Consumer Diaries

JCTR PRESS RELEASE : 12/12/11

Zambia joined the world in commemorating World AIDS day under the theme, “Zero new infections, no discrimination, and Zero AIDS related deaths”. According to the 2011 UN World AIDS Day report, the infection rate in Zambia has dropped by at least 25%.  This shows a positive trend and indicative that the efforts in the fight against the epidemic are yielding positive results.  However, continued inability, for the majority of Zambians to meet their basic needs, remains one of the challenges the country is facing particularly in urban areas where HIV prevalence is still high, currently at 19%. HIV affected families remain among the most at risk groups in meeting their basic needs. This situation, threatens the very hope of this year’s message of an AIDS free generation, says JCTR Social Conditions Programme Manager, Ms. Munyongo Lumba.

Among the factors that influence the spread of HIV in Zambia is the vulnerability and marginalization of people, triggered by the inability to meet their basic needs.  When income opportunities are not readily available, people turn to less than desirable means of earning an income, by engaging in risky activities that could include exposure to HIV, creating vulnerability to disease. Among those at risk are children and women, often marginalized with few income opportunities.

According to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) that conducts the Basic Needs Basket (BNB), a tool that depicts the average cost of living for a family of six in a specific town, “a family living in Lusaka needed K2, 904,550 to afford the basic necessities in the month of November. Compared to the BNB 6 months ago, there has only been a nominal decrease of about K9, 000 clearly showing that the cost of living is not declining adequately enough. In fact, the November basket shows an upward adjustment in the prices of green vegetables and tomatoes, which are a vital source of essential vitamins and minerals necessary for maintaining adequate health and nutrition”.

The November 2011 BNB shows that the basic cost of food items was K821, 750 which is over and above the Government minimum wage enacted in January 2011 of K419, 000.  Ms Lumba says, “We welcome the new Patriot Front Government increase of tax free income from K 1million to K2million and appreciate that an indicative 80,000 low paid workers will move out of the taxable bracket. However, household food security to a large extent depends on being able to meet every individual’s daily nutritional requirements. So although statistically HIV and AIDS rate has reduced, the country is still threatened by possible new infections steered low incomes and declining welfare especially in urban areas where the HIV prevalence is still high. ”

“Food is a basic right and Government has a responsibility to ensure that it is affordable and that every Zambian can access It.” says Ms. Lumba. “Women are still disproportionately affected by HIV and carry the burden of care. Our cultural orientation that disadvantages women are among other pressing challenges in responding to the epidemic where the estimated new infections are 82,000 per year.”

JCTR wishes to reiterate that as the country collectively pursues this trajectory of Zero new infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS related deaths, Government must begin to search for quick wins in addressing poverty.  Poverty increases the vulnerability to HIV infections.  In a country where women and youth are largely unemployed and without a reliable source of income, the possibility of new HIV infections, and continuing the AIDS generation can be as basic as having limited choice on how to get money that allows an individual to eat a meal or go hungry.

[For more information, contact the social conditions programme of the JCTR, P.O Box 3774, Lusaka, Zambia; tel: 260-211-290410; fax: 260-1-290759; e-mail: jctr@jesuits.org.zm; internet: www.jctr.org.zm ]