Zimbabwe Lawmakers suggest 8 children per family in other to increase population and ignore birth control

Lawmakers in Zimbabwe have now moved a motion urging citizens not to embrace birth control measures due to the setback to attract foreign investors because of its small population.

According to the Hansard, which provides a transcript of Zimbabwe's parliamentary debates, senators called for the Zimbabwe government to promote large families and get NGOs that have been pushing for birth control to instead 'promote family growth'.

The senators said it was worrying and suggested that people should have a minimum of eight children and be supported by Government to sustain their families.

Senator Monica Mutsvangwa of the ruling Zanu-PF party described the matter as a very 'serious issue'

'The moment you tell them we are about 14 million they will all look around and say ah, I do not know how I can continue.'

We have no people. We should be serious about development because it's a very serious one. Let us take development alone which investor would come to Zimbabwe to invest seriously for 14 million people?'

Another senator, Mike Musaka said: 'Which investor would come to Zimbabwe to invest seriously for 14 million people?' He said that the money NGOs were spending on promoting birth control should instead be used to support families and pay for schooling for children.

[Chronicle]