JCTR BASIC NEEDS BASKET: LUSAKA,AUGUST 2012

(A) COST OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS FOR A FAMILY OF FIVE IN LUSAKA

Commodity                                   Kwacha                  Quantity                            Total

Mealie Meal (breakfast)                 48,600                   2×25 Kg bags                         97,200

Beans                                                     16,100                     3 Kgs                                        48,300

Kapenta (dry)                                     55,900                   2 Kgs                                      111,800

Dry Fish (smoked)                            72,500                   1 Kg                                          72,500

Beef (mixed cut)                                28,600                   4 Kgs                                      114,400

Eggs                                                          8,800                    2 Units                                     17,600

Vegetables (greens)                           4,800                    4 Kgs                                        19,200

Tomato                                                   4,800                    4 Kgs                                        19,200

Onion                                                       4,700                    2 Kgs                                         9,400

Milk (long life)                                      5,500                    4x500ml                                22,000

Cooking oil                                           37,300                   3 litres                                      44,760

Bread                                                       5,100                    1 loaf/day                             153,000

Sugar                                                      14,600                   3x2Kgs                                    43,800

Salt                                                           3,700                    1 Kg                                            3,700

Tea (leaves)                                          51,300                   1 Kg                                          51,300

Sub-total                                                                                                                                                              K828, 160

 

(B) COST OF ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS

Charcoal                                                    108,800                            2 x 90 Kg bags         217,600

Soap (Lifebuoy)                                           4,900                             10 tablets                    49,000

Wash soap (Boom)                                      4,600                             4 x 400 g                     18,400

Jelly                                                               11,200                            1 x 500 ml                   11,200

Electricity (medium – fixed)                    372,000                                                              372,000

Water & Sanitation (med – fixed)          210,000                                                                210,000

Housing (3 bedroom)                            1,750,000                                                            1,750,000

Sub-total                                                                                                                                                              K2, 628,200

Total for Basic Needs Basket                                                                                                                 K3, 456,360

 

(C) SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS 

Item                                                       Kwacha                                 Item                                                    Kwacha

Education                                                                                             Transport (bus fare round trip):

Grades 8-9 (User + PTA/year)         K400, 000 – K600, 000        Chilenje-Town                                 K7, 200

Grades 10-12 (User + PTA/year)    K650, 000 – K1, 000,000     Chelston -Town                              K8, 000

School Uniform (grades 8-12)         K100, 000 – K200, 000         Matero-Town                                   K7, 000

Health (clinic)                                                                                       Fuel (cost at the pump)

Registration (book)                               K3, 000 – K5, 000                Petrol (per litre)                                   K8, 155

Self referral (Emergency Fee)           K 5, 500                                   Diesel (per litre)                                    K7, 566

Mosquito Net (private)                        K30, 000 – K120, 000         Paraffin (per litre)                            K5, 154

(D) SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES–”TAKE HOME PAY”

	Teacher	Nurse	Secretary in Civil Service	Average Monthly Income in Urban Low-Cost Area – CSO
Pay Slip	K1,695,174.82 to K2,725,990.49	K2,418,245.99 to K2,798,245.99	K1,633,715.49 to K2,749,227.15	K1,403,000 (2010 Living conditions survey)

 This survey was conducted on 29^th August, 2012 by the Social Conditions Programme of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection.  Average prices were calculated on the basis of prices gathered from retail outlets at Northmead, Shoprite (Cairo Road), City Market, Chawama, Chainda, Kabwata, Matero and schools, clinics/hospitals and filling stations around Lusaka.  The June Basic Needs Basket is approximately US$ 695 based upon an average middle exchange rate of 4970 Kwacha per US$ at the end of August.  

 

Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, P.O. Box 37774, 10101 Lusaka, Zambia

Tel: 260-211-290-410 Fax: 260-211-290-759 E-mail: basicjctr@jesuits.org.zm  Website: www.jctr.org.zm

Location: 3813 Martin Mwamba Road, Olympia Park, Lusaka