A modern population census may be defined as the total process of gathering, compiling and publishing information on the people of a country or a specific area, which tells about their number, their age and sex, where they live, their level of education, whether or not they attend school, work and other such characteristics.

 

The total of all usual residents is generally referred to as the de jure population and the total of all persons present as the de facto population. Countries choose the approach they deem better captures the information they want or may decide to use both.  Zimbabwe basically used the de facto method during the census that ended on Monday.

A de facto census is one that counts all persons as residents of the place they happen to be at the time the census is taken. In practice, de facto censuses are conducted in such a way that most people are counted in the places they usually live in, but not always.

Good national planning is based on reliable, up-to-date, accurate and detailed information on the state of the society in the country. Such information is collected through a population census.

This information makes it possible to plan better services, improve the quality of life and solve existing problems. Statistical information, which serves as the basis for constructing planning forecasts, is also essential for the democratic process since it enables citizens to examine the decisions made by their Government and local authorities, and decide whether they serve the public they are meant to help.

For these reasons official statistics are collected and published in all countries, worldwide. Thus, for example, while planning a road system, the planners use information regarding the number of people and number of vehicles that are likely to use the road; for if not, the advantages of constructing the road may not justify its cost. Similarly, when planning a school system, there is a need for a forecast of the number of pupils who are likely to need schools, in order to ensure that they will be built in locations with an appropriate number of pupils.

Since independence Zimbabwe has been holding population censuses every 10 years.  The first census was conducted in 1982 and it established that there were 7,6 million people in the country.  In 1992 the population was 10,4 million and 10 years later, there were 11,6 million people.

The latest census ended on Monday with at least 98 percent of the country having been covered since the process started some two weeks ago.

Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) director of population census and surveys, Mr Washington Mapeta, said a population census was very important as it informed national decision-making.

He said ZimStat sought to be thorough in its data collection procedures so that a more accurate national database is created out of the census.  He said under the de facto counting method for the census, meant that they were counting the number of people in a household on the day the enumerator visited.

“This method is cheaper and dependable in the sense that it can produce much more reliable results, but we have incorporated features of a de jure method, whereby census enumerators count people at their usual places of residence regardless of where they are on the census day.

“The population census is the most detailed information source on the population at levels. The data acquired forms a basis of information that is available to public and private elements, at the national and local level, for purposes of decision-making in a variety of areas of the life of residents of the country,” he said.

A population census, as defined by the UN, is “the total process of collecting, compiling, evaluating, analysing and publishing or otherwise disseminating demographic, economic and social data pertaining, at a specified time, to all persons in a country or a well-defined part of the country”.

A population census is the most complex and massive exercise a national statistical office undertakes. It requires mapping the entire country, mobilising and training a huge number of enumerators, conducting a comprehensive publicity campaign, canvassing all households to participate, collecting individual information, compiling vast amounts of completed questionnaires, and analysing and disseminating the data. For many people, the census may be the only time that the state reaches them and asks them a question.

There were 30 000 enumerators in the latest census which started on 17 August.  About $20 million was budgeted for the population count — $8 million being provided by the Government and $12 million by the UN Population Fund.  The complex work of collation and data analysis will start this week and preliminary results are expected by December.

The fundamental purpose of a census is to provide the facts essential to government for policy-making, planning and administration. The characteristics of the population drive the decision-making that facilitates the development of socio-economic policies that will enhance the welfare of the population.

Additionally, the population census provides important data for the analysis and appraisal of the changing patterns of rural or urban movement and concentration, the development of urbanised areas, geographical distribution of the population according to such variables as occupation and education, as well as the socio-economic characteristics of the population which the city councils may use.

Finance Minister Tendai Biti said about 98 percent of the country had been covered as of Sunday, with a mopping up exercise expected to expand the coverage on Monday.

“I therefore would like to advise that the process will end today (Monday) and am happy to say our process was done using UN principles and Sadc guidelines.

“Once the enumeration process finishes today, collation and data analysis will commence on the same path as done before so that we start having preliminary results by the end of the year,” said Minister Biti, under whose ministry ZimStat falls.

The census was however, marred by some challenges which were however, largely overcome.

At one time training of enumerators was postponed with those who turned up at various centres countrywide being told to go home. More than 10 000 enumerators failed to secure full identification regalia required during the population census as suppliers were also reported to have run out of the material for the attire.

There have also been some suggestions that the census might not be accurate as some citizens feel that it was not conducted properly with the different data collection methods used.

Mr Anthony Ncube, a resident of Bulawayo said:

“If they are asking the number of people who slept at home the day they enumerated then some people will not be counted or counted many times.”

“If they ask people at homes what happens to those who are always in transit? It means they will not be counted,” he said.

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