ZANU PF Official Urges Women to Shun Contraceptives and Have More Children

HARARE – A senior ZANU PF official has called on Zimbabwean women to have more children and avoid using contraceptives, arguing that the country's declining birth rate is a cause for concern.

ZANU PF Secretary for Women Affairs and Senate President Mabel Chinomona made the remarks at a recent Women's League event in Murehwa West constituency.

“Women, please stop using family planning; please go and give birth,” Chinomona said.

“Our soldiers are now few; we need farmers, doctors and nurses while you are busy swallowing those pills.

“We are supposed to build this country, yet you find children of this generation saying a single child is enough. How many siblings do you have?”

Zimbabwe's fertility rate has declined significantly over the past four decades.

At independence in 1980, women in Zimbabwe had an average of close to seven children each. By 1990, the fertility rate had fallen to about 4.9 children per woman. By 2006, it had declined further to between 3.6 and 3.8 children per woman. Current estimates place Zimbabwe's fertility rate at between 3.2 and 3.6 children per woman, although this remains above the population replacement level of approximately 2.1 children per woman.

The decline has largely been attributed to increased access to family planning services, the rising cost of raising children and higher levels of education among women. Chinomona's remarks come amid broader demographic shifts across Zimbabwe and other African countries, where changing economic conditions and greater access to reproductive health services have contributed to smaller family sizes.

ZANU PF women contraceptives