Some small-scale traders at Lusaka’s Kalingalinga Market say the high cost of living has made it nearly impossible for them to meet their daily needs.
The traders have told Diamond News that their earnings, which peak at about K6,000 including capital, fall far below the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection’s (JCTR) estimated monthly cost of living for a family of five, currently standing at K11,200.
Many say they are surviving by rationing basic goods and skipping meals to stretch their limited income.
Some traders are now calling on the government to create a better business environment for small traders that can help them meet their daily needs.
By Emmanuel Lungu
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