An estimated Basic Needs Basket for a family of Six in Lusaka May 2006 |
(A) Cost of Basic Food Items
| Commodity | Kwacha |
Quantity |
Final Total
(K) |
|||
| Mealie Meal (Breakfast) | 38,700 |
3 x 25 Kg bags |
116,200 |
|||
| Beans | 6,300 |
2
Kgs |
12,600 |
|||
| Kapenta (Siavonga) | 36,700 |
2
Kg |
73,400 |
|||
| Dry Fish | 49,000 |
1 Kg |
49,000 |
|||
| Meat (Mixed Cut) | 13,400 |
4
Kgs |
53,600 |
|||
| Eggs | 4,800 |
2
Units |
9,300 |
|||
| Vegetable (Greens) | 1,700 |
7.5
Kgs |
12,750 |
|||
| Tomato | 3,400 |
4
Kgs |
13,600 |
|||
| Onion | 3,500 |
4
Kgs |
14,000 |
|||
| Milk (Fresh) | 9,300 |
1
x 2
Litres |
.9,300 |
|||
| Cooking Oil | 14,400 |
2
x
2 litres |
28,800 |
|||
| Bread | 2,400 |
1 loaf/day |
72,000 |
|||
| Sugar | 4,500 |
8Kgs |
36,000 |
|||
| Salt | 2,100 |
1
Kg |
2,100 |
|||
| Tea (Leaves) | 8,700 |
1
X 500 g |
8,700 |
|||
| Sub Total | K
511,550 |
(B) Cost of Essential Non-Food Items
| Commodity | Kwacha | Quantity |
Final Total (K) |
|||
| Charcoal | 43,000 |
2 x 90Kg bags | 86,000 |
|||
Soap (Lifebuoy) |
1,200 |
10 tablets | 12,000 |
|||
Wash Soap (Paste) |
2,500 |
4 x 400g | 10,000 |
|||
| Jelly (e.g. Vaseline) | 5,300 | 1 x 500ml | 5,300 | |||
| Electricity | 113,000 | 113,000 | ||||
| Water (Medium Density) | 34,000 | 34,000 | ||||
| Housing (Medium Density) | 650,000 | 650,000 | ||||
| Sub Total | K 910,300 | |||||
| Total for Basic Needs Basket | K 1,421,850 | |||||
Monthly TOTALS for 2006 |
Jan |
Feb |
March |
April |
May |
|||||||
(C) Some Other Additional Costs
| Item | Kwacha |
| Education (per year-PTA) | |
| Upper Basic (grades 8-9) | K220,000 - K350,000 |
| Secondary (grades 10-12) | K220,000 -K380,000 |
| Health (Clinic/ Hospital Fee) | |
| Monthly Scheme (per person) | K1,500 |
| No Scheme Emergency Fee | K8,000 |
| Transport Bus Fare round trip: | |
| Chilenje - Town | K 3,800 |
| Chelstone - Town | K 4,400 |
| Matero - Town | K 3,600 |
| Fuel (Cost at the pump) | |
| Petrol (per litre) | K 5,450 |
| Diesel (per litre) | K 4,667 |
| Paraffin (per litre) | K 3,653 |
“Nchito yo pwanya myala ni yobvuta. Penango myezi ibili imapita osagulisapo” – Woman in Kalingalinga |
|
(D) Some Comparative Figures of wages - "Take Home Pay"
Teacher |
Nurse |
Guard
in Security Firm |
Secretary in civil Service |
Police Officer
(Constable-Chief Inspector) |
Pieceworker on a
farm |
|
| Pay Slip | K407,000 to K913,000 |
K577,000 to K1,861,000 |
K120,000 to K715,000 |
K493,000 to K989,000 |
K375,000 to K679,000 |
K3,000 to K15,000 per day |
|
This survey was conducted on 29th and 31st May 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, Matero and schools, clinics/ hospitals around Lusaka. The February Basic Needs Basket is approximately US $410 based upon an average middle exchange rate of 3470 Kwacha per US $ at the end of May.