Zim population peaks at 13m - report
2012-12-18 22:04
Special Report
Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF party is mulling over a special congress at which top vacant positions will be filled and the succession of President Robert Mugabe would be decided, according to a report.
Harare - Zimbabwe's population steadily increased to 13
million, up by 1.1% from the last count a decade ago, a report released
by the National Statistics Agency (ZimStats) on Tuesday shows.
"Detailed results will be published in a series of
subsequent reports after completion of data processing and further
analysis," Mutasa Dzinotizei, ZimStats director general said.
Females make the largest group of the population, with 6 738
770 counted.
Long-ruling President Robert Mugabe blamed the scourge of
HIV and Aids related deaths for the declining growth after the 2002 census.
Though about 13% of the population is HIV positive, Zimbabwe
has emerged as something of an AIDS success, with new HIV infections down 50% between 1997 and 2007, a study last year found.
Officials are encouraging male circumcision because some
research has shown the procedure can reduce HIV transmission rates.
Zimbabwe has also seen an exodus of people fleeing political
and economic turmoil over the last decade, with some estimates suggesting three
million people have left.
The 2012 census figures do not include Zimbabweans outside
the country.
- SAPA
