An investigation into poverty among domestic maids in Lusaka, Zambia

Despite tall claims of GDP growth, Zambian Poverty remained un addressed. Zambia has drafted its first Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) in 2002-2005 and mainstreamed the successive poverty reduction strategies into the National Development Plans beginning with the Fifth National Development Plan (FNDP) 2006-2010. Zambia after independence has progressively moved southwards in terms of GDP growth and achieved the status of Highly Indebted Poor Country (HIPC). Nevertheless, Zambia’s progress reports show some achievements in GDP growth and containing poverty during the initial years of FNDP. The midterm review reports show that there has been a growth in GDP and poverty reduction in Zambia, and more reduction in urban poverty. These claims have led me to find out “Has the GDP growth during the Fifth National Development Plan resulted in poverty reduction among the most vulnerable women workers- the domestic maids in Lusaka?” In the process of determining this, a review of Zambian Economy, the urban poverty levels; growth in GDP before and after FNDP; and living standards of randomly selected Domestic Maids from different compounds in Lusaka have been analyzed, evaluated and related to poverty reduction, growth and development theories. To support the analysis, a questionnaire (Appendix-I) was designed and data was collected from eight domestic maids. Apart from the primary data collection process, some data was recorded from the offices of Government of Zambia, FNDP, PRSP, and living standard surveys conducted by the United Nations Organization present in Zambia. From the information composed the appropriate data has been utilized effectively to analyze it and arrive at conclusions. In conclusion it is found that the growth in GDP and reduction in poverty levels have no tangible impact on the poverty levels of domestic maids in Lusaka.