Zimbabwe: Poverty Datum Line Increases

from All Africa

The Herald (Harare)

Harare

THE Poverty Datum Line for November increased to $228 133 from the October rate of $175 974, the Central Statistical Office said yesterday.

The CSO, which is the only body mandated to release official data, defines the PDL as the cost of a given standard of living that must be attained for a person or family not to be deemed poor.

The figures are based on an average family of five people.

CSO acting deputy director, Kennedy Shonhiwa said the increase in the November rate represented a 29,64 percent surge from the October figure.

"Over a period of 12 months, the Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) increased by 1 492,13 percent from $14 329 in November last year," he said.

The poverty lines vary according to the country's 10 provinces with Bulawayo having recorded the highest at $298 425 and Manicaland the least at $193 172.

The Total Consumption Poverty Line represents both food and non-food items required per month for a family not to be deemed poor.

The Food Poverty Line also surged from $50 651 in October to $64 840 last month.

The Food Poverty Line represents the minimum consumption necessary to ensure that each household member can consume a minimum food basket.

Continued rises in the cost of living as a result of high inflation, now at 1 098,8 percent has seen many families living far below the Poverty Datum Line.

This is primarily as a result of the low wages and salaries which the average worker is taking home.