The Sunday Mail
Demographers have waded into the raging debate regarding the country’s population growth, with a top population consultant throwing his weight behind Registrar-General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede’s call to have as many children as possible. Last week, Mr Mudede torched a storm when he implored Zimbabweans to stop using particular contraceptives and help the population grow.
Zimbabwe has over the last two decades recorded a stunted population growth amid a backdrop of high HIV mortality and migration, prompting Mr Mudede to make the highly contentious call.
The top population and demography expert, who declined to be named for professional reasons, threw his weight behind Mr Mudede, arguing that the country has enough resources to cater for an enlarged population.
He said Zimbabwe has resources that could cater for up to 200 million people.
“In Africa, the population control phenomenon gained momentum with the advent of independence. The mantra was driven by the donor community which advocated population control as a means of spurring development.
“I, however, agree with the Registrar-General with regards to his recent advocacy for population growth. The problem that comes with rapid population growth is the country’s ability to cater for a much larger population.
“Firstly, one needs to look at whether the country has enough resources to cater for a larger population and you need to see whether the available resources can cater for posterity. In the case of Zimbabwe, the country is well endowed with such resources.
“Naturally, I do not see why we should restrict population growth when we have resources that can cater for up to 200 million people. The only problem is that we do not as yet have the capacity to properly exploit these resources.”
However, University of Zimbabwe demographer Professor Marvellous Mhloyi believes a larger population will prove a harbinger for socio-economic and political turmoil.
She said a larger population would lead to a scramble for resources.
“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.”
Prof Mhloyi added that the country should, in fact, focus on reducing mortality while sustaining fertility at its current levels.
According to the 2012 Zimbabwe Population Census Report, the population growth rate stood at 1,1 percent for the last 10 years, while the average size of a household was at 4,2.
The country’s crude death rate, according to the latest census date, was at 10,2 deaths/1 000 people per year while crude birth rate, on the other hand, stood at 32 births/1 000 people.
Average life expectancy at birth was at 38 years.
The census report further noted that nearly 99 percent of the population in the country was made up of Zimbabweans.
