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(HERALD) Govt pledges to balance population, economy

Govt pledges to balance population, economy
By Rumbidzai Mashayahanya recently in Nyanga

GOVERNMENT has pledged to strike a balance between economic growth and population dynamics in order to foster sustainable development in line with the Millennium Development Goals that were set as target by the United Nations.

Speaking at the population policy validation workshop held in Nyanga, the director for Policy Planning in the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion Mr Graciano Nyaguse said the population policy was being updated at a time when a more holistic approach to development is being advocated for.

"The multi-disciplinary nature of the policy will take into account pre-existing implicit sectoral efforts as well as other emerging aspects of population and related issues like HIV/Aids, gender and the environment.

"The validation of this policy and its ultimate implementation reinforces the Government’s commitment to improving the standards of living of the population," said Mr Nyaguse.

He said the Government realises that the human component is fundamental to economic development and hence the need to revise and validate a comprehensive national population policy that is aimed at alleviating the standards of living for the entire population.

"A key challenge in the implementation of the policy has been the absence of an institutional framework," he said.

Government efforts have since been championed by the United Nations Funds for Population Activities, who have shown interest in the updating and implementing the national population policy.

Speaking at the same occasion resident representative for UNFPA, Dr Brian Tambashe said it can not be denied that different paradigms have evolved and gained currency over time, primarily due to the analysis of the failure in the past approaches to development.

"From an international perspective, there have been a number of fundamental changes in the conception and role of development, with a shift in focus to sustainable human-centred development," said Dr Tambashe.

He said the focus of the current paradigm is sustainable human development, in which population is placed at the centre of all development, as the driving force and ultimate beneficiary of development.

The population policy validation workshop consisted of officials from the respective ministries, private sector and stakeholders who said Government efforts would this time bear fruits as they will work together tirelessly to alleviate economic constraints that have a back-drop impact on the economy.

Labels: ECONOMY

posted by MrK @ 3:43 PM