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The Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has revealed that the cost of living for a family of five in Lusaka has risen to K12,078.54 in March from K11,844.63 recorded in February, largely driven by increases in food prices and household energy costs.
According to the JCTR Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB), the cost of essential food items increased significantly from K5,089.75 in February to K5,270.72 in March, with vegetables recording one of the sharpest increases.
The price of vegetables rose from K628.26 to K778.87 for a 40 kilogramme bag, placing additional pressure on household budgets.
The cost of essential non-food items also recorded a marginal increase, rising to K6,807.83 from K6,754.88 the previous month. This was mainly attributed to the rise in the price of a 90 kilogramme bag of charcoal, which increased from K716.67 to K750.00.
JCTR Acting Social and Economic Development Programme Manager, Lukwesa Musonda, said the rising cost of living continued to exert pressure on households, with women bearing the heaviest burden due to their primary role in managing household food security.
Musonda explained that the increase in vegetable prices had reduced access to essential and nutrient-rich foods, forcing many women to adopt coping mechanisms such as stretching limited resources, reducing meal portions, or switching to less nutritious alternatives.
“The high cost of living continues to exert pressure on households; however, this burden is not experienced equally. Women, who hold primary responsibility for ensuring food security in many households, face a disproportionate impact as prices of essential food items rise,” Musonda said.
She noted that women often absorbed economic shocks by adjusting meal composition, reducing their own food intake, or turning to cheaper but less nutritious foods, which compromises their health and wellbeing.
Musonda further explained that persistent structural inequalities, including wage gaps, limited access to formal employment and lower ownership of productive assets, worsen the situation for women, forcing many into coping mechanisms that negatively affect their safety and livelihoods.
She added that the increase in charcoal prices had further compounded the situation, as women, who are primarily responsible for cooking and household energy management, face higher exposure to health risks associated with indoor air pollution.
“The increase in charcoal prices not only raises household expenditure but also deepens time poverty for women, limiting opportunities for education, income generation and participation in public life,” she said.
Musonda also observed that despite slowing inflation, the continued rise in the cost of living was eroding purchasing power, particularly for women working in low-income and informal employment.
She explained that women were disproportionately concentrated in informal sectors where incomes were unstable and largely excluded from social security systems, leaving them more financially vulnerable as prices continue to rise.
Musonda warned that these gendered economic pressures extend beyond households and raised broader concerns about justice, equity and inclusive national development.
To address the situation, JCTR has called for the implementation of gender-responsive policy measures aimed at reducing the unequal burden of the high cost of living.
Among the recommendations, the organisation urged government to strengthen gender-responsive fiscal policies, integrate gender-responsive budgeting into national planning, and increase allocations to social sectors that directly benefit women.
JCTR also called for measures to address structural inequalities in labour markets by supporting women’s transition from low-productivity informal activities into higher-value sectors such as agro-processing, mining value chains and the green economy.
The organisation further recommended expanding access to affordable and clean energy alternatives to reduce reliance on charcoal and strengthening data collection systems through sex-disaggregated data to improve policy monitoring and accountability.
Musonda emphasised that gender-responsive policy interventions were essential for building a more inclusive and resilient Zambia.
“Advancing gender equality in income and across all spheres of life is not only a matter of social justice, but also a key driver of sustainable economic growth, poverty reduction and broader social progress,” Musonda said.
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