JCTR BASIC NEEDS BASKET: LUSAKA
January 2010
(A) COST OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IN LUSAKA
Commodity Kwacha Quantity Total
Mealie meal (breakfast) 51,700 3 x 25 Kg bags 155,100
Beans 9,300 2 Kgs 18,600
Kapenta (Siavonga) 100,500 2 Kgs 201,000
Dry Fish 106,700 1 Kg 106,700
Meat (mixed cut) 26,000 4 Kgs 104,000
Eggs 7,900 2 Units 15,800
Vegetables (greens) 5,000 7.5 Kgs 37,500
Tomato 5,700 4 Kgs 22,800
Onion 7,900 4Kgs 31,600
Milk (fresh) 12,900 1 x 2 litres 12,900
Cooking oil 29,200 2 x 2 litres 58,400
Bread 4,300 1 loaf/day 129,000
Sugar 6,300 8 Kgs 50,400
Salt 3,200 1 Kg 3,200
Tea (leaves) 9,700 1 x 500 g 9,700
Sub-total K956, 700
(B) COST OF ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS
Charcoal 83,600 2 x 90 Kg bags 167, 200
Soap (lifebuoy) 3,000 10 tablets 30,000
Wash soap (Boom) 4,300 4 x 400 g 17,200
Jelly (e.g., Vaseline) 8,000 1 x 500 ml 8,000
Electricity (medium density) 130,000 300 units 130,000
Water & Sanitation (med - fixed) 210,000 210,000
Housing (medium density) 1,800,000 1,800,000
Sub-total K2, 062,400
Total for Basic Needs Basket K3, 019,100
| Totals from previous months | Jan 10 | Feb 10 | Mar 10 | Apr 10 | May 10 | Jun10 | Jul 10 | Aug 10 | Sept 10 | Oct 09 | Nov 10 | Dec 10 |
| Amount | 2,696,030 | 2,713,580 | 2,771,930 | 2,778,680 | 2,798,580 | 2,799,280 | 2,809,480 | 2,828,780 | 2,850,680 | 2,877,830 | 2,861,480 | 2,879,430 |
(C) SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS
Item Kwacha Item Kwacha
Education Transport (bus fare round trip):
Grades 8-9 (User+PTA/year) K350, 000 – K470, 000 Chilenje-Town K6, 000
Grades 10-12 (User+PTA/year) K600, 000 – K900, 000 Chelston-Town K7, 000
School Uniform (grades 8-12) K90, 000 – K200, 000 Matero-Town K5, 400
Health (clinic) Fuel (cost at the pump)
3 Month Scheme (per person) K5, 000 Petrol (per litre) K7, 639
No Scheme Emergency Fee K5, 500 Diesel (per litre) K6, 999
Mosquito Net (private) K30, 000 – K120, 000 Paraffin (per litre) K5,030
(D) SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES--''TAKE HOME PAY''
| | Teacher | Nurse | Guard with Security Firm | Secretary in CivilService | Average Monthly Income in Urban Low-Cost Area - CSO | Pieceworkeron a Farm |
| Pay Slip | K1,300,300 to K2,200,600 | K1,300,000 to K3,450,000 | K250,000 to K850,000 | K1,390,500 to K1,900,000 | 645,326 (between October 2004 and January 2005) | K5,000 to K15,000 per day |
This survey was conducted on 30 January 2011 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 (Kafue Road), and City Market, Chawama, Chainda, Kabwata, Matero and schools, clinics/hospitals around Lusaka. The January Basic Needs Basket is approximately US$629 based upon an average middle exchange rate of 4800 Kwacha per US$ at the end of January.
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Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection, P.O. Box 37774Lusaka , Zambia
Tel: 260-211-290-410 Fax: 260-211-290-759 E-mail: basicjctr@jesuits.org.zm Internet: www.jctr.org.zm
Location: 3813 Martin Mwamba Road, Olympia Park, Lusaka
