ARUSHA, Tanzania, July 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania's semi-autonomous Zanzibar archipelago is grappling with the rapid population growth by encouraging islanders to embrace modern family planning methods, an official said on Monday.
Speaking ahead of the World Population Day on Wednesday, Zanzibar's Urban West Regional Commissioner Ayoub Mohammed Mahmoud said the rapid population growth threatens the development.
According to Mahmoud, Zanzibar's population growth rate has increased to 2.8 percent per year, slightly higher than Tanzania mainland's 2.7 percent.
"Zanzibar's population growth does not match the speed of economic growth. The situation threatens development and the well-being of residents." the official said.
The 2,461-square-kilometer archipelago, which is home to 1.3 million people, must contain the population growth if it has to contribute effectively to Tanzania dream of becoming a middle-income economy by 2025, said Mahmoud.
"Most of people in Zanzibar do not use any of the family planning methods. Those engaged in family planning are mostly from Urban West region, and people in South Pemba and South Unguja are not used to such methods," said the official.
The World Population day, observed on July 11 every year, seeks to focus on the importance of population and health issues. The theme for this year is "Family Planning is a Human Right."
