Zimbabwe's poverty datum line shoots to Z$41 million

Zimbabwe's poverty datum line shoots to Z$41 million
Fri 5 May 2006

HARARE - Zimbabwe's poverty datum line last month shot to Z$41 million up from the previous month's figure of Z$35 million, according to the latest figures released yesterday by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe (CCZ).

"The cost of living as depicted by the Consumer Council of Zimbabwe's low-income urban earner monthly budget for a family of six has risen from $34 995 428.56 in March to $41 096 610.00 reflecting a 17.4 increase percent," said the state-funded consumer rights body.

The CCZ attributed the increase in the cost of living to last month's hike in tuition fees and health costs. The government last month increased school fees by more than 1 000 percent with a basic school uniform now costing about Z$12.3 million.

"This is a cause for concern as many low-income earners may not be able to purchase these basic uniforms for their children," said the CCZ.

Last week, the government also announced new salaries for teachers and soldiers with the lowest paid soldier getting about $27 million while teachers will now earn about $33 million, which is far below the basic consumption line.

Zimbabwe is in its sixth year of a bitter economic recession which has seen inflation hitting 913.6 percent, the highest such rate outside a war zone.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change party and major Western governments blame President Robert Mugabe for ruining the country's economy which was one of the strongest at independence from Britain 26 years ago.

But Mugabe denies the charge blaming the crisis on sabotage by his Western enemies after he violently seized land from whites for redistribution to landless blacks. - ZimOnline