By Jane Chanda
The Civil Society for Poverty Reduction (CSPR) has criticised the government’s social protection programs which include the Social Cash Transfer and Cash for Work, as inadequate in mitigating poverty due to the rapidly rising cost of living.
Responding to a Daily Revelation query on Friday, CSPR board chairperson Partner Siabutuba revealed that the 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey showed a steady increase in poverty levels since 2015.
“The 2022 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey shows that poverty levels have been increasing, leading to higher vulnerability among communities,” he said.
Siabutuba noted that weak coordination between social protection programs and the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) was a major obstacle to effective poverty reduction.
Asked what specific measures were needed to address the rising poverty levels in Zambia, particularly with regards to affordable food, he highlighted the need for targeted interventions, particularly in programs like the Zambia National Service (ZNS) mealie meal and Food Reserve Agency (FRA) community maize sales, which remained unaffordable for vulnerable community members.
“The government must move in to try and alleviate the impact of this poverty on vulnerable communities and members of society,” said Siabutuba.
On the back of these concerns, the chairperson urged the government to re-evaluate its social protection programs and implement more effective strategies to address poverty.
Siabutuba insisted that more needed to be done to address the root causes of poverty and ensure sustainable economic growth.
