with AUHF which focused on Lending to borrowers with informal incomes. Funding is also key, being on the board brings us closer to some of the funders who can provide credit lines to Zimbabwe.
“Additionally, the benefit for Zimbabwe is to interact with players from across the continent who form part of the housing delivering chain, in doing so there is an opportunity to learn from other countries experiences as well as to build networks with developers and financiers.”
Mpofu says he has a lot to offer to the AUHF board.
“Locally I chair the Zimbabwe Association of Housing Financiers (ZAHF). With the support of ZAHF members, I am aware of the issues that we face as a country and I am also aware of the success we have recorded in the housing delivery space. With these learnings I am confident that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the Board,” he said.
He is expected to sit on the AUHF board for the next two years.
“There will be an opportunity to stand for re-election at the end of the two year period. It will however be an opportunity for one of the AUHF members here in Zimbabwe to then stand for election so that we can have as much exposure as we can as a country,” he said.
The AUHF promotes the development of effective housing finance markets, and delivery of affordable housing across Africa, working in the interests of both the members and the industry as a whole.
