Solwezi cost of living goes up

Fri, 23 Jun 2017 10:47:07 +0000

By JACKSON MAPAPAYI

THE cost of living for the month of May for a family of five in Solwezi district has gone up by K24.55 higher than the month of April.

According to the Basic Needs Basket (BNB) conducted by the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), the cost of living for the month of April was at K4,034.00 while the BNB for May rose to K4.058.55, representing 0.61 percent increase.

The increase in the BNB has been attributed to the increased cost in some food items which include Kapenta which increased from K142.20 per kg to K 144.60 per kg, while beef increased from K 40.05 per kg to K42.50 per kg.

Other food items that rose in price included tomatoes and onion which increased from K4.04 per kg to K7.22 per kg and K12.50 per kg to K41.61 per kg respectively.

‘‘And non-food items like electricity increased from K175.00 to K2,00.00,’’ the statement read in part.

The statement attributed the increase in commodities to high transport costs of goods into the district due to the poor state of the roads, stating that the continued high cost of commodities will continue depriving families of the required basic needs and nutritious meals required to lead healthy lives.

JCTR has since demanded for the retention of the 2015 Mines and Minerals Development Act which provided for the mineral revenue sharing mechanism with host communities.

The organisation has further demanded that guidelines be provided for its implementation.