Zim poverty line tops $4.2k in December 2019

Harare (New Ziana) – An average Zimbabwean family of five required at least $4 188 to meet its basic food and other requirements in December 2019 for it not to be deemed poor, data released on Tuesday shows.

This, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) was a 14.5 percent jump from the previous month when the same family required $3 656.

“The TCPL (Total Consumption Poverty Line) for an average of five persons stood at $4, 188.42 in December 2019. This means that an average household required that much to purchase both food and non-food items for them not to be deemed poor,” ZimStat said.

An individual required at least $1 863 in December, up from $1 637 in November.

The increase in the TCPL, commonly referred to as the Poverty Datum Line (PDL), is a reflection of exchange rate instabilities and speculative behaviour that continues to push up the prices of goods and services as business hedge against inflation.

With prices of goods and services varying according to provinces, ZimStat said Mashonaland Central province had the least PDL at $3 799 (up from 3 261 in November) while Matabeleland North had the highest at $4 505, up from $4 048.

The continued rise in the cost of living is a constant source of friction between employers and employees.
New Ziana