By Trevor Makonyonga
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has released the latest poverty datum lines.
The Food Poverty Line (FPL) for one person in August 2021 was $4,517.00 and the Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for one person stood at $6,350.00 in August 2021.
ZIMSTAT has been producing the Poverty Datum Lines (PDL) using the lower bound poverty line since November 2020. The method refers to the sum of food poverty line and the average amount derived from non-food items of households whose total expenditure is equal to the food poverty line.
According to ZIMSTAT, the food poverty line (FPL) represents the amount of money that an individual will require to afford the minimum required daily energy intake of 2 100 calories.
The total consumption poverty line (TCPL) which is naturally higher than the FPL was derived using 2017 PICES data and using the lower bound poverty line method. It was derived by computing the non-food consumption expenditures of poor households whose consumption expenditures were just equal to the FPL. The amount was added to the FPL, if an individual does not consume more than the TCPL, he or she is deemed poor.
Below are the detailed results of the August findings:
The food poverty line (FPL) as at August 2021 stood at $4,516.52. This means that the minimum needs basket cost that much per person in August 2021. This represents an increase of 3.1 percent over the July 2021 figure of $4,379.11.
The Total Consumption Poverty Line (TCPL) for Zimbabwe stood at $6,350.29 per person in August 2021. This means that an individual required that much to purchase both non-food and food items as at August 2021 in order not to be deemed poor. This represents an increase of 3.7 percent when compared to the July 2021 figure of $6,126.41.
The poverty datum lines vary by province as prices vary from place to place. The differences are explained by differences in average prices in the provinces.
The quantities of commodities consumed at base year in the minimum needs basket which is consistent with the preferences of the poor individuals and households in Zimbabwe are fixed. The variations in the value of the basket are explained by changes in average prices.
The TCPL of $6,350.00 represents the total income needed for an individual (with all their income added together) as a minimum for them not to be deemed poor.
ZIMSTAT Releases August Poverty Lines
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