Consumption Behaviour in Zambia: The Link to Poverty Alleviation?

K. Ludi: consumption behaviour in Zambia

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Table 8: CONS _ZK for 2001 (in 1994 prices)

The poverty measurements in Zambia (Kapungubwe 2004: 485) are fixed poverty lines
based on the monthly costs of a predetermined ‘minimum’ basket of goods required by
the adult equivalents in an average six-member Zambian household (which is estimated
to contain 4.7 adult equivalents) (Nsemukila 2001:4). The Prices and Income
Commission and the National Food and Nutrition Commission of Zambia compiled the
basket of food in 1992. This minimum food basket is shown in table 9.

Table 9: Composition of the minimum food basket: quantities required by a household of 6 per month

Source: Nsemukila (2001: 5) and Kapungwe (2004: 485)

It should be noted that the discrepancies in the literature regarding the table above are
large. Thus, it would be ideal to compile one’s own food basket, taking into account
Zambian traditional foods and calorie requirements set out by the World Health
Organisation. One could ideally then estimate poverty lines according to this.

Persons living in a household with a monthly adult equivalent expenditure of less than 64
475 constant 2001 Zambian Kwatchas are regarded as extremely poor. Those living in
households with a monthly adult equivalent expenditure of between 64 475 and 92 584

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