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The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for Lusaka for a family of five stood at K10,834.61 in October 2025, reflecting a modest decrease from K11,289.98 in September.
JCTR attributed the reduction largely to a decline in the cost of basic food items, which dropped from K4,917.90 in September to K4,401.74 in October.
Lukwesa Musonda, JCTR Social and Economic Development Programme Officer, revealed this in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday.
According to the BNNB, notable price decreases were recorded in several key commodities — kapenta reduced from K555.97 to K342.60, chicken from K427.85 to K366.36, and soya pieces from K182.12 to K143.61.
However, the basket also noted slight increases in some items such as vegetables and bananas, indicating continued volatility in fresh food prices.
“The cost of essential non-food items remained relatively stable, with a slight increase from K6,372.06 in September to K6,432.87 in October,” JCTR stated.
Musonda noted that charcoal prices rose from K516.99 to K553.33 for a 90kg bag, continuing to strain household energy budgets.
She warned that Zambia remained challenged by deep and widespread poverty, with many families vulnerable to shocks that erode minimal gains.
“Poverty is not merely a lack of income but exclusion from the conditions that allow dignified living,” she said.
Musonda added that households in urban areas continue to face a “double squeeze,” with food prices for key items remaining high while non-food essentials absorb a growing share of household income.
“Even where annual inflation shows modest easing month-to-month, the level of prices recorded by the BNNB demonstrates that many families still cannot meet basic needs without reducing food quality or skipping meals,” she said.
She cautioned that such trade-offs undermined both nutrition and long-term poverty reduction.
“Price levels that force households to choose between food, medicine, or school fees undermine dignity, while sustainable food systems honour creation by supporting smallholder production, reducing waste, and promoting ecologically sound agricultural practices that secure long-term access to nutritious food,” Musonda said.
She added that moral principles require policy responses that are both practical, such as through cash or agricultural support, and ethical, meaning rights-based and dignity-centred.
JCTR recommended measures to promote food and nutrition security through local food systems, emphasizing that:
“Strengthening local food markets reduces dependency on expensive imports and enhances the availability of nutritious and culturally appropriate foods.”
Musonda further called for greater market transparency and consumer protection to deter exploitative pricing, particularly in staple foods and energy sources that drive the cost of living.
She also urged promotion of livelihood resilience and decent work opportunities through diversification of household income via value addition in agriculture, agro-processing, and small-scale enterprises.
“Policies should prioritize skills training, access to microcredit, and market linkages to empower households to earn stable, dignified livelihoods,” she said.
Musonda stressed that ensuring food and nutrition security and reducing poverty required systems that protect families, guarantee decent livelihoods, and preserve human dignity.
“Many Zambian households are still a long way from attaining a dignified standard of living. We call for collaborative action for better foods and livelihoods,” she said.
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