Minister Of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Prisca Mupfumira has revealed that 72.3 percent of Zimbabweans live in poverty. However, it was revealed that the number of people living in conditions of extreme poverty had decreased from 35 percent to 16 percent. This was revealed by a speech read on the Minister’s behalf at an event to commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day in Harare on Tuesday. Part of the speech reads:
Currently the poverty level in the country is estimated to be around 72.3 percent. The fiscal space remained subdued due to underperformance of domestic revenue generation, increase in public expenditure, depressed exports, limited foreign direct investment and other declining capital inflows into the country….
United Nations official, Adalphas Chinomwe added:
Poverty is a multi-faceted state characterized by severe deprivation of basic human needs, including food, safe drinking water, sanitation facilities, health, shelter, education and information. It depends not only on income from employment but also on access to services
Mopre: New Zimbabwe