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Annexure “A”
CHAIRMAN’S REPORT TO THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF
THE AFRICAN UNION OF HOUSING FINANCE (AUHF)
IN JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA 15TH
MARCH 2010
INTRODUCTION
I wish to warmly
welcome you all to the Executive Committee meeting of the AUHF here in
Johannesburg. I further wish to express gratitude to the generous invitation by
the Banking Association, South Africa through the most able Mr. Cas Coovadia to
use their premises for our meeting this morning. This gesture, Ladies and
Gentlemen, should not be taken for granted as indeed it is yet another sign that
Banking Association, South Africa is committed to the ideals of AUHF and they
are always ready to go an extra mile to ensure assets at their disposal are
accessed by AUHF when the need arise. While we thank them, profusely as we do,
we should not only feel invited but challenged to contemplate of our individual
contribution to the noble course of AUHF. For indeed it only through individual
and collective sacrifice that voluntary organizations such as our AUHF could
have a chance to survive.
It is with deep
regret that one of our long standing and very active member of the Executive
Committee, Mr. Tumbul Danso could not be with us here today due to other
political decisions regarding his employment contract. This is a profound loss
especially to the AUHF Executive Committee as Mr. Danso was a stalwart to our
common cause.
We are also
reliably informed that Mr. Madu Hamman, a proxy for Mrs. R A Okwechime of Abbey
Building Society Plc of Nigeria, could not join us today as well as there were
problems with the processing of his VISA application here in South Africa. Mr.
Seetohul of Mauritius Housing Company Ltd will also not be able to join our
meeting today. Mrs. Ethel Matenge-Sebesho will also not attend.
PROGRESS REPORT
AUHF/Cities
Alliance
Informal
Settlement Project
This project was
extended to Zambia as requested. To date there has been no report to indicate
that any progress has been made with regard to the commencement of the project
in Zambia. Earlier indications that the Cities Alliance and the World Bank would
want to extend their collaboration with AUHF have been noted.
Partnership
with Regional Bodies
Partnership
initiatives by AUHF with regional Bodies are proving a challenge. Earlier
contacts with African Development Bank, Shelter Afrique, FMO and IFC have not
borne fruit. IFC gave indications that they would rather collaborate with the
mother body, IUHF; FMO and Shelter Afrique have not furnished a response to our
invitations while ADB has expressed that, at the moment, they do not have
projects on their offing through which we could meaningfully participate.
MEMBERSHIP
The membership of
the Union stands at 30, made up of 29 institutions from 14 countries and one
honorary member. We are hoping for a positive report from Maria Helena Palalane
Ribeiro with regard to the recruitment of Angola as well as Mrs. Mpofu for the
recruitment of Zambia. The membership of HFC Mortgage Savings (Sierra Leone)
Limited is still outstanding.
SUBSCRIPTIONS
Subscriptions were
received from twenty members at an average of R15,051.00 making a collection of
R301,020.00 plus.
Fees are still
outstanding from the following;
1)
Barclays Bank Ghana - USD 3,500
2)
Botswana Building society - USD
3,500
3)
Centage S&L Nigeria - USD 2,000
4)
MHC Malawi - USD 2,000
5)
MHF Co - USD 2,000
6)
NBS Bank Ltd Malawi - USD 3,500
7)
Rwanda Housing Bank - USD 2,000
8)
Savings and Loans Kenya - USD
3,500
Some members owe
subscriptions from much earlier years and the secretariat will provide details
of follow ups made.
I must express
that it is most disheartening that some members just do not pay their dues
without expressing or bothering to advance any financial distress on their part.
We can only implore those members in good standing to encourage their
compatriots to make good the debts.
STRATEGIC PLAN IMPLEMENTATION REVIEW
Capacity
Building
Members were
requested to respond by providing national mortgage data in the now simplified
format. The secretariat should on the other hand actively request for this data
with the help from Regional Representatives.
Government
Engagement
The topical issues
regarding Informal Settlements should be used as engagement vehicles to open
debates with Governments. The sensitive nature of this topic provides
opportunities for meaningful dialogue with relative political authorities.
Partnership
with and Reports from Regional Bodies
All these have
been discussed above under Progress Report and Capacity Building.
The Secretariat
No progress has
been made with the recruitment of a professional with a good knowledge of
Housing Finance. This has to be discussed further at the EXCO along with the
decision regarding the relocation of the Secretariat personnel to Cape Town.
The idea of
opening a US Dollar account in Botswana fell through as the EXCO Secretary
advised that since members are now paying subscription in South African Rand
there is no reason to open a USD account in Botswana.
May I take this
opportunity to thank all those who made an effort to attend this EXCO meeting in
Johannesburg.
That concludes my
report and I move for its adoption.
Reginald
Motswaiso (Chairman 2009/2010)
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