China Development Bank provides $37 million loan for the 3000 Sambizanga Social Housing Units Project

Project narrative

In 2016, China Development Bank (CDB) and the Government of Angola signed a $37 million loan agreement for the 3000 Sambizanga Social Housing Units Project. This loan was reportedly obtained through a master loan facility agreement. The borrowing terms of the loan are unknown. This project involved the construction of 3,000 social housing units for families whose land was expropriated under a presidential order. This project took place in Sambizanga district within the city of Luanda. Sambizanga is one of the six districts in the municipality of Luanda. It consists of the communes of Sambizanga, Bairro Operário and Ngola Kiluanje. It has 14.5 square kilometers and about 244,000 inhabitants. In late June 2016, China Gezhouba Group Company was awarded the $137.3 million commercial contract. A groundbreaking ceremony for this project took place on 1 August 2016. The first phase of 576 housing units was completed and inhabited in 2018. A set of schools for the neighborhood were handed over in January 2020. The second phase of 1470 houses and supporting municipalities were handed over to owners and completed immigration in 2021. On 19 May 2021, a foundation-laying ceremony was held for the police station, school, and medical center in the new Sambizanga neighborhood. Construction of the third phase of 954 houses is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.