Dear Friends of the JCTR Bulletin::
The year 2000 has come to pass. Before this happened, there was a lot of speculation surrounding the year about ''this and that'' taking place. On one end there was speculation about witnessing something extra-ordinary happening at the turn of the century: the predicted coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It is also the year that will be remembered for the much-talked about and expected failure in computer systems around the world as a result of their non-compliance with the year 2000. These and other predicted events that could have impacted negatively on society did not come to pass--thank God!

Still in terms of international happenings, one of the remarkable events was the USA Presidential Elections that saw George W. Bush ''controversially'' assuming the Presidency. One international magazine as a result of the controversy carried a story under the title ''The Accidental President". Going by the unfolding events at the time, one would find it hard to dispute that kind of title!

In Zambia, and in cyclic fashion beginning each year, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development presents a National Budget to Parliament spelling out government's economic plans, income and expenditure for the year. In Zambia it is truly in ''cyclic fashion'' because not much seems to be achieved in terms of what is spelt out, especially in relation to addressing the needs and concerns of the poor.

This renders the whole exercise more or less a routine one without results and even in some cases eliciting apathy from many people. The conditions of living continue to get worse: heightened hardships, continued deprivation in all its various forms on the part of the majority of the people. When will this situation change or indeed start changing for the better?

The JCTR monthly food basket which estimates how much it takes to feed a family of six in Lusaka (without added costs of education, health, transport, etc.) for December 2000 stood at K312,695 (this is approximately US$90.00). This is very high-up for the majority of the people to afford. While the cost of the basket rose from K263,370 in January 2000, wages remained stagnant and lost value in real terms.

Complete letter

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