March 2003 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket: JCTR Links Cost of Living Issues with War in IRAQ
Abstract
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) says the monthly Basic Needs Basket continues to show that high demands are being placed on families to meet their daily needs of food and other non-food essentials. In the latest Basic Needs Basket report for March 2003, a family of six in Lusaka requires K400,050 to meet its needs of food only. If other essential non-food items such as energy, wash and bath soap, housing water, etc., are added to the cost of food, the amount goes as high as K1,033,750. “Indeed the cost of the Basic Needs Basket would even be much higher if costs such as personal care, transport, clothes, health and education were added,” says Muweme Muweme, Coordinator of the Social Conditions Research Project of the JCTR.
Description
Adding to the uncertainly of the socio-economic situation in Zambia is the tragedy of the war in Iraq. “We know very well that while Iraq is very far away geographically” says Muweme, “the consequences of the war are in fact very close to us in Zambia.” The price of oil will go up, affecting food prices here, development assistance will be diverted, debt relief will be delayed, and political instability will be fostered.