Tackle cost of living - JCTR

EFFORTS to tackle the rising cost of living should be a government priority today and in the years to come, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) has said.

JCTR Programmes Officer Modesto Mwanza has said the 2022 National budget is a window of op portunity to rigorously spell out how volatility in key macroeconomic indicators will be addressed coupled with income and livelihood focused interventions to wards more affordable cost of living.

Ms Mwanza said during a press briefing in Kitwe yes terday that government's ver bal commitment to restore macroeconomic stability in the hope of having a better Zambia that was prosperous, was not enough, but needed a more practical approach.

"While it is gratifying to note that, the new govern ment has committed to re storing macroeconomic sta bility in the hope of having a better Zambia that was pros perous, this is not enough. JCTR stresses that addressing the cost of living backed by financing through key policy documents such as the na tional budget is crucial,'' Ms Mwanza said.

Ms Mwanza said the JCTR was a faith based organisation and a Ministry of Society of Jesus (Jesuits) operating in Zambia since 1988 to promote social justice.

She said that JCTR noted that the changes in the overall basket were mainly driven by price movements in the food items section in commodi ties such as mealie-meal, rice, cassava, flour/meal , chicken, fruits , milk among others.

In the greater city of Kitwe,

Ms Mwanza said JCTR trend analysis for January to August 2021 does indicate a per sistent increase in the cost of living.

She said upward price changes were effected by vol atility in the macroeconomic indicators such as the ex change rate and inflation rate.

"Given that Zambia is an import dependent country , the exchange rate volatility also contributed to the rise in the price of fruits. Seasonality also affected the price of vege tables over the review period,'' she said.