Cost of living for family living in LSK increases

The cost of living for a family of five living in Lusaka for the month of March 2022 has increased to 9, 411 kwacha-50 ngwee from 9, 305 kwacha-38 ngwee recorded in February 2022 representing a 106 kwacha.12 ngwee increase.

This is according to the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection -JCTR basic needs and nutrition basket-BNNB released today.

The overall, total food cost increased by a larger margin than non-food cost.

The upward movement in the basket is attributed to increased prices of items such as a 25 kilogram bags of roller mealie meal which went up from 102 kwacha, 82 -ngwee to 138 kwacha, 1 kilogram of kapenta also went up from 249 kwacha 52 ngwee to 290 kwacha, 40 kilogram of vegetables also went up from 566-kwacha 41-ngweee to 580 kwacha-49-ngwee. 

Additionally, the basket also recorded increases in the price of 3.6 litres of cooking oil which went up from 159 kwacha-63 ngwee to 165 kwacha. 

However, the basket recorded decreases in 4 kilogram of onion in view of increased domestic supply of the commodity.

JCTR Programme Manager Chama Mundia says the Centre remains concerned, that the consistent rise in the cost of living will inevitably hit hard on the majority of the Zambian people given high poverty levels pegged at over 54 percent and very low incomes.

She has reiterated the need for government through the Energy Regulation Board [ERB] to revert to 90 day pump price review cycles as opposed to 30 day review cycles to stabilize the pump price of fuel.