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August 2006
(A) COST OF BASIC FOOD ITEMS FOR A FAMILY OF SIX IN LUSAKA
Commodity Kwacha Quantity Total
Mealie meal (breakfast) 33,400 3 x 25 Kg bags 100,200
Beans 6,000 2 Kgs 12,000
Kapenta (Siavonga) 35,300 2 Kgs 70,600
Dry Fish 36,700 1 Kg 36,700
Meat (mixed cut) 13,500 4 Kgs 54,000
Eggs 4,600 2 Units 9,200
Vegetables (greens) 1,700 7.5 Kgs 12,750
Tomato 2,300 4 Kgs 9,200
Onion 2,400 4 Kgs 9,600
Milk (fresh) 8,600 1 x 2 litres 8,600
Cooking oil 12,600 2 x 2 litres 25,200
Bread 2,400 1 loaf/day 72,000
Sugar 4,400 8 Kgs 35,200
Salt 2,000 1 Kg K466,150
(B) COST OF ESSENTIAL NON-FOOD ITEMS
Charcoal 38,000 2 x 90 Kg bags 76,000
Soap (Lifebuoy) 1,300 10 tablets 13,000
Wash soap (Boom) 2,500 4 x 400 g 10,000
Jelly (e.g., Vaseline) 5,000 1 x 500 ml 5,000
Electricity (medium density) 113,000 113,000
Water (medium density) 88,500 88,500
Housing (medium density) 650,000 650,000
Sub-total K955,500
Total for Basic Needs Basket K1,421,650
Totals from previous months |
Aug 05 |
Sept 05 |
Oct 05 |
Nov 05 |
Dec 05 |
Jan 06 |
Feb 06 |
Mar 06 |
Apr 06 |
May 06 |
June 06 |
July 06 |
Amount |
1,358,990 |
1,353,790 |
1,348,860 |
1,345,550 |
1,368,700 |
1,415,650 |
1,413,150 |
1,408,050 |
1,408,700 |
1,421,850 |
1,379,650 |
1,376,300 |
(C) SOME OTHER ADDITIONAL COSTS
Item Kwacha Item Kwacha
Education (PTA/user fee per year) Health (clinic / hospital fee)
Upper Basic (grades 8-9) K220,000-K350,000 Monthly Scheme (per person) K1,500
Secondary (grades 10-12) K220,000-K380,000 No Scheme Emergency Fee K8,000
Transport (bus fare round trip): Fuel (cost at the pump)
Chilenje-Town K3,800 Petrol (per litre) K5,840
Chelston-Town K4,400 Diesel (per litre) K4,765
Matero-Town K3,600 Paraffin (per litre) K3,832
“Mwezi wasila sitinakwanitse kulipila manzi ndaba banaikilako ndalama zolipila pa mwezi”
(from K3,000 to K5,000) – Woman in Kalikiliki
(D) SOME COMPARATIVE FIGURES OF WAGES--''TAKE HOME PAY''
|
Teacher |
Nurse |
Guard with Security Firm |
Secretary in Civil
Service |
Average Monthly Income in Urban Low-Cost Area - CSO |
Pieceworker
on a Farm |
Pay Slip |
K672,000 to K1,193,000 |
K748,000 to K2,105,000 |
K250,000 to K750,000 |
K653,000 to K1,190,000 |
645,326 (between
October 2004 and January 2005) |
K3,000 to K15,000
per day |
This survey was conducted on 25th to 26th August 2006 by the Social Conditions Research Project of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection. Average prices were calculated on the basis of prices gathered from retail outlets at Northmead, Town Centre (Shoprite), City Market, Chawama, Chainda, Kabwata, Materso and schools, clinics/hospitals around Lusaka. The August Basic Needs Basket is approximately US$387 based upon an average middle exchange rate of 3,675 Kwacha per US$ at the end of August.
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