​Unemployment is said to exist when a person of working age (15 years or older) who is willing and able to work is unable to find a job. The definition brings out four important aspects for a person to be declared unemployed: i. The person should be willing to work; ii. The person should able to work; iii. Should be available to work (this excludes students); and iv. The person should be actively looking for work. In the 2021 Labour Force Survey (LFS) report, the Zambia Statistics Agency defines unemployed population includes all persons in the labour force (15 years or older) who are completely jobless and are available and actively looking for work during a given reference period. According to the 2021 LFS report, in 2021, the total number of unemployed persons was 450,759 of which 38.7 percent were in the rural areas and 61.3 percent in the urban areas. It is clear from this report that unemployment rate has consistently been higher among youths and females. In 2022 the Ministry of Health recruited in 30,000 teachers, the Ministry of Health recruited 11, 276 health workers whereas the Ministry of Defense recruited 5, 000 personnel. Other department such as Police and ZAWA also advertised for recruitment of several officers, but the number have not yet been made public. One thing to note is that the recruitment of teachers and health workers were the largest in recent history. For example, MOH read more

The year 2022 comes to a close with a key policy announcement made by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, on the revised upward adjustment to the minimum wages for un-unionized employees; domestic workers, shopkeepers, and general workers, which will take effect in January 2023. This intervention is being made in the light of the most recent revision which was completed in 2018 for specified groups of employment workers. The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), as an organization whose mission is to improve justice and equality for all, particularly the poor and vulnerable, has examined the proposed minimum wage increase from a critical social justice standpoint and offers the following observations and recommendations.

The pursuit of salary increases in any context must be viewed as a collective bargaining process or rather a balancing act in which the state seeks to reconcile workers' demands with employers' ability to meet that minimum wage. According to the Employment Code Act No.3 of 2019, a review of minimum wages and working conditions for any group of employees must be made to the Minister at least every two years, with recommendations provided. In this regard, the JCTR applauds the efforts that have been made and initiated from an evidence-based standpoint (through research) to revise wages upward through the Labour Advisory Committee. A committee comprised of members with diverse expertise.

However, the stark reality remains...read more

Economic Milestones
In 2022 the government has managed to stabilize the economy by taming its own’s appetite to borrow as a way of addressing fiscal deficit. Zambia leveraged on the international community, donor, investor and market confidence to stabilize the Kwacha and drive down the inflation. The IMF bailout package worked very well as an icing on the cake in turning the economy around. Now we look to the debt restructuring negotiations under the G20 Common Framework. We expect the negotiations to be successfully completed by the mid of 2023 to accord our country a new lease of life on a path of debt sustainability.

In 2022 people across the globe have been reeling under the pressure of the rising cost of living occasioned multiple crises of COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and the rising of commodity prices especially on petroleum products and food due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Here in Zambia we have not been spared by these external shocks. The major driver of the cost of living in Zambia has been the introduction of the cost reflective tariffs on the petroleum products back in November 2021. The new fuel pump prices had an immediate knock-on-effect on commodity prices. For instance for the JCTR Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (for basic food items and essential non-food items) for a family of 5 in Lusaka exceeded K9,000.00 for the first time in January 2022. The cost of living has generally remained high throughout the year. It is hard to predict the trend of the cost of living in 2023. This will largely depend on the two factors (the performance of the Kwacha and the international oil prices) that ERB work with as they review the monthly fuel pump prices. Another important factor will be climatic conditions (floods or drought) in the 2022-2023 farming season which will inevitably affect the commodity prices of food items.

ne of great success stories of 2022 is the job creation in the public sector with the recruitment of over 30,000 teachers and over 11,200 health professionals. This is very important when one considers that over 40,000 people and their dependents have been provided with a steady income stream and a lifeline in a country where unemployment levels are critically high. According to the 2023 National Budget, there shall be no repeat of the job creation extravaganza of the same magnitude in 2023. One of the key milestones of 2022 was the launch of the 8th National Development Plan as an economic blueprint aimed at improving living standards as well as reducing poverty and inequality by creating conditions for strong and inclusive growth and promoting an economic transformation and job creation through the implementation of interventions to enhance production and productivity in the agriculture, tourism, mining and manufacturing sectors.

Agriculture
The agriculture sector in Zambia remains very critical potential for economic growth and development. In the early 2000s, the agriculture sector contributed over 20 percent of GDP and created over 72 percent jobs in the country. In 2021, agriculture sector contribution to GDP stood at 2.96 percent1 and created less than 48 percent of jobs in the country. Read more

R​As Zambia celebrates 58 years of independence, it is a cause of celebration for every advocate of democracy in this great nation. Over the past 58 years, the nation has made some strides in realizing the true potential of democracy through a democratic system of government in which supreme power is vested in the people and exercised by them directly or indirectly through a system of representation usually involving periodic free elections. Some of the characteristics of a good democracy which successive governments have been entrenching to varying degrees include respect for basic human rights, a multi-party political system paired with political tolerance, a democratic voting system, respect for the rule of law, democratic governance, and the citizen participation. One outstanding issue in Zambia’s democratic architecture is the on-going process of refining the Constitution of the Republic. Zambia has had the constitutional reforms of 1972 and 1991 under President Kaunda, the reforms of 1996 under President Chiluba, and the reforms of 2016 under President Lungu. All these attempts to refine the constitution have struggled to give Zambia a solid legal foundation which expresses the hopes and dreams of the people. Unfortunately constitutional reform agenda has many a times been driven by a party in government with a motive to entrench itself in power. Read more

On Friday 30th September 2022, the Minister of Finance and National Planning Hon. Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane presented the proposed 2023 national budget to Parliament under the theme “Stimulating economic growth for improved livelihoods”. Government proposes to spend K167.3 billion or 31.4 percent of GDP. In order to support this expenditure, K111.6 billion or 20.9 percent of GDP will be raised as domestic revenue; K1.7 billion or 0.3 percent of GDP as grants from Cooperating Partners and K54.0 billion or 10.2 percent of GDP as financing. Accounting for amortization of K13.1 billion or 2.5 percent of GDP, financing translates into a fiscal deficit of K40.9 billion or 7.7 percent of GDP. The Minister made a number of pronouncements in this budget that, if well implemented, will result in improved livelihood and welfare for the Zambian people.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), as an organization whose work is to enhance justice and equality for all, and particularly for the poor and vulnerable, has analysed the 2023 national budget with a focus on the social sector as this has a direct bearing on the livelihoods of the citizens.
The 2023 budget provides an excellent opportunity for growth and development through a people-centered strategy. Government’s Economic Transformation Programme will focus on job creation, value addition in key sectors such as mining, agriculture and manufacturing. The budget has also demonstrated increased efforts to reduce developmental inequalities by increasing the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) from K25.7 million to K28 million per constituency, which entails directing more resources to the grassroots, which should be applauded. Read more>>>

Cultivate Nation Principles and Values Without Reminder for the Common Good His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema on Friday 11th March, 2022 presented to the National Assembly and indeed the entire Zambian population an update on the progress made in the application of national values and principles. The State of the Nation Address (SONA) is a constitutional requirement in accordance with Articles 9 and 86 (1) of the Zambian Constitution. Considering the focus of the address, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) provides a social justice perspective in keen consideration of the plight of the vulnerable, the marginalised and the poor whose well-being squarely lies on those vested with authority upholding values such as integrity and social justice. The recent address by the President sets a baseline on which various stakeholders will further monitor and evaluate government’s mandate to cultivate and uphold the nations values and principles. Prominent issues such as commitments to tackle corruption and climate change, enhance accountability, end child marriages and teenage pregnancies, reduce the abuse of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), doing away with perennial and costly by-elections, workforce dignity, youth unemployment etc., have been noted. Read more

On Tuesday 22nd February 2022, the Ministry of Agriculture suspended the importation of onions and potatoes. This was done in response to a request from the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) who raised concern that the flooding of imported onions and potatoes on the market risked having the country record losses. Specifically, for onion, losses are estimated at over K23 million if the matter remained unaddressed.
The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) wishes to highlight that this ban is not a new intervention. The ZNFU in February 2021 again requested government to ban the importation of onions and potatoes anchored on the premise of promoting consumption of local products and supporting local production of agriculture products. The ban was however lifted in April 2021 in view of the recorded supply deficit as a result of the importation ban. Locally grown onions were however, unable to meet national demand. Read More>>>

The Members of the CSOs Access to Information (ATI) Coalition Present; The Media - All protocol observed; May I simply say distinguished ladies, gentlemen welcome to this media briefing by the CSOs ATI Coalition. It is in three (3) parts: The introduction, the main body or issues and the conclusion. 1. INTRODUCTION Fellow Citizens and the Media It was upon acknowledging the need for a strong, stable, efficacy and professionally managed not- for- profit civil society organizations whose work is primarily orientated and focused on and around one of the fundamental Human Rights element of Access to Information that this coalition was founded and continue to exist in Zambia; Cognizant that access to information which is the ability for an individual to seek, receive and impart information effectively, is a human right, which is provided for under the international law and which must be enjoyed by everyone, CSOs through the ATI Coalition have pledged to ensure their participation in the formulation, validation and further scrutiny of the ATI Bill at all levels including monitoring its implementation after its enactment. Full statement here

 Yesterday marked the 13th year since the United Nations General Assembly declared 20th February as the World Day of Social Justice. The objective of the day is to raise a voice against social injustices happening across the world in various forms. The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), joins the rest of the world in raising its voice to commemorate the observance of this important day. In the current context of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic underpinned by the 2022 theme of “Achieving Social Justice through Formal Employment”, a key point of reflection that should come to mind is that social justice is only possible when effective steps are taken to address the rising inequalities such as unequal access to Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.  
JCTR recognises that at the heart of economic transformation, the importance of labour as an active factor of production cannot be overemphasised. Labour however should not be looked at entirely as a factor of production without the consideration of a human face. Every person is entitled to opportunities that help them earn a living without demeaning or undermining an individual’s dignity. Decent employment creation therefore provides citizens of the nation with forms of sustainable livelihoods where they have access to income to demand for goods and services that allow them to live dignified lives.
Cognizant of the some of the challenges that households face, JCTR commends the efforts of the Zambian Government that have been put in place through various policies aimed at cushioning its citizenry. Some of the country’s interventions have focused on nutrition/health and social protection. Specifically, for formal employment some policies have included revision of the minimum wage and conditions of employment. As seen from the cost of living as measured by the JCTR Basic Needs and Nutritious Basket, the cost for a family of five in Lusaka of basic food and non-items for month of January 2022 stood at K9, 049.25. The upward revision of the non-taxable income threshold in the approved 2022 National budget is therefore positive as it will provide, to some limited extent, an additional protection against economic shocks.
Despite placing decent employment and employment creation as a priority at the center of the Government’s plans in line with the long term Vision 2030, there has been a persistent weakness with regards to implementation and measurement of employment creation. Full statement here

The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), is elated by the government’s commitment to implement the ‘free education' policy direction through the 2022 National Budget. The goal of this policy is to make education more accessible and affordable in Zambia. This is a positive step toward the State fulfilling its commitment under the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR). This commitment has been further solidified by the timely release of ZMW324 million in January as the 2022 first quarter operational support fund for public schools. These funds are aimed at facilitating the implementation of free education for all learners at early childhood, primary, and secondary education levels. JCTR urges the government to continue promoting pro-poor policies in social services delivery, beyond the focus of education.
However, as is always the case whenever new policies are being introduced, challenges are bound to arise. So far cases of theft of school funds, congestion of schools, corruption and abuse of authority have been recorded following the implementation of free education. Consideration of how learners are going to access and benefit from the free education policy is critical in guaranteeing that every child has access to education. Particularly, with congestion of schools comes unfavorable teacher to pupil ratios which manifest in a teacher's workload and how each teacher is available to offer services and care to the students. Given the role that quality education plays in the development of the country’s economy and society, JCTR is thus concerned about the system's weaknesses, which can easily be misused or abused if not diligently safeguarded.​ Read More>>>