More Face Poverty As Living Costs Rise Again

According to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) more Zambians face the prospect of becoming trapped in poverty as a result of the high levels of inflation in the country.  

Inflation is at its highest rate since 2016 and reached 21.5% in January, which has pushed the cost of living to over K8,394.01.  

The JCTR base their calculations on the cost for a family of five according to their Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB). The cost for January was a rise of K989.96 since December 2020, when the basket stood at K7,404.05. This was the highest month-on-month price movement since January 2020. In January 2021 the same basket of goods costs 13.26% more than in January 2020. 

Commenting on the rise JCTR social and economic development programme manager Chama Mundia explained, “This has been the highest annual inflation rate since April 2016. But a look at selected items on the JCTR BNNB, shows an average increase of 50 per cent between January 2020 and January 2021 for foods such as beef, beans, chicken and milk. The price of beef increased by 67.74 per cent from K72.71 per 2kg to K133.71 per 2kg, milk shows a 55.59 per cent increase, beans increased by 53.92 per cent and chicken increased by 31.62 per cent.” 

“Thus, indicative of the significant challenges that Zambian households are facing in meeting their day-to-day basic needs,” she continued. 

“Failure to address the nation’s macroeconomic challenges and provision of adequate social protection will continue to push individuals with no or lower incomes further into the poverty trap thus eroding Zambians’ ability to live dignified lives,” Mundia cautioned.