Minister Musokotwane Raises Alarm Over Zambia’s Population Growth

The Minister of Finance, Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, voiced concerns over Zambia’s population growth, urging preparation for its economic impact. Tensions arose during a report launch, as Dr. Choolwe Beyani criticized ZamStats for inaccuracies, while Oliver Chinganya defended the report’s validity.

Dr. Situmbeko Musokotwane, the Minister of Finance and National Planning, has raised concerns regarding the alarming growth rate of Zambia’s population, projected to rise from 13 to 20 million. He stressed the urgent necessity for preparatory measures, as the current economic framework is inadequate to support such rapid population increase. Furthermore, the reliability of the updated 2022 Census Summary Report was affirmed by Dr. Musokotwane.

During the launch of this report, tensions flared between Dr. Choolwe Beyani, the Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, and Oliver Chinganya, the Chairperson of ZamStats Board. Dr. Beyani accused ZamStats of disregarding a directive from President Hakainde Hichilema, claiming that unaddressed inaccuracies in 15 wards invalidate the report. In defense, Mr. Chinganya contended that the report’s integrity remains intact despite the allegations made by Dr. Beyani.

The urgent statement by Dr. Musokotwane highlights the critical need for Zambia to strategically prepare for its burgeoning population. The debates surrounding the Census Report reflect deeper administrative challenges, emphasizing the importance of government compliance and accuracy in population statistics to inform effective policy measures moving forward.

Original Source: diggers.news