March 2003 Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket: Government must Resolve Threats of Current Work Stoppages Justly, Says JCTR

The threats of work stoppages prevailing in the country today must be resolved in ways that take care of the needs of both the employees and the employers, says the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR). “This essential two-way relationship,” says Muweme Muweme, Coordinator of the Social Conditions Research Project of the JCTR, “has on many occasions in the Zambian context not been beneficial to the employees.”According to the latest JCTR Basic Needs Basket, the overall cost of basic needs hasincreased by K6,150 from K1,029,150 for the month of January to K1,035,300 for the month of February. The cost of non-essential food items shows an increase of K4,400 from the January cost of K628,100 to K632,500. The cost of food only has increased from K401,050 for the month of January to K402,800 for the month of February. This increase is mainly due to upward adjustments in the prices of mealie meal and cooking oil. It must be realized that what the Basic Needs Basket highlights is not a total picture of what it takes for decent human living. For example, personal care, transport, health, etc., are not included in its calculation. However, it forms a fairly accurate picture of cost of living and its relationship to people’s incomesIrish Aid and Joint Country Programm