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The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for a family of five in Lusaka stood at K12,051.64 in April 2026, compared to K11,417.99 in April 2025, representing an increase of K633.65 over the past one year.
Lukwesa Musonda, JCTR Social and Economic Development Programme Manager said despite improvements in key macroeconomic fundamentals, the cost of living for ordinary households remained persistently high.
In the BNNB released in Lusaka on Friday, Lukwesa said while some indicators point to economic stabilization, many families, particularly the poor and vulnerable, continued to struggle to meet their most basic needs with dignity.
Of the K12,051.64 April 2026 BNNB for a family of five in Lusaka, the essential food component of the basket recorded a marginal increase from K5,270.73 in March to K5,291.29 in April.
“The rise was driven mainly by rising prices of key food items such as onions, which increased from K28.80 to K40.05 per kilogram, chicken from K156.36 to K171.24 for 2kg, and bananas from K20.51 to K22.65 per kilogram,” she said.
Lukwesa said partially offsetting the increases were marginal declines in the prices of other fruits from K49.70 to K46.61 per kilogram, mealie meal from K237.57 to K221.17 for a 25kg bag, and Irish potatoes from K25.37 to K20.13 per kilogram.
The BNNB revealed that the total cost of essential non-food items declined to K6,760.35 from K6,807.79 in March, largely due to a reduction in the price of charcoal from K750 to K725 for a 90kg bag.
Despite these adjustments, Lukwesa said the overall basket only declined marginally by K26.88 from K12,078.52 recorded in March 2026.
“The continued rise in the prices of essential food items, including cooking oil, which increased from K123.21 to K134.21 for 2.5 litres, continues to undermine food security, nutrition, and household welfare,” Lukwesa said.
She said for many low-income families, the rising costs were not simply economic statistics but daily realities that threatened their ability to live with dignity and hope.
Lukwesa said recent improvements in macroeconomic fundamentals, including declining inflation and relative currency stability, are important developments for the broader economy.
“The lived experiences of ordinary citizens reveal that these gains have not yet translated into affordable living conditions for many households,” she said.
Lukwesa said the continued elevation of the BNNB underscored deeper structural challenges that could be addressed through market adjustments alone.
She said households earning at or below the minimum wage remained unable to meet the cost of basic needs, reflecting entrenched inequalities, inadequate income opportunities, and limited social protection mechanisms.
In line with the principle of the preferential option for the poor, Lukwesa noted the urgent need for deliberate and sustained policy interventions that placed vulnerable households at the centre of economic decision-making.
“To safeguard household welfare and uphold human dignity, there is need for responsive and people-centered policy measures that directly address the unequal burden of the high cost of living,” she recommended.
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