THE CITIZEN (editorial)
Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda’s recent remarks regarding rapid population growth and its impact on the living standards of Tanzanians come at a time when the country is struggling with poverty.
Tanzania is estimated to have a population growth rate of 2.9 per cent and Mr Pinda’s suggestion that we turn to family planning is a gloomy assessment of the country’s economic prospects.
The rapid growth of the population threatens our recent economic development, which is estimated at above six per cent.While family planning has been held up as the best means of ensuring we achieve a balance between incomes and spending, it is a hugely controversial topic.
Family planning continues to face opposition in many societies on the basis of religious beliefs and the perception that it is harmful to the health of those who are subjected to it.
It is not always true that huge populations always have a negative impact on economic growth. Some of the major economic giants in the world such as the United States of America and China have huge populations, yet their poverty levels are relatively low compared to most countries.
Huge populations are only harmful to the economy if they are compounded by other factors, such as the level of productivity of the population, the level of education and government policy. Infrastructure and health facilities may also be an issue.
Countries such as Tanzania, where economic planning is relatively poor, are always in danger of experiencing the negative impact of a huge population. For starters, we have not invested enough resources in education, which is a major economic driver.
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