20 Feb 2022

Batswana have been urged to ensure they are counted during the National Population Census to be held on March 18 to 31.

Briefing Parliament about the upcoming census, the Minister of Finance and Economic Development Ms Peggy Serame said it was the responsibility of every Motswana to ensure that he or she was counted.

The census, held every 10 years, provides invaluable information for planning, including demographic and socio-economic data at regular intervals, making it possible to appraise the past, accurately describe the present and to estimate the future, she said.

The minister said data was provided to enable the formulation, monitoring and evaluation of policies, national and district development plans and the country’s vision.

“The data is also important for monitoring and reporting on progress in relation to global, continental and regional commitments and frameworks such as the Sustainable Development

Goals, Africa Agenda 2063 and to address other administrative processes by stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector,” she said.

Ms Serame said the results were also crucial for the Delimitation Commission Exercise.

“The Census results are therefore used to determine the need to alter boundaries of constituencies in order to ensure adequate representation,” she said.

The Population and Housing Census, she explained, was expected to increase availability and accessibility of accurate, timely and reliable baseline data on demographic and socio-economic characteristics of the population.

It was also expected to provide various demands baseline indicators, such as correction data for the determination of fertility, mortality and migration levels, patterns and trends, as well as population growth at national and sub-national levels.

The minister further said the census results would be used to strengthen national capacities in data collection, processing, analysis, dissemination and utilisation, including Geographic Information System, as well as census strategic planning and management. She added that sensitization with different stakeholders was ongoing.

“This is intended to ensure cooperation from members of households as well as the public at large,” she said. A pilot census was conducted in October last year and the findings were used to fine tune the questionnaire and related digital systems, processes, procedures and resources to be employed in the Main Census.

The minister said relative resources such as vehicles, tablets and Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) had been acquired. She said different training sessions started in January and were going as scheduled.

“The last training will be that of enumerators, which will run from 1 to 14 March 2022,” she said.

Ms Serame explained that the census would create temporary job opportunities, adding there would be 1 505 supervisors and 6 774 enumerators needed.

She said every effort was made to ensure that the census was safe for those conducting the count as well as those being counted at home.

Enumerators will have official letters of appointment on government letterhead and showing their National Identity Cards with names corresponding to those on their letter of appointment.

The last census was conducted in 2011, but the 2021 census had to be postponed due to the challenges emanating from COVID-19 protocols. ENDS