The Sunday Mail
We need to be cognisant of the fact that a large disempowered population is a burden to the nation; it undermines health, development and political stability. One of the millennium development goals that Zimbabwe chose to concentrate on is poverty eradication. It is noted that although the GDP grew from 5,7 in 2001-2006 to 9,3 in 2011, poverty remained disproportionately high.
Unemployment and underemployment remain high with the Zimbabwean young graduates failing to get the relevant employment.
There is, thus, little disposable income and consequently little savings if any. Without savings, there is no investment, and without investment there is no development.
Zimbabwe, like any country, does not need a numerically large country, it needs an optimum population.
The persistent low levels of disposable income, hence poverty, undermine the country’s ability to achieve the second MDG: reduction of maternal mortality.
Zimbabwe has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the world estimated at 960 deaths per 100 000 live births as of 2011-12.
This compares to less than 10 in developed nations.
According to the MDG report of 2012, these high rates are partly explained by the following factors: unaffordable maternity fees, reduced attendance of expectant mothers at antenatal clinics due to associated costs or distance, and the inability of women to make proper choices on reproductive health issues due to social and cultural pressures.
It has been proven beyond any doubt that women who have their children while they are still too young, during adolescence, too closely spaced, too late and too many, that is higher than four, have higher chances of succumbing to maternal deaths.
Contraceptive use, thus, remains key to averting these deaths among Zimbabwean mothers.
The third goal that Zimbabwe is concentrating on is the eradication of HIV and Aids as well as malaria and other preventable diseases.
Although HIV prevalence has declined to about 14 percent, it remains a significant public health problem, especially when compared to that of developed nations which is below 1 percent. Behaviour change is needed to halt the spread; such change includes the reduction of the number of children. The more children are born, the more children who will be born infected. Contraception is needed to assist those who might not want to have any more children. In addition, proper treatment and care is necessary in order to increase the life expectancy of those infected.
A strong, well-funded health delivery system is key. However, our healthcare delivery system is not spared by the challenged economic system.
Given the still young population, about 41 percent below 15 years, low life expectancy of about 58 years compared to 83 years for Japan, and a total fertility rate of about four children, it is demographically prudent to continue working on factors that will reduce mortality while sustaining fertility at its current levels which are an outcome of the high levels of contraceptive use which are a result of the sterling work by Government soon after independence!
A large population scrambling for limited resources brews disgruntlement, crime, pain and suffering with the consequent use of unorthodox means of getting money and comfort.
Zimbabwe needs development and contraception!
Professor Marvellous M. Mhloyi is a demographer
