Basic Needs Basket Press Releases!

Cycle of unfulfilled development commitments must come to an end: food needs of the people must be met at all times, observes JCTR May 2008 Disheartening in situations of prolonged inadequate food availability at the household level is that it tends to eventually be seen as a norm.  Unfortunately, for most of Africa, inadequate food availability, disease, ignorance, etc., are occurrences that have not received the necessary urgency in reactions or redress. 

Increasing food prices: The JCTR Basic Needs Basket tells it all. April 2008 The provision of sustained affordable cost of living has historically proved to be a challenge to most African economies.  This challenge will become even more formidable than before given current increases in global and national food prices.

As cost of basic food continues to increase, JCTR asks for a heightened expressive, operative and evaluative “mainstream” response March 2008 The cost of basic food for a family of six has continued to increase. These increases pose some challenge to policy measures designed to cushion high cost of living such as the tax exemption threshold of K600,000.

JCTR says rapidly increasing food prices pose serious challenges to human development. February 2008For long-term benefits, paying much attention to peoples’ skills development through a sound education system, including ensuring that people lead healthy lives.

Huge increase in cost of basic needs in the midst of “decreased” urban poverty. January 2008 The cost of basic needs for an average family size of six has increased significantly in the midst of government’s pronouncement of the 2008 national budget and reduced urban poverty.

Increment of Electricity Tariffs to Challenge Zambian Households Ability to Meet Basic Needs, says JCTR December 2007

JCTR says rural development a matter of urgency as it launches its rural basket initiative November 2007
Zambia’s struggles with improving living conditions of the people are more evident in rural areas and call for unprecedented, holistic creative efforts in addressing them.

Expansion of household expenditure choices remains Zambia’s major challenge October 2007
Households’ inability to meet adequate food consumption not only result in malnutrition and other undesirable strategies to “make less last long” but also implies incessant household preoccupation with the quest for adequate food consumption and the freedom to be creative is seriously compromised

JCTR research on struggle to meet basic needs exposes challenges in health sector
September 2007 There is an alarming trend where households in urban areas are running to ‘community drug stores’ as the first-stop in seeking medical attention. JCTR encourages the government to prioritise interventions that will help the poor, especially women, access life.

Attainment of Basic Needs central to human development and the empowerment of people
August 2007 The Basic Needs Basket through its monthly estimation of cost of living shows whether people are moving towards more human conditions of existence, therefore becoming active participants in creating empowering conditions, or are stagnant in their conditions, or moving backwards.

Basic Needs Basket records decline in cost: What implications for farmers? July 2007
Two observations, are worth underscoring.  The first is that it is a favourable situation to the urban households as they experience some relief in relation to cost of living.  The second is the importance of agriculture in determining living conditions of the people 

Why can’t Zambia develop creative alternatives? asks the JCTR May 2007 One of Zambia’s and Africa’s development dilemmas is the issue of developing a base of critical knowledge that is locally generated, reinforcing and well elaborated in responding to the longstanding challenge of moving beyond being primary producers of commodities. 

JCTR Basic Needs Basket records K4, 650 increase in cost of basic food April 2007
Important thing to note regarding this situation of prices is the seasonality and policy dimensions in offering explanation. 

Government efforts to re-look at the Development Agreements relating to mines must be expeditious and seriously encouraged… March 2007
There is dire need to improve the nation’s resource base for investment in education, health, employment creation, diversification of the economy, etc

Households as “epicentre” of high cost of living...
February 2007
JCTR findings confirm households inablity to save money. Although it is encouraged for households to provide some form of social protection, it is important to recognise that the inability to save and invest, is detrimental to the Zambian economy.

Huge rise in the cost of the food basket: lower and stable food costs must remain central to development strategy January 2007
Zambia’s economy has remained seriously vulnerable to external pressures such as oil prices at the international market. However, the JCTR asks if the whole issue is truly beyond Zambia’s control.

Good agriculture yields positive influence on living conditions, reveals JCTR 2006 development reflection December 2006
Other than agriculture, it is difficult to draw conclusions regarding the other much talked about economic gains of 2006 such as the reduction in inflation, and the appreciation of the Kwacha in relation to their positive impact on reducing the cost of food or improvement in the lives of the people

Basket of Needs shows mixed price behaviour of commodities: More pragmatism in development needed. November 2006
Moreover, although it is difficult for households to store enough food during times of plenty because of serious competing needs of education, health, personal care, etc.,

Tax reform long-overdue, encouraged by government plans for urgent redress, observes the JCTR
October 2006
A broadened tax base means that there will be sharing of the tax burden across a broader spectrum of society and not only restricted to those in the formal sector, the easiest sector to reach

Development efforts must be accelerated in Zambia: JCTR backs calls for a more robust response to needs of the people. September 2006
The endured long years of dehumanising experiences that have placed people in desperate situations must come to an end.

JCTR challenges water companies to make water available to all, as new water tariffs greatly impact The Basic Needs Basket. August 2006
JCTR has concern about the high cost of water and sanitation in a number of urban areas across Zambia. With the prevailing high levels of unemployment, typically low wages and high cost of other basic needs, families are finding themselves unable to pay water bills and are being disconnected.”

JCTR asks: Will the needs of the Zambian People be met by the Fifth National Development Plan?
July 2006
An important thing to note about the social sectors compared to other sectors is the fact that to some extent both education and health budgets were worked out based on real needs. The JCTR considers this to be highly desirable in order to meet Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Production essential to Basic Needs Basket decline, says the JCTR. June 2006
As production remains central to ensuring that people’s incomes allow families to afford basic needs of life, it is also true that all good efforts of productivity must be matched with good legislation that will protect, especially the workers, from the greed of profit maximisation at the expense of people’s welfare

JCTR Basic Needs Basket reveals cross town cost variations with maize and dry fish making the difference, May 2006
The cost of food in Kabwe, Ndola and Luanshya has shown some decline while that of Livingstone and Lusaka has increased.  This observation is according to the JCTR Basic Needs Basket information for the month of May which has also shown the cost of fish as the main explanation for the mixed picture in the overall cost of food across these towns.

JCTR says present employment situation must not be a way of life, Labour Day celebrations must advance action. April 2006
"As Zambia celebrates Labour Day, there is an urgent need for pragmatic steps in addressing the country’s employment situation beyond considerations of the informal sector as a buffer to the situation. there is a compelling need of a well planned type of response including a serious examination of our education system -- to address the problem.

JCTR calls for introduction of a serious feeding programme in all primary schools. March 2006
The JCTR makes this call in light of three major factors.  First, on the basis of the Basic Needs Basket information that has increasingly shown household difficult economic situations. Second, as a response to the recently launched 2006 UNICEF Report “State of The World’s Children.” Third, on the basis of the recent World Bank Report entitled “Repositioning of Nutrition as Central to Development.”

Can Kwacha appreciation be appreciated by the people? February 2006
"While appreciating the complexities of the free market, shouldn’t the Kwacha’s appreciation have bearing on the cost of essential items in all parts of Zambia, especially with significant reductions seen recently in the cost of fuel, and correspondingly, transportation?”.”

JCTR Reflections on 2005: Improvement of Nations Macro-Economic situaqtions paramount; January 2006

Monthly cost of food alone at K506,150: Is the gain in the value of the Kwacha helping the people? - November 2005
The strength of the Kwacha has not had any perceivable relationship to the reduction of key production ingredients..."

Why have we not realised the value of education and health all the tim? - August 2005
“It is in such a context that the JCTR strongly endorses the view of President Levy Patrick Mwanawasa,...”

Inadequate responses and complex interaction of factors behind increases in poverty - March 2005
But what is important to realise is that addressing the challenge of high cost of living and other associated problems...

Basket reveals difficult times for households during end and start of the year; March 2005
Instead of observing the high cost of living and inadequate food supplies at the end and beginning of each year as a norm...

Year 2004 ends with food alone costing K481,540; January 2005
Any claims of improvements in Zambia’s economy should be judged by no other criteria than quality of life indicators such as... 

About the BNB Press Releases

Our press releases analyze the trends and implications of a given months figures in the Basic Needs Basket.

The cost of living – indeed the cost of surviving – is for most residents of Lusaka quite out of reach when the Basic Needs Basket is used as the norm.

Our Press Releases contribute towards uplifting people’s lives through exposing the household struggle in meeting basic needs. The Basic Needs Basket has prompted research into many issues whose results have been used in promoting actions that improve social capital.

Press Releases

Press Releases are sent to many organisations, individuals, newspaper, radio and TV station news rooms. Contact us if you wish to be added to our mailing list for press releases

Debt, Aid and Trade Programme!

World Debt Day, 16 May 2008 Jubilee-Zambia/JCTR Announce “FINISH THE WORK” on Debt Campaign! Having Zambia’s debt cancelled was one of Jubilee-Zambia’s major goals from inception ten years ago and it was a moment of relief to see Zambia’s debt cancelled in the last three years. 14 May 2008

IMF advice for new energy borrowing risks creating a “moral hazard syndrome,” warns JCTR!  The visiting mission from the International Monetary Fund, proposed to the Zambian government a set of measures aimed at resolving the problems facing the energy sector.  They include “external borrowing” to assist the ailing energy sector particularly for investment in additional capacity. 26 March 2008

JCTR Launches Comprehensive Debt Management Proposals and Debt Resources Monitoring Manual
“Two years after attaining the HIPC initiative completion point, Zambia has not made significant achievements in reforming policies, institutions and laws which contributed to the rise of the debt”...
29 November 2007

"Government should provide credible information on Zambia’s external debt portfolio.” 03 October 2007

“Zambia’s first president, Dr. Kenneth Kaunda fasts for “responsible borrowing” and “responsible lending” in solidarity with jubilee movements 10 October 2007

2 Years After Gleneagles Promises on Debt, Vulture Funds Undermining G8 Debt Deal 06 June 2007 Campaigners demand immediate G8 action to declare Vulture Fund profiteering illegal

The vulture fund finally bites Zambia and flies away, who next? 26 April 2007
Jubilee - Zambia statement on the vulture fund judgment requiring Zambia to pay US$ 15.5 million to Donegal International

Joint Statement on Economic Partnership Agreements on the EPA International Day Of Action,19 April 2007
All stakeholders, especially poor countries, are definitely concerned about the process and content of the negotiations

“Stop bulldozing the EPA negotiation!” Jubilee and CSTNZ tell EU. 21 March 2007
Jubilee-Zambia and Civil Society Trade Network of Zambia have called on Peter Mandelson, the EU’s Trade Commissioner to stick to the rules of negotiating the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) as provided for under Article 37.6 of the Cotononou Agreement.

Oxfam and Jubilee Call for Action as Vulture swoops on Zambia’s Case 15 February 2007
Since qualifying for debt relief, Zambia has introduced free primary rural healthcare and announced plans to employ 4,500 teachers and 1,900 medical personal. If Donegal International wins this case, Zambia’s plans for poverty reduction will be severely undermined.

“Jubilee – Zambia Shocked by government’s misappropriation of HIPC funds.” 01 February 2007
We are very worried that this trend may continue if government does not put in place strict monitoring and accountability measures on the use of debt relief money.

Jubilee - Zambia reflects on 2006 national budget, calls for people centred 2007 budget. December 2006
“Good intentions in the 2006 National budget have not translated into positive actions to uplift the living standards of the majority Zambians, who are poor,"

Jubilee-Zambia intensifies campaign on trade justice. 20 November 2006
While the Jubilee-Zambia is pleased that the large-scale debt cancellation has succeeded, it recognizes the necessity for Zambians to join hands again in unveiling the root causes of the past debt burden and campaign for their elimination unfair.

The EPAs should result in tangible development outcomes for Zambia, says the JCTR. October 2006
In view of Zambia’s goals embodied in the FNDP, Vision 2030 document, and the regional development initiatives, there are a number of emerging issues from the EPA negotiations, which have the potential of undermining these development programmes.

MDRI Debt Cancellation Welcome, But Not Yet 'Uhuru' for Zambia! July 2006
The Heavily Indebted Poor Countries (HIPC) Initiative proved that both bilateral and multilateral debts can be reduced but the MDRI has gone further to demonstrate that multilateral debts, if accompanied by political will, can be completely written off.

Zambia’s Trade Situation: Implications for Debt and Poverty Reduction. September 2005
"It is not easy to trace the direct impact of trade on poverty mainly because most of the links between the two are case specific. ."

Church Social Teaching Programme

True Freedom cannot be realised in Zambia without Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in the new Constitution, Says JCTR. 23 May 2008
There should be institutional frameworks and structures to guarantee the full range of human freedoms and rights.

Inclusion of economic, social and cultural rights in the new constitution a must, says JCTR. May 2008
It has to be realised that many development challenges in Zambia are linked to Economic, Social and Cultural rights. For instance, meeting the Millennium Development Goals

How independent are we on Independence Day 2006? JCTR calls for a new bill of rights. October 2006

JCTR study on education reveals no free primary education in Zambia, calls for scaling up of bursaries and school feeding programmes. August 2006

At the launch of “HIV and AIDS: A justice perspective”, JCTR calls for a more holistic response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 19 April 2006

JCTR links constitutional process and content in response to the CRC Draft; October 2005

Zambia; October 2005
"While the MDGs represent an ambitious set of targets, this paper argues that with renewed commitment, it is possible for the country to overcome the challenges and meet the MDGs.

Constitutional compromise - Is it the only way forward?; August 2005
"The constant and seemingly deliberate delay to move forward the constitutional reform effectively – the most recent example being the failure to print adequate copies..."

JCTR calls for serious efforts at meeting Millennium Development Goals in Zambia August 2005
“At another level, the failure to reduce the number of people suffering from hunger is indicative of the inadequate attention being given to the attainment of MDGs”

Good Constitution And Good Theology: You Can’t Have One Without The Other!July 2005
“It is disturbing to read of the negative reactions of some church people to the dropping of the “Christian Nation” clause in the Preamble of the draft of our new Constitution. 

Zambian NGOs submit to the United Nations Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights in Geneva; May 2005

More efforts needed at addressing the challenges of employment creation;May 2005 One of the deepest crises of our time is that in addition to a general situation of unemployment -- where less than six hundred thousand people are in formal employment ...

Prioritization of available resources is key to the enjoyment of Economic, Social and Cultural Rights – reveals Parallel Report; April 2005

A Church in the modern world of Africa: The Zambian Experience; March 2005
It is very important to realize that Zambia is a very rich country, one of the richest in Africa, and that Zambians are very poor people, some of the poorest in the world.

The 2005 National Budget: continuing with the Status Quo?; February 2005
Unfortunately, the proposed 2005 budget fails to assess the current potential and struggles of the people, and consequently fails to offer a holistic strategy...