Being counted matters

ZIMBABWE is currently holding its fifth National Population and Housing Census which commenced yesterday (Thursday) and will run up to April 30, 2022. The country’s statistical agency, ZimStat, was busy on the ground carrying out all the necessary preparations for more than a year to ensure that every person who was in the country on the night of April 20, 2022 (Wednesday night), was counted.

The country’s first national census was in 1982 and Zimbabwe has never failed to hold a census after every decade in its 42 years of self-rule.

According to ZimStat, as of September 29, 2021, Zimbabwe’s population was plus or minus 15 131 009.

This was based on the Worldometer elaboration of the latest United Nations data. This showed a jump from the estimated population of 14 862 924 in 2020, hence the need to have accurate figures that show the actual population of this great nation.

Since the last population census in 2012, the population has has grown in some areas and decreased in others due to a number of factors, among them migration and resettlement due to various economic reasons, for example the Chiadzwa villagers’ relocation to pave way for diamond mining.

In Chimanimani, some villagers were relocated from areas that were badly damaged by the March 2019 Cyclone Idai to a new settlement at Runyararo near Nhedziwa.

Across the whole country, changes have taken place in the educational, economic and health systems and the 2022 National Population and Housing Census will provide the information needed to assess these changes, as well as providing a base for the development of plans to improve the economic and social welfare of the population.

What makes this year’s census unique is that refugees domiciled in Zimbabwe are being counted for the first time.

The refugees, especially the thousands at Tongogara Refugee Camp in Chipinge, are now expected to meaningfully contribute towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Accurate census data is valuable and essential for economic development, transportation, healthcare, education, business planning and decision making.

A rapidly growing population may require a number of additional services and facilities that include schools, water supplies, hospitals and factories, hence the importance of a census.

Everyone should actively co-operate with enumerators during the census as results from this exercise will form the basis for planning.

No meaningful plan can be made in the country without taking into account population census data.

It helps, not only to estimate the changes in the country’s population at a specific time, but to also evaluate other crucial changes in the country’s demographics.

The most important aspect in any society is human capital, therefore a census is important because this process helps compile a numerical profile of the country’s labour force. This in turn informs decision-making at all levels, both in Government and the private sector.

As the country prepares for the 2023 harmonised elections, data from this year’s census is of paramount importance as it will also be used in the delimitation exercise to determine the new constituencies.

During the last 2018 harmonised elections, it emerged that some of the constituencies were too big for an individual legislator to cover as they had more than 60 000 voters, while some had very few registered voters. Through the delimitation exercise, constituencies will be divided according to the availed demographic data, hence no registered voter will be disenfranchised.

A census, as we can see, is more than just determining the number of people in a specific area at a particular time; it forms the basis for reaping huge rewards from the country’s economic activities.

It is exactly what the nation needs as it marches towards attaining Vision 2030.