President John Magufuli urged Tanzania’s women to “set your ovaries free” and bear more children as a way to help boost the economy into a regional powerhouse, a step critics said would instead worsen inequality and poverty.
“When you have a big population you build the economy. That’s why China’s economy is so huge,” he said, citing India and Nigeria as other examples of countries that gained from a demographic dividend.
“I know that those who like to block ovaries will complain about my remarks. Set your ovaries free, let them block theirs,” he told a gathering in his home town of Chato.
Since taking office in 2015, Magufuli has launched an industrialisation campaign that has helped buoy economic growth, which has averaged six to seven per cent annually in recent years.
But he has said a higher birth rate would achieve faster progress. Tanzania has sustained relatively high growth, averaging 6–7 per cent a year, over the past decade.
At the same time, the East African nation of 55 million people already has one of the world’s highest birth rates – around five children per woman.
In 2018, Magufuli said curbing the birth rate was “for those too lazy to take care of their children”, and the health ministry barred broadcasting of family planning ads by a U.S.-funded project.
Others said it was simply bad economics for Magufuli to urge Tanzanians to have more babies.
“High population growth in Tanzania means increased levels of poverty and income inequality,” said a rights activist based in Dar es Salaam, who asked not to be named to avoid possible repercussions from the government’s ongoing review of registration of non-governmental organisations.
“Women’s ovaries should never be used as a tool for seeking economic prosperity.”
Punch
Let's know your take on this and don't forget, the comment section is always open.
No comments:
Post a Comment