ZIMBABWE will use mobile devices for mapping and data
collection during the 2022 census enumeration process, an exercise which is
expected to cost $1,4 billion.
Addressing a press conference in Harare recently, Zimbabwe
National Statistics Agency director general, Mr Taguma Mahonde said the Fifth
Population and Housing Census will be conducted in August 2022.
“In order to successfully plan for economic and social
development and carry out administrative activity or scientific research, it is
necessary to have reliable and detailed data on the size, composition,
distribution and other benchmark statistics on the population.
“The census provides this much needed information. However,
the census is very costly to undertake and this is why it is conducted every 10
years. Thorough and careful planning is required to ensure that the programme
is implemented in an effective and efficient manner. Prior to conducting the
Population and Housing Census, it is a requirement that a cartographic census
mapping exercise be carried out,” said Mr Mahonde.
“We are already doing the mapping exercise where we divide
every ward into enumeration areas. This is done physically by people on the
ground.”
Treasury was funding
operations of the pre-enumeration phase while the United Nations Population
Fund assisted with vehicles.
The Ministry of Finance and Economic Development would soon
convene a conference for development partners for them to find areas where they
could come on board and assist.
Mr Mahonde said the Cartographic Census Mapping exercise
came at a time when globally, as per United Nations recommendations for the
2020 round of Population and Housing censuses, most countries were shifting
towards the use of mobile devices in data collection.
“Given this background, Zimbabwe is focusing on following
the global trend of the use of mobile devices for mapping and data collection
during census enumeration,” he said.
The population of Zimbabwe on August 18, 2012 was 12 973
808 and estimates show that the population is now around 17 million people.
On the objectives of carrying out the census mapping
exercise, Mr Mahonde said this was meant to ensure that all areas were covered
to reduce the possibility of under or over-enumeration due to overlaps.
“All information collected during the census mapping
exercise will be highly confidential and used for statistical purposes only.
“It needs to be stressed that the census is a national
project that requires the support of everyone. Although ZIMSTAT is the main
implementing agency, the support of all Government ministries, private sector,
civil society organisations, research and training institutions is vital for
conducting a successful census.
“The public is urged to co-operate with our field mappers
during data collection for this very important exercise. Positive contribution
is very much welcome as thus ensures the successful accomplishment of this
mammoth task,” said Mr Mahonde.
Post-independence population censuses were conducted in the
month of August 1982, 1992, 2002 and 2012 in accordance with the Census and
Statistics Act which stipulates that a national census shall be carried out
every 10 years. Herald
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