Overpopulation retarding development—chief

Senior Chief Dambe of Mchinji has said Malawi will remain poor if people do not embrace family planning to curb overpopulation.

Speaking at Kamwendo Trading Centre on Thursday during Results-Based Financing for Maternal and Neonatal Health (RBF4MNH) sensitisation, Dambe said overpopulation is impeding the country’s progress.

“We have failed to move forward economically because the population is simply too unrealistic compared to our resources,” Dambe said.

He, however, said it is encouraging that some organisations such as RBF4MNH have incorporated family planning in their interventions to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality rates.
RBF4MNH communications manager Charity Roka said apart from encouraging pregnant women to deliver at hospitals, they have also inspired them to use contraceptives.

“There should be a collective responsibility in mobilising people to embrace family planning methods,” she said.

Roka said people should understand the importance of having manageable families that will not strain the country’s resources.