The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has reported that the total consumption poverty line (TCPL) for an average of five persons shot to $7,425.81 in April from $6 420,87 in March 2020.
The report comes when the inflation in the country is continuously rising thereby eroding workers’ salaries. Posting on Twitter on Monday, the agency said:
The Food Poverty Line #FPL for one person in April 2020 was $596.96 while that for an average household of five persons was $2,984.7.
The Total Consumption Poverty Line #TCPL for one person during the same period (April 2020) was $1,485.16 while that for an average of five persons per household stood at $7,425.81.
The report confirms that the estimates by the World Food Programme that more than 7.7 million people, half of the total population, are living in abject poverty.
Commenting on ZIMSTAT report, Happi Zengeni, a Zimbabwean journalist, economic analyst, and the editor of Business Times said it means that an average Zimbabweans needed ZW$49 per day in order not to be deemed poor or US$0.99 per day (using the April parallel rate).
“This is below the required World Bank standard of US$1.90 per day,” she noted.
Meanwhile, and authorities are doing less than expected to bail out the vulnerable people who have since made distress calls.
More: ZIMSTAT