When people take to social media and vent their frustrations, there have been accusations and counter-accusations that the complaints regarding the skyrocketing cost of living are being exaggerated to make the sitting government look bad, that its a smear campaign and based on the color of political lenses one is putting on.
Well, if we are to go by the maxim that numbers dont lie, the Governments own statistics bureau has released official figures that show that there has been a 40% increase in inflation or simply a 40% jump in prices of essential food and non-food items in Eastern Province within one month.
Official stats have revealed that the annual inflation for Eastern Province has jumped from 6.4% in December 2022 to 9% in January 2023, a month on month average price or inflation jump of about 40%.
A month on month increase of 40% in average annual prices of commodities and non-food items in the national basket is tantamount to an economic shock for most local businesses and households, a situation that needs urgent attention as incomes or salaries of the residents this region have not risen by that quantum within subsequent months.
Reacting to the report by the governments own statistics agency, Eastern Province Permanent Secretary – PS is of the view that the continued economic slowdown in neighboring Malawi may be a contributing factor to the increased inflation rate in Eastern Province.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, Eastern Province Permanent Secretary Paul Thole said the increased inflation rate in the province is as a result of the filter through from the two bordering countries. “As you are aware that we are bordering two countries, Mozambique and Malawi and our economic activities [also] depends on what is obtaining in the two countries which could have led to the steep increase in inflation and prices of commodities.”
“It may be seasonal or we can say it’s a passing phase, and it will soon stabilizes because inflation in Malawi is quit high, so is Mozambique and as soon as the inflation in these two countries stabilizes, we may see also the change in inflation rate in eastern province.” Thole said the Province is however trying to put in place interventions that will normalize the situation in the province.
According to the Government official statistics, Eastern Province is among the provinces that had recorded steep increase in inflation rate for the month of January 2023 when compared to December 2022. Others Provinces that posted increased annual inflation rates include Central (8.4% from 7.2%); Eastern (9% from 6.4%); North-western (12.8% from 11.1 %).
However, some provinces recorded reductions in average prices between December 2022 to January 2023, monthly inflation rates dropped for Copperbelt (9% from 10.5%); Luapula (11.4% from 11.6%); Lusaka (10.4% from 10.9 %); Northern (8.9% from 11.1%); Southern (7.9 % from 9.1%); and Western (7.1% from 12.0%)