PREPARED BY: MOREO MOREO III

POPULATION DYNAMICS 2023

DEFINITION OF TERMS/CONCEPTS

Population dynamics, the everchanging population structure due to

birth rate, death rate and migration.
Population structure, the composition of the population.
Population pyramid, graphical presentation of the age and sex
composition of the population in a particular year.
Demography, the scientifc study of human population and its
distribution over space and time.
Birth rate, the number of children born alive per 1000 people in a given
year.
Death rate, the number of deaths per 1000 people in a given year.
Natural increase, the diference between birth rate and death rate in a
given year provided the birth rate is higher.
Natural decrease, the diference between birth rate and death rate in a
given year provided the Death rate is higher.
Infant mortality rate, the number of children who die before the age of
1 year (12 months) per a 1000 live births.
Child mortality rate, the number of children who die before the age the
age of 5 years per 1000 live births.
Fertility rate, the average number of live births that a woman is capable
of producing during her reproductive period per 1000 women.
Fecundity, the biological capacity of both males and females to
reproduce.
Fertility, the bearing of children by women only.
Life expectancy, the average number of years a new-born is
desired/hoped to live from birth.
Population density, the average number of people per unit area/Km².
Densely populated area, an area occupied by more than 10 people per
square kilometre/Km².
Sparsely populated area, an area occupied by less than 10 people per
square kilometre/Km².
Uninhabited area, an area without occupants.
Population census, the ofcial counting of people in a country at a given
interval/period.
De Facto Population, the total number of people in a country during a
census, including visitors/foreigners but excluding citizens outside the
country.
De Jure Population, the total number of people in a country during a
census plus/including citizens outside the country during a census.
Dependency ratio, the proportion of the working
population/economically active population to the non-working
population/uneconomically active population.
Dependent population, People who are economically reliant on working
population i.e., 0-14 years old and 65+ years old.
Optimum population, when there is a balance between the available
resources and the people.

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Overpopulation, When there are more people in the area than the
available resources can support.

Migration, the movement of people across a specifed boundary from

one place to the other either temporarily or permanently.
Emigration, movement of people out of a particular place/area (Out
migration).
Immigration, the coming of people from another area into a particular
area (In migration).

Types of migration

International migration, the movement of people from one country to

the other.

Internal migration, the movement of people from one place to the other
within a country

Types of internal migration

Rural-urban migration e.g., Serowe to Gaborone

Urban-rural migration e.g., Gaborone to Serowe
Rural-rural migration e.g. Mogorosi to Serowe
Urban-urban migration e.g. Gaborone to Selibe Phikwe

FACTORS INFLUENCING INCREASE IN FERTILITY RATE

(a) Social/cultural factors

Preference for a particular sex, families of patrilineal societies prefer a

baby boy/male child so if the couple fail to have a boy child, they will con-
tinue to bear children with the hope of having a boy child
Early marriages/Early children bearing/Teenage pregnancy/Early parent-
hood, the earlier a woman starts to give birth the more the chances of
having many children
Old age security, parents have many children so that the children can
take care of them when they are old, e.g. bathing them, cleaning their
yard, washing and cooking for them
Lack of education, e.g. lack of family planning methods/insufcient inform-
ation about the use of contraceptives.
Religious beliefs, e.g. The Roman Catholic Church and ZCC disapprove the
use of artifcial contraceptives like condoms, they are seen as interfering
with God’s plan of procreation
Virility, men want to prove their sexual strength by having many children
in a patrilineal society
Population policy, government introducing incentives that promotes child-
birth e.g. free maternal care, free PMTCT, free vaccination for children un-

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der 5 years and free food rations like Tsa Bana and Malutu for babies and
nursing mothers.
Gender inequalities/patriarchy, the decision of number of children to be
born made by male partners only.

(b) Economic factors

Poor economic status of the country/poverty, less developed countries
have limited access to contraceptives because of their cost. Rural areas
have limited access to contraceptives than rural areas
Children as a form of cheap labour, more children being born provides
free labour in agricultural production
Old age security, parents have many children so that the children can
take care of /support them when they are old e.g. paying their medical
bills, buying food and paying for their funeral costs
FACTORS THAT CAN LEAD TO INCREASE IN POPULATION/RAPID
POPULATION GROWTH
(a) Social/cultural factors

Preference for a particular sex, families of patrilineal societies prefer a

baby boy/male child so if the couple fail to have a boy child, they will con-
tinue to bear children with the hope of having a boy child
Early marriages/Early children bearing/Teenage pregnancy/Early parent-
hood, the earlier a woman starts to give birth the more the chances of
having many children
Old age security, parents have many children so that the children can
take care of them when they are old, e.g. bathing them, cleaning their
yard, washing and cooking for them
Lack of education, e.g. lack of family planning methods/insufcient inform-
ation about the use of contraceptives.
Religious beliefs, e.g. The Roman Catholic Church and ZCC disapprove the
use of artifcial contraceptives like condoms, they are seen as interfering
with God’s plan of procreation
Virility, men want to prove their sexual strength by having many children
in a patrilineal society
Population policy, government introducing incentives that promotes child-
birth e.g. free maternal care, free PMTCT, free vaccination for children un-
der 5 years and free food rations like Tsa Bana and Malutu for babies and
nursing mothers.
Gender inequalities/patriarchy, the decision of number of children to be
born made by male partners only.

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Polygamy, marrying more than one wife, will increase the number of chil-
dren born
Immigration, people moving from one area to the other

(b) Economic factors

Poor economic status of the country/poverty, less developed countries
have limited access to contraceptives because of their cost. Rural areas
have limited access to contraceptives than rural areas
Children as a form of cheap labour, more children being born provides
free labour in agricultural production
Old age security, parents have many children so that the children can
take care of /support them when they are old e.g. paying their medical
bills, buying food and paying for their funeral costs
EFFECTS OF HIGH POPULATION ON THE ENVIRONMENT

Pollution, increase amount of waste in the environment

Development of slums/ghettos/squatter camps, illegal occupation of land,

due to shortage of housing/accommodation

Land degradation, indiscriminate cutting of trees for framing, settlement,

or fuel exposes the soil to agent of soil erosion such as winter and water,
and loss of topsoil result in loss of soil fertility.

Overuse/overharvesting/Extinction of resources, increased exploitation of

natural resources compromises their regeneration capacity for future use
by the next generation

Land use conficts/Shortage of land, e.g. Agriculture and Settlement

Shortage of basic facilities/amenities/infrastructure, e.g. Schools, Hospitals

and Clinics because of overcrowding

Urbanisation, areas that were rural growing to urban status because of the
increased economic activity.

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Possible solution to rapid population growth

Promote family planning/use of contraceptives, e.g. Condoms, Hormonal

Pill, Diaphragm, and child spacing

Government policy on family size, e.g. 1 child policy, maternity leave with
full pay for 3 pregnancies only, and tax exemption for smaller families

Formulation of legislation, e.g. tighten laws on immigrants to reduce the

infux of foreigners into the country

Provision of education, sensitising/teaching/making people aware about

the challenges of large families (i) through workshop/kgotla
meeting/seminars/road shows, (ii) incorporating reproductive health
issues in the school curriculum

Women empowerment, addressing gender inequalities through assisting

women to make independent decision about reproductive health issues

Examine the impacts of rapid population growth on available re-

sources
Land use conficts/Shortage of land, as people crowd in one area they
would not agree on what to use the land for, e.g. competing priorities for
Settlement, Agriculture, Industries and Tourism, However an increased
population within an area provides for a market for goods and services.
Development of slums/ghettos/shanty towns, as people need more land
they tend to occupy it illegally in towns and cities, e.g. Somerset in Fran-
cistown, Bontleng in Gaborone and Botshabelo in Selebi Phikwe, However
this has led to new initiatives and policies on land by the government e.g.
the government bought farms around Francistown i.e. Gerald Estate to al-
locate land to the citizens that were crowded in high density areas thus
clearing the Somerset area in Francistown of slums.
Shortage of resources/amenities/overcrowding, e.g. in hospitals, clinics,
schools and roads/trafc congestion, thus leading to pressure on govern-
ment budget, However increasing population may lead to upgrading of ex-
isting amenities/facilities/infrastructure, to cater for it.
Deforestation/Overharvesting/Overuse/Extinction of resources/Land degra-
dation, the need for more space leads to cutting down of more trees to
clear the land, thus increasing soil erosion as the land is left bare, How-
ever increased population leads to urbanisation i.e. more places being de-

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veloped into cities and towns e.g. Jwaneng, Orapa and Selebi Phikwe were
cattle posts in the past and have since being developed into urban areas.
Pollution, contamination of land, air, and water may lead to spread of dis-
eases like typhoid fever and cholera. However some people may see a
business opportunity in sanitation by collecting the litter for a fee.

Examine the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the population

Death, HIV/AIDS kills the loved ones and economically active population,
this causes reduction in trained/skilled manpower at the workplace and
children are left as orphans, However, HIV/AIDS has promoted scientifc in-
ventions/research, e.g. to fnd the cure for AIDS, the invention of ARV
drugs. / Behavioural change, some people may be faithful to their partners
or refrain from sexual intercourse for fear of contracting the HIV virus.
Low productivity at the work-place, because HIV/AIDS victims have to be
absent from work regularly to go for medical check-ups and sick leave,
However HIV/AIDS has led to increase in medical facilities/infrastructure
e.g. more clinics and hospitals being built to cater for the growing number
of patients as a result of HIV/AIDS.
Strains/put pressure on the government budget, money that could be in-
vested in other sectors of the economy e.g. infrastructural development
and training the human resource will be devoted to HIV/AIDS (e.g. ARV
drugs, PMTCT programme, Safe male circumcision, Care of orphans and
HIV/AIDS patients), However HIV/AIDS promotes business investment,
e.g. mortuaries, grave-shades and cofns/casket manufacturing, this as-
sist government in employment creation./ Creates employment, e.g.
Baylor children clinic where nurses, doctors and counsellors who special-
ises on issues of HIV/AIDS on orphaned children. NAHPA (National AIDS
and Health Promotion Agency) ofcers who oversees research and ana-
lysis of HIV/AIDS related matters.
Social stigma/Discrimination, society labels people who have contracted
HIV/AIDS as people who were promiscuous (having multiple sexual part-
ners) and who were careless with their sex life this may cause emotional
stress/depression on those infected with HIV virus However HIV/AIDS has
provided education, i.e. HIV/AIDS has brought a lot of knowledge/aware-
ness on reproductive health, e.g. the benefts of using condoms, PMTCT
programmes, and Safe male Circumcision and people nowadays reveal
their HIV/AIDS without fear of stigmatisation
Low birth rate, people may fear to bear children because they would not
want to contract HIV/AIDS, and low birth rate reduces investment and
market for the country, However it breaks cultural stereotypes/exposes
sexual issues, children learn about issues of sex and HIV/AIDS at a

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younger age and become assertive on the decision they take about their
reproductive health. /A small family is cost efective.

Discuss the importance of population census

Delimitation of parliamentary constituencies and council wards, the popu-
lation of the country informs the quota for each constituency and council
ward, hence equality of representation
Assist in planning for development, e.g. number of schools, clinics class
rooms and roads, which reduce congestion in facilities
Enable stakeholders to identify changes in the population structure, e.g.
birth rate, death rate, age ratio, sex ratio and dependency ratio and
causes of such changes, so as to map out appropriate solutions
Helps the government to identify where developments are mostly needed,
i.e. high population determines the type of development needed, this
brings about suitable use of resources in line with the size of the popula-
tion
Explain/describe reasons why population policy is important to
countries

Ensures the balance between the population and available resource, lead-
ing to sustainable development

Helps to put relevant legislation in place e.g. One child policy in China,
maternity leave, gender equality, incentives/disincentives.

Forms a basis for future projections needed for development planning, as

such giving priority to those developments needed more than others e.g.
projects and funding for such projects

Controls/regulates the population .i.e. Forms a basis for either to increase

or decrease the population because relevant measures like family plan-
ning, and marriage age would be put in place

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Enables all stakeholders (Government/NGOs/Private
sector/Researchers/Ordinary citizens) to work towards a common goal, it
is a guide for development e.g. related strategies for either increasing or
decreasing the population

Assess the importance of population in development planning

Prioritise development, i.e. helps to determine where developments are

mostly needed thus balancing people/population with resources e.g. urban
areas because of high population, however Skewed/imbalance in
development, areas with fewer people are more likely to receive fewer
developments/infrastructure as opposed to areas with high population/
can lead to over population in one area and depopulation in another
Assist in budget purposes, i.e. fnancial planning, this reduces
unnecessary costs and overspending, however this leads to pressure on
government budget, because of high population in one area
The census data of the population assist in demarcation of constituencies
and council wards, this enhance equal representation by political
leadership, e.g. Members of parliament in the National Assembly, however
delays development, areas with lower population will only be developed
after some time when their population has increased/reached a threshold
e.g. 5000 people to qualify to be a settlement worth of development.
Other point to consider:
The population structure i.e. its composition informs the type of
development to be carried out e.g. characteristics such as dependency
ratio, age ratio, life expectancy and birth rate

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 MIGRATION
Pull factors, favourable conditions that attract people to a new area.
Employment opportunities
Better/improved infrastructure/facilities/amenities
Bright light syndrome
Better weather/climatic conditions
Push factors, unbearable/unfavourable conditions which force people to
move out of an area.
Lack of Employment opportunities
Lack of/insufcient/poor infrastructure/facilities/amenities
Bad weather/climatic conditions
Natural disasters e.g. foods, tsunamis, earthquakes
Political instability, e.g. wars and civil strife
Explain efects of migration on the source area (the area where
people migrated from)
Brain drain/Loss of skilled manpower, the best brains/able bodied people
leave rural areas to look for jobs in urban areas
Decline in agricultural production, as old people are left to till the land
thus reduction in manpower
Unfair distribution of resources, more facilities/amenities channeled to ur-
ban areas because of high population
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Family break downs, spouses live their partners in rural areas and engage
in extra marital afairs in urban areas/host areas
Depopulation of rural areas/source areas, this delays infrastructural devel-
opment because of few people/reduced market for goods and services
Spread of diseases, e.g. HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 from those living in urban
areas
Causes a dependent population, e.g. the young and elderly look up to the
economically active relatives in urban areas to sustain them
Age and gender imbalance, since the young and males go to urban areas
in search of employment, leaving the elderly and females in rural areas
Remittances, part of the earnings sent home by emigrants
Technological/skills transfer/Investment, e.g., business opportunities and
innovations from urban areas/host areas
Reduced pressure on available resources, e.g. schools, clinics, hospitals
and roads

Examine ways in which international migration afects the receiv-

ing/host countries
Acquisition of skilled manpower, some of the migrants are trained person-
nel, e.g. Doctors, Teachers, Nurses and Engineers, However these skilled
people may compete for jobs with Batswana leading to xenophobia.
Pay tax, professionals employed in Botswana increase government rev-
enue, as part of their salaries is remitted to government cofers, However
some may evade tax by under valuing their salaries, so as to send more
remittance home
Cultural exchange/enrichment, Batswana learning new lifestyles as they
interact with the Zimbabweans, Chinese, Europeans and Indians, However
this interaction may lead to cultural erosion/loss of culture as Batswana
adopt such lifestyles like body piercing, tattoos, dress code and homosex-
ual relations.
Provision of cheap labour, migrants who are desperate for survival ofer-
ing their services at afordable rates for Batswana, e.g. Zimbabweans as
housemaids, Herd boys and casual labourers, however this creates resent-
ment/dislike by unemployed Batswana who would feel the migrants are
taking their jobs
Infux of foreign products, the nature of Botswana economy (liberal econ-
omy) allows for foreigners to trade in cheap items/merchandise e.g. Fong
Kongs from the Chinese, the boast the economy of Botswana since the
low-income people can also aford goods that are sold.
Other points to explore:
Increase market

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Increase foreign exchange
Multiplier efect
Spread of diseases
Social ills and crime
Stretch government resources/Shortage of resources
Land use conficts
Pollution/congestion
Development of infrastructure, (Dugwi refugee Camp/Francistown Deten-
tion Centre)
Cultural erosion/loss of culture
Investment/creation of employment
Increase government revenue/pay tax

Describe positive impacts of rural-urban migration on rural areas

Remittances, migrants employed in urban area send part of their earnings
to relatives left in rural areas
Skills/ideas/technological transfer, e.g., methods of building houses, for-
mation of youth clubs, Cash loans and business syndicates
Reduce pressure on available resources, a small population will be left in
rural areas thus leading to optimal use of natural resources and
facilities/amenities
Investment of income in rural areas, e.g., migrants putting their incomes
into enterprise that have value for money like entertainment centres,
shopping complexes and public transport
Fewer mouths to feed, e.g., at household level as some family members
would have relocated to urban areas
Discuss negative impacts of rural-urban migration on rural areas.

Brain drain, the educated and able-bodied young people leave the rural
areas to look for employment in urban centres, this leaves the rural areas
with skills shortage leading to inefciency in providing services to the
people
Decline in Agricultural production, old people left on their own to till the
land, resulting in low crop yield because of limited labour

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Family break-down, partners leave others in rural areas and engage in
new love afairs/extra marital afairs in urban areas, leading to emotional
stress on the remaining partners in rural areas
Lead to a dependent population, those in rural areas relying on those in
urban areas for sustenance e.g., through remittances, hence breeding an
entitlement mentality/dependency syndrome
Depopulation in rural areas, causing delay in infrastructural development
because of a reduced population, resulting in rural areas lagging behind in
developments thus failing to attract investors
Spread of diseases, partners who migrate to urban areas might contract
sexually transmitted infections like HIV/AIDS due to extra marital relation-
ships and prostitution, this may lead to social stigma in the rural areas be-
cause of diseases associated with multiple concurrent partners like
HIV/AIDS.
Cultural erosion/loss of culture, those who migrate to urban areas adopt
urban lifestyles e.g., substance abuse/prostitution/crime, some when
come back to rural areas they will infuence the rural people to engage in
such behaviour leading to moral decay

Explain positive efects of rural-urban migration on urban areas

Increased market, migrants are potential buyers for products in urban ar-
eas
Increased labour force, migrants come with variety of skills, which may
beneft industries in urban areas
Upgrading of existing amenities, i.e., to cater for the increasing population
Exchange of skills, through interaction of people from diferent educa-
tional and cultural background.
Explain negative efects of rural-urban migration on urban areas
Pressure on/shortage of/ available resources/overcrowding/over popula-
tion, e.g., schools, clinics and hospitals, the congestion will lead to a com-
promised quality of services provided
Land use conficts, land for settlement competing for space with land for
industries/squatter settlement, illegal occupation of land
Increase in crime and social ills, e.g., drug peddling, prostitution and bur-
glary

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Increased unemployment, since jobs opportunities are limited, which may
lead to crime
Depletion of natural resources, e.g., as a result of overuse/overharvesting
of trees for fuel
Spread of diseases, e.g., cholera, bilharzia, and typhoid fever because of
living in crowded areas of poor sanitation
Discuss the role of the youth in addressing problems resulting
from rural-urban
migration
Use government schemes/programmes e.g., CEDA young farmers Fund,
YDF, through these programmes the youth can acquire fnance/funding to
establish business/enterprises creating employment opportunities
Voluntary service, e.g., Village Development Committees, Red Cross
through this volunteer service the youth can contribute ideas that can
help to development their local communities, hence acquisition of neces-
sary experience for the workplace
Active participation in decision making, e.g., contest as councilors and
MPs to address the needs of their villages, through being in this post of re-
sponsibilities the youth can infuence policy direction of the government
for developments in rural areas
Self-employment, initiating individual enterprises e.g., barber shops, plait-
ing, hawkers, and poultry farming, this will help to boast the rural econ-
omy thus reduce rural-urban migration
Formation of cultural/sporting/entertainment clubs/groups, e.g., football
teams, traditional dance troupes, poets, and drama groups, these will de-
ter the youth from engaging in social ills.

Discuss the role of the Government in controlling rural-urban mi-

gration
Decentralisation, powers and decision devolved to rural areas authorities,
for efective service delivery
Provision of education, empowering the rural people with business skills to
start their own enterprises
Provision of government progarammes/schemes in rural areas, e.g., LIMID,
ISPAAD, and CEDA young farmers fund to generate income in rural areas
and sustain livelihoods
Provision of recreational facilities in rural area, e.g., Youth centres and
Stadia, to keep the youth away from wayward behaviour

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Provision of basic infrastructure/amenities/facilities in rural area, e.g.,
Schools, clinic, hospitals, tarred roads telecommunication networks and
power supply
Provision of rural areas allowance for civil servants, e.g., RASA to attract
civil servants to rural areas
Government incentives for industries to relocate to rural areas, e.g.,
through subsidies, tax holidays and tax rebates
Explain the role of the Non-Governmental Organisation in control-
ling rural-urban migration
Provision of education, e.g., through kgotla meeting and seminars on the
impact of rural-urban migration
Provision of basic needs, e.g., Red Cross donates clothes, food and shelter
to the less fortunate members of rural areas
Creation of jobs, the youth employed as lay counsellors in rural areas
Advocacy role, mobilise people in rural areas to know their rights, e.g.,
Survival International.

Describe causes of conficts over the use of natural resources.

Land use, land set aside for wildlife competing with that for
agriculture/settlement
Ownership of natural resources, Basarwa took the government of Bot-
swana to court over the forceful removal from CKGR which they consider
their ancestral land
Colonial legacy/lack of access to resource, e.g., in Francistown large
chunks of private land is owned by Tati Company which was established in
1887 and the local community has no access to it

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Denying people the right to use the resources, the government of Bot-
swana imposed a hunting ban in 2013 and this denied mostly Basarwa
their sustenance
Forced removal of squatters, the Mogoditshane landboard forcefully
evicted squatters in Tsolamosese, Ledumadumane and Mogoditshane
Lack of/Improper/Insufcient consultation by government, e.g., the re-
moval of Basarwa from CKGR to New Xade
Unfair distribution of resources/Corrupt distribution, Land-board ofcials
allocating land to their relatives/friends and denying rightful applicants
the land
Delay in processing land application by land board ofcials, e.g., residen-
tial areas in urban areas takes about 20 years and this creates a confict
between the land board ofcials and the applicants
Mismanagement of resources/Shortage of land/Overpopulation/scramble
for resources/Overuse of resources e.g., mophane worm harvesters and
Department of Forestry and natural resource issuing permits
Discuss ways in which the government can resolve conficts aris-
ing from the
use of scarce resources
Formulation of laws, i.e., making laws to sustain scarce resource e.g.,
Land Board Act, EIA Act, Flora and Fauna Act, these laws will deter people
to use the scarce resources indiscriminately because of penalties set
out/leads to sustainable resources/preserves endangered species
Provision of education, people should be made aware/informed of the im-
pacts of scarce resources, e.g., awareness through the school curriculum,
Kgotla meeting, billboards, workshops, seminars and roadshows cam-
paigns, this will assist people to make informed decisions as they deal
with resources
Consultation and Negotiations/dialogue, seeking people’s opinions/sug-
gestions before the government takes a decision that will impact on their
lives, e.g., bottom-up approach to development. This will promote a sense
of ownership from local communities
Provision of family planning methods, i.e., contraceptives such as con-
doms to reduce the population, this will create a balance between the
people and available resources.
Provision of compensation for damages, e.g., the cost of the damage be-
ing proportional to the damage caused e.g., compensation for a goat
killed by a predator is P400.00 yet the value of a goat is P1000.00, so pro -
portionate compensation will deter the local communities from killing wild
animals indiscriminately

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