Inflation in Zambia accelerated to an annual 9.8 percent in March as clothing, footwear and furniture costs rose, the Central Statistical Office said.
The inflation rate increased from 9.5 percent last month, Modesto Banda, assistant director at the agency, told reporters today in the capital, Lusaka.
Mr. Banda has also announced that Zambia recorded a trade surplus valued at K168.2 billion during the month of February.
He said the total value of the country’s exports in February 2008 was K1, 263.5 billion compared to K1, 386.8 billion in January 2008.
He said the prominent exports were manufactured goods accounting for 81.8 percent in February and 81.7 percent in January 2008 of which refined copper was the most significant export item accounting for 70.0 percent of Zambia’s total earnings.
Mr. Banda said other exports included cobalt, ores, slag, cereals and electrical machinery equipment parts which collectively accounted for 88.1 percent of Zambia’s total export earnings for the month of February 2008.
He said the major destinations of Zambia’s exports in February were Switzerland, China, South Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Korea, Oman and Saudi Arabia which collectively accounted for 76.5 percent of the country’s total export earnings.
He added that other destinations included Netherlands, Egypt, Thailand, United Kingdom and Belgium which collectively accounted for 13.6 percent and the rest accounted for 9.8 percent of Zambia’s total export earnings.
Mr. Banda however said the value of Zambia’s total imports in February 2008 was K1, 095.3 billion compared to K1, 429.0 billion in January 2008.
He said the most prominent imports were machinery and transport equipment which accounted for 45.4 and 42.8 percent in February and January 2008 respectively.
He said other imports were manufactured goods classified chiefly by material which collectively accounted for 39.3 and 41.7 percent in February and January 2008 respectively.
He noted that sources of Zambia’s imports were SADC Countries, Asian market, European Union and COMESA which accounted for 59.4, 19.5, 13.7 and 10.7 percent respectively in February 2008.
And Mr. Banda said according to the 2006 Living Conditions Monitoring Survey (LCMS) 56 percent of households in Zambia cannot afford three meals a day.
He said in the rural areas 33.7 percent of households could afford three meals, 66.3 percent could afford only two meals or less per day while 63. 4 percent of urban households could afford three meals or more per day.
He further said 57.5 percent of rural households have no access to safe water compared to 11.2 percent of their urban counterparts.
Mr. Banda said according to the LCMS 53.9 percent of urban households treat their drinking water whereas 20.5 percent of rural households treated their drinking water.
Meanwhile, Mr. Banda said 82 percent of persons employed are in the informal sector compared to 18 percent in the formal sector.
Mr. Banda said informal employment is higher in rural areas at 93 percent than in urban areas at 52 percent.
On housing Mr. Banda said the LCMS indicates that 75.4 percent of Zambians live in their own dwelling while 16.2 percent rent from private landlords and 3.4 percent occupied free housing.
He said the rural-urban analysis revealed that 90.9 percent of households in rural areas live in their own dwelling compared to their urban counterparts with 46.4 percent.
