Staff reporter
The NAMIBIA Statistics Agency (NSA) announced that the Main Census will commence in August of this year.
A population and housing census is usually conducted every ten years and implemented in three main phases. However, the NSA was only able to complete the first phase of the Census, known as the pre-census, last year.
According to the NSA, the census, was postponed due to competing priorities, such as the Covid-19 budget prioritisation, and will only be conducted later this year.
The Main Census was initially estimated to cost about N$950 million for the 2022 – 2023 Financial Year, but the NSA was able to reduce the budget to N$606 million. This amount was then further reduced to N$500 million.
“In order to make up for the shortfall, the NSA held a resource mobilisation conference in February 2021 and received pledges worth over N$40 million in both cash and in kind from the various Government Offices, Ministries and Agencies as well as the Private sector,” the NSA’s Statistician General and Chief Executive Officer, Alex Shimuafeni explained.
The NSA is also negotiating with the Kenyan National Bureau of statistics to make use of their 12 000 electronic tablets and accessories, in an effort to further reduce cost. These devices will go through a data security process upon receipt.
Shimuafeni also explained that the “enumerators and infrastructure which will be deployed will be sourced locally. The Census will require personnel from each community, no matter how remote they are”.
“The NSA will be recruiting around 11 500 unemployed persons, train and equip them with the knowledge and ability to undertake a census statistical collection. The resources that will be required, and the main cost of drivers for the massive exercise, include field staff remuneration, computers for data analysis, vehicles use acquisitions, fuel and insurance costs, field personnel uniforms, data encryption software, hiring of training venues and catering, as well as publicity or advocacy costs. Resources will also be needed for health, safety and security of the field staff and assets especially given that we are faced with a the Covid-19 pandemic” Shimuahefi added.
The population and housing census assist in the planning, decision-making and monitoring of development in the country. It also helps the government to decide how to distribute funds and allocate resources across society. For this reason, citizens are encouraged to participate in the Census.
