THE Economics Association of Zambia (EAZ) has challenged government to address the rising cost of living by boosting the supply of essential goods and managing their prices. During a media briefing, Tuesday, EAZ president Oswald Mungule said government should also provide value chain support to the agricultural sector in order to boost productivity, value addition and green jobs. “According to the IMF, over 60 percent of the country’s population is living below the international poverty line while over 50 percent are below the national poverty line, with rural areas experiencing higher poverty rates. The drought has exacerbated food insecurity, likely increasing poverty levels, adversely affecting employment in the agricultural sector and increasing the cost of living. This high cost of...