May 2002 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket: JCTR Encouraged by Government Declaration of National Disaster but Calls for Looking Beyond Current Situation
Abstract
The JCTR Basic Needs Basket --which measures cost of living for a family of six for the month of May now stands at K814,350, slightly declining by K11,150 from the month of April figure of K825,500. This reduction can be attributed to marginal declines in the cost of mealie meal, kapenta and charcoal. The cost of food only for May is K317,150 compared to April's figure of K326,300. However, cost of living is still very high for many households in Zambia.
Description
The JCTR is encouraged by government for declaring a national disaster in view of the
current food situation in the country. ''However,'' says Muweme, ''it will be important to see
that declaration in concrete terms through enabling households to have access to food, an
important element to human dignity.