September 2006 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket: JCTR Challenges Water Companies to Make Water Avaliable to all, as New Water Tarriffs Greatly Impact the Basic Needs Basket
Abstract
The Social Conditions Research Project of the JCTR conducts monthly research on the cost of basic
needs within a number of urban areas across Zambia, including Lusaka, Ndola, Kitwe, Luanshya,
Kabwe and Livingstone. For the month of August, the cost of the Basic Needs Basket stood at
K1,421,650 in Lusaka, K1,215,670 in Ndola, K904,790 in Luanshya, K962,010 in Kabwe and
K1,198,150 in Livingstone. In Lusaka, decreases in the cost of mealie meal, dry fish and charcoal
were more than offset by the increase in the cost of water, with the total Basic Needs Basket
increasing by about K45,000 between July and August.
Description
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection has expressed concern over the high cost of water in a
number of urban areas across Zambia, a situation which is making water unaffordable to the majority
of Zambians, especially the poor. As guaranteed by Article 25 of the Universal Declarations of
Human Rights, all households have a right to basic social services, such as water. The failure of
some water companies to make water accessible and affordable to all households is one of the most
pressing issues in the country, especially as families without a clean source of water are prone to
water-borne illness and diarrhoea.