The cost of living in Lusaka has continued to rise, with the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection—JCTR—reporting that its Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket increased to 12,000.94 Kwacha in August from 11,698.42 Kwacha in July, representing an increase of 302.52 Kwacha.
The JCTR says the August basket was above the national average of 8,480.72 Kwacha, with seven of the 16 districts surveyed recording baskets above the average. These are Chipata, Kabwe, Kitwe, Livingstone, Solwezi, Ndola and Lusaka.
Lusaka recorded the highest basket at 12,000.94 Kwacha, followed by Ndola at 10,444.93 Kwacha and Solwezi at 10,365.22 Kwacha. Chinsali recorded the lowest basket at 6,669.41 Kwacha, followed by Mongu at 6,755.94 Kwacha and Mansa at 6,869.35 Kwacha.
The Centre says the increase was largely driven by higher vegetable prices. In Chinsali, the essential food component increased from 3,862.17 Kwacha in July to 4,225.41 Kwacha in August, while in Lusaka it rose from 4,772.36 Kwacha to 5,207.36 Kwacha.
The price of a 40kg bag of vegetables increased from 68.38 Kwacha to 79.70 Kwacha, while bananas rose from 20.43 Kwacha to 27.19 Kwacha per kilogram.
However, JCTR notes that some key staples became cheaper, with the price of a 25kg bag of roller-meal declining from 189.00 Kwacha to 159.28 Kwacha in Lusaka, 204.99 Kwacha to 180.83 Kwacha in Livingstone, and 203.40 Kwacha to 181.14 Kwacha in Kasama.
Charcoal prices were also relatively stable, although Lusaka recorded a decline from 813.33 Kwacha in July to 741.67 Kwacha in August, while Ndola recorded a reduction from 790.00 Kwacha to 770.00 Kwacha.
With forecasts of a potentially severe El Niño event, JCTR is urging Government and cooperating partners to strengthen preparedness and put in place anticipatory measures to protect food production, water and energy availability, household incomes and prices.
The Centre is also calling for stronger local agricultural production, stable food supplies, affordable energy sources and targeted social protection to cushion vulnerable households from further cost-of-living pressures.
By Rachel Mumba
