The recent rise in the cost of basic food items is a cause for concern because it puts further stress on the already disadvantaged poor says JCTR, Social Conditions Programme Manager, Mr. Daniel Mutale. As a centre that has continually advocated for the ability of households to meet their basic needs, we wish to add our voice in calling government to put in place immediate measures to curb the increase in mealie meal prices and other essential commodities.
The cost of living, as measured by the JCTR’s Basic Needs Basket (BNB), for the month of August 2012 for an average family of five living in Lusaka stood at K 3, 456,360. This shows an increase in the cost of living given that July’s Basic Needs Basket (BNB) was K3, 445,000. Notable in the August Basic Needs was a significant increase in the cost of basic food items. For the month of August 2012, the cost of basic food items was K828, 160 representing an increase of K44, 560. ‘Such a substantial rise in the cost of basic food items counters the purpose of policies like the recently adjusted minimum wage to foster decent living conditions among the disadvantaged workers,’ observes Mr. Daniel Mutale, Social Conditions Programme Manager at the JCTR.
The observed increase in the cost of basic food items emanated from the rise in the cost of commodities such as mealie-meal, beef and cooking oil among others. While the price of mealie-meal increased by at least K 4,000 in the month of August, beef and cooking oil prices rose by an average of K3,500 and K2, 800, respectively. For the JCTR, the increase in the price of Mealie-Meal is of particular concern given that it is occurring during the maize marketing season. According to Mr. Mutale, ‘the high cost of mealie-meal reveals gaps in the current maize marketing practice which needs the attention of relevant authorities’.
Given the above developments, the JCTR is calling government to immediately put in place measures to mitigate the rising cost of basic food items in the country. It is imperative that policies to offset the rise in inflation due to increase in basic food prices are put in place. Further, the recently announced minimum wage will have no real effect on the lives of concerned workers if the cost of living continues to rise. The rise in the cost of basic food items such as mealie-meal possess a threat to the existing high poverty levels in the country as the majority poor may not access good nutrition necessary for decent living.
For more information, contact Social Conditions Programme of
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, P.O. Box 37774, 10101 Lusaka, Zambia
Tel: 260-211-290-410 Fax: 260-211-290-759 E-mail: basicjctr@jesuits.org.zm Website: www.jctr.org.zm
Location: 3813 Martin Mwamba Road, Olympia Park, Lusaka
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