KITWE, DECEMBER, 19, 2014, (CISA) – The Catholic Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), Zambia, Copperbelt branch, has urged the country’s acting President Dr. Guy Scott to remain focused on poverty alleviation in the country.

JCTR provincial media and information officer, Tendai Posiana, expressed fear that programmes aimed at poverty reduction could be distracted by political agenda as the country prepares for the January 20 2015 presidential by-election.

“We would like to urge Dr Guy Scott to remain focused and resolute on poverty reduction in the country. He should not be distracted by political agenda,” Posiana said as reported by Vatican Radio.

She said a recent survey for a family of five in the towns of Kitwe, Luanshya, Mansa, Ndola and Solwezi had shown an increase in the cost of living.

“As 2014 draws to a close, statistics on the Basic Needs Basket survey for November 2014 released by JCTR, indicated increased cost of living by an average of K642.25 (about US$13) in the five provincial towns covered,” Posiana said.

“As members of parliament continue debating the national budget for 2015, there is need for the Patriotic Front government to ease the poverty burden on households which is measured at 60 per cent,” she said.

Posiana also challenged the government to mitigate household income inadequacies by increasing support to the social sectors, saying mealie-meal prices were beyond the reach of ordinary citizen.