Malawi Human Rights Resource Centre (MHRRC) has asked the government to take its rightful role in giving direction to families to stop bearing many children in a bid to control overpopulation.

Speaking to YFM, MHRRC Executive Director Emma Kaliya said over population is affecting provision of social services in the country.

“People need to understand that it is so challenging to have so many people waiting for government to provide social services.

“The government should assist people to understand that having many children will not help this country,” Kaliya said.

She further appealed to parents as first players to ensure that they have manageable number of children to reduce the burden on the government.

Kaliya added that most of the problems that this country is facing are due to overpopulation which has resulted into the communities building sub-standard infrastructures.

She cited a recent example of the tragic death of four primary school learners at Sub Traditional Authority Ngwelero in Zomba district when a wall of the class block collapsed on them.