July 2024 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket Statement: A Call for Action to Address the High Cost of Living

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) issued a statement on August 2, 2024, highlighting the rising cost of living in Zambia as reflected by the increase in the Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) to K10,575.93. Significant price hikes in essential commodities, such as roller mealie meal, kapenta, and vegetables, alongside a reduction in the price of charcoal, have placed a heavy burden on average and poor households. The statement attributes these increases to factors like the depreciation of the kwacha, adverse rainfall patterns, and seasonal food availability, which exacerbate food security issues and threaten human dignity by making basic necessities unaffordable. Despite government initiatives aimed at alleviating economic hardships, these efforts have not yielded significant improvements, prompting the JCTR to recommend stronger, targeted measures. These include a clear government strategy focusing on income and cost-based approaches, enhancing food production through crop diversification and winter farming, and evaluating empowerment programs to ensure their effectiveness. The JCTR calls on the government to fulfil its responsibility in protecting citizens' rights and dignity by taking decisive action to curb the rising cost of living.