THE RIGHT TO FOOD IN ZAMBIA
FROM OUR ZAMBIAN NEWSLETTER

Poverty still remains a persistent and serious challenge here in Zambia today, despite the consistent growth of the economy in recent years. The Central Statistical Office estimates that 67% of Zambian households are unable to access a basket of basic needs, whilst 46% of Zambian households are unable to even access a basic food basket. During the fourth quarter of each year, often referred to as the “hungry season,” extreme poverty grows to over 50% of Zambian households. In other words, during this period, over half of our Zambian brothers and sisters do not have three or even two meals a day.

In early October 2007 a Lusaka woman, interviewed in the Industrial Area of the city, explained how she has been forced to provide for her family after her husband lost his job a few months earlier. Every day she goes from factory to factory looking for piece-work. For example, she is often hired to sort maize at one of the mills, where she is paid K 5,000 (roughly € 1.00) to sort ten 50 kg bags of maize.

According to a Basic Needs Basket for September last, published by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), the cost of food alone was K 511,050 for a family of six living in Lusaka. In light of high unemployment, high cost of living and low wages, the urban poor face a daunting task to earn enough income to afford basic needs. Sometimes people in these circumstances are forced to compromise on moral values in order to make ends meet.

Monthly interviews conducted by JCTR in high density areas reveal that one of the major coping strategies is the reduction of the number of meals consumed. Many households in compounds are now eating only one meal a day.

See the most recent JCTR survey here.

Reproduced with the permission of the JCTR Lusaka.

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