ZimStat Reveal Zimbabwe's Poverty Datum Line

The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) has revealed Zim’s new poverty datum line. According to the agency, the PDL jumped 13% to $1827 in August, The Chronicle reports:

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), Zimbabwe’s poverty datum line jumped 13 percent to $1 827 in August, as the cost of living continues to rise. A majority of workers still earn far below the $1 827. The poverty datum line measures the basic needs for an average family of five. This has increased pressure on the need to restore financial stability and ensure that wages match with the cost of living while at the same time reining in inflation

This means an average family of 5 in Zimbabwe needs $1827 a month to survive decently. Recently the government of Zimbabwe increased minimum wages to be earned by workers. Nonetheless, the country’s working-class is still at a loss due to loss of value for earnings on the back of price escalation. Prices have been increasing on a regular basis since the reintroduction of the local currency as the sole legal tender since 24 June 2019.