Marie Stopes Tanzania (MST)
Speaking in Dar es Salaam last week, Dr Joseph Komwihangiro, who is the Director of Health Services at Marie Stopes Tanzania (MST), said the current policy is outdated, and hence needs major changes.
“What I can say is that we do not have a clear policy on population which would drive our economy from here to higher level,” he said.
Dr Komwihangiro said the new policy should explain how Tanzanians would benefit from various social and economic opportunities.
Explaining, he said, most Tanzanians do not benefit much from the opportunities due to lack of education or fear of competition.
Citing, he said, when it comes to employment in tourist hotels, the owners prefer to recruit foreigners because Tanzanians are deemed incapable.
“If we had a good population policy this would not happen, what is needed now is to improve the current one and make it focus more on our current needs,” he said.
He said most of the developed countries in the Far East Asia have used population policy to go in tandem with the problems they face that is why they are moving faster in economic development.
He also challenged the public to use family planning to check population growth or else the situation might worsen in the future.
According to him, the population figure looks to be a threat to the economy because it is difficult for the government to meet the needs of its people.
Launching the 2012 Population and Housing Census Results in Dar es Salaam last year, President Jakaya Kikwete said the country’s population was growing at fast rate.
He said the government will need to come up with development strategies so as to accommodate it at present and in future, calling on people to work hard to provide their families with basic needs.
He said while the government will strive to provide important services needed by the population, families must plan the number of children they can take care of within their means.
Experts say Tanzania is one of most endowed countries in East Africa in terms of economic resources.
The discovered oil and gas and minerals like gold, uranium are some of the areas that if well harnessed will move this nation forward to have a strong and competitive economy by 2025 as stated in the country’s development plan.
There is a need, therefore, for massive investments in economic reforms, health, education, gender equality, women empowerment and family planning, s o they say.
By helping reduce the rate of population growth, through family planning will contribute to social and economic development and achievement of the national vision.
SOURCE:
THE GUARDIAN
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