The blog

What Are Property Rates in Zambia Actually Paying For? If you’ve been following the recent conversation about property rates in ... Read More

Recently, I came across an article that caught my attention. It suggested that a growing number of executive apartments in Lusaka are sitting empty. As someone who spends a lot of time talking to Zambians in the diaspora about property investment, I found that very interesting!  After all, luxury apartments have long been seen as one of the most desirable property investments in the city. So I sat down with Goodson Ngambi of Broadleaf Urban Properties to understand what is really happening in the market. What emerged from our conversation wasn't a story about a collapsing property market.  It was a story about changing demand. ... Read More

If you're building in Zambia while living abroad, hiring a caretaker can seem like the obvious solution. After all, somebody needs to watch over the property and keep an eye on building materials. And to be fair, many caretakers do exactly that. They are honest, hardworking and provide valuable support to property owners. But over the years, I've also seen situations where the person entrusted to protect a property became the biggest risk to it. The problem is rarely the caretaker himself. The real problem is relying on one person without proper oversight, accountability or independent verification. Let me share a few examples. ... Read More

This question’s been coming up alot lately: “Should I invest in treasury bills or property?” It’s a very valid question. Over the last few years, more Zambians, including those in the diaspora, have become increasingly interested in government bonds and treasury bills because of the attractive interest rates being offered locally. At the same time, property has remained one of the most popular ways people build wealth, preserve value and create long-term security. So which investment is actually better? Recently, I sat down with financial advisor Kalopa Chipati from Pangaea Securities to debate this exact topic. And interestingly, the conversation revealed that the answer is far more nuanced than I thought. ... Read More