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The Basic Needs and Nutrition Basket (BNNB) for April 2025 dropped by K128.79, settling at K11,417.99 for a family of five in Lusaka, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has revealed.
Despite the monthly drop, JCTR noted this figure remains K584.52 higher than the December 2024 basket, which stood at K10,833.47, reflecting the broader trend of rising living costs in early 2025.
In a statement issued Wednesday, JCTR Social and Economic Development Programme Manager, Edward Musosa, attributed the marginal decline to fluctuations in prices of both basic food and essential non-food items.
The Basic Food Basket cost fell slightly by K36.61, from K5,095.59 in March to K5,058.98 in April. However, some vegetables such as cabbage, rape bondwe (amaranthus), and pumpkin leaves saw a price rise of K73.69, now costing K717.22 for a 40kg bag.
This, Musosa said, was due to high irrigation costs and reduced availability of seasonal vegetables like bondwe and chibwabwa.
Conversely, the price of fruits such as apples and oranges dropped by K9.85, falling from K57.33 to K47.48 per kilogram.
The non-food basket saw a more significant reduction of K92.26, from K6,451.27 to K6,359.01, largely driven by a K62.50 drop in the price of charcoal.
A 90kg bag of charcoal now costs K500, down from K562.50 in March, attributed to improved supply as the dry season sets in.
Musosa, however, stressed that the cost reduction remains negligible in the context of sustained price increases seen in the first quarter of the year.
“The April 2025 BNNB is still above the average formal sector income of K7,731, and nearly twice the national average income of K5,369,” he said, warning that the persistent high cost of living continues to expose structural inequalities.
He urged the government to address these challenges through the 2026 National Budget, including revising Pay As You Earn (PAYE) tax bands and rates to protect low-income workers from inflation.
“Injustice in taxation undermines social solidarity and worsens inequalities. The poor must not be considered a burden, but an opportunity to show solidarity and generosity,” Musosa said, quoting Fratelli Tutti.
He further called for an expansion of the Social Cash Transfer Programme and other long-term safety nets to ensure that vulnerable households remain supported beyond 2025.
Musosa also emphasized the need for investments in renewable energy and sustainable agriculture to reduce dependence on charcoal, which he said is increasingly being used to exploit rural producers and poses health risks.
“Economic recovery and debt restructuring must be people-centered, not profit-driven,” he said, calling for budgetary priorities that support rural development, smallholder farmers, and youth entrepreneurship.
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