PRIME Minister Kassim Majaliwa has said that preparations for the forthcoming National Population and Housing Census (PHC) 2022 have been completed by 96 per cent with majority of Tanzanians being aware of the crucial exercise.
He said until on Friday 99 per cent of Tanzanians were aware that August 23 is census day, noting that the remaining 4 per cent include few things to be accomplished by a day before the exercise.
“We are confident that all the preparations will be attained by 99.999 per cent within the remaining days for the exercise to be conducted smoothly,” Mr Majaliwa said when speaking shortly before seeing off 115 Ngorongoro residents to Msomera Village in Handeni District.
He expressed gratitude to President Samia Suluhu Hassan for facilitating preparations of the important exercise for the development of the country.
The PM assured Msomera residents that they will be counted at their new residential area, calling upon them to cooperate with census officials in providing information which they will be asked during the population count.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has declared August 23, this year to be a public holiday to pave the way for smooth undertaking of the national population count.
During the 7th National Census Steering Committee meeting, held recently in Dar es Salaam members were informed that a study conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that 99 per cent of the population was currently informed of the forthcoming exercise at present as compared to 96 per cent in June, this year.
Meanwhile, the Police Force has assured the public of adequate security during the exercise.
Police Spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police (SACP) David Misime said in Dodoma yesterday that they were prepared to ensure the collection of the population data is carried out smoothly.
“We are organised and continue to prepare ourselves to ensure the exercise is conducted in an environment of security, stability, and peace in order to give Tanzanians the opportunity to participate in this important population count without obstacles,” he said.
SACP Misime stated that police will beef up security by deploying a good number of law enforcers to ensure a successful exercise, encouraging Tanzanians to participate in the national demographic survey for the government to properly plan several development issues for the country.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said on Thursday that preparations for the census are 96 per cent complete, while also directing clerks to work hard and ensure that the exercise is conducted successfully.
Every ten years, Tanzania holds a PHC. The most recent census was in 2012. The census in 2022 will be the sixth in a series that began in 1964. Other censuses were conducted in 1967, 1978, 1988, 2002, and 2012.
According to the 2012 population census, there were 43,625,354 people on Tanzania’s mainland and 1,303,569 in Zanzibar.
According to UN estimates, Tanzania’s population in 2020 was nearly 60 million people.
A study conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed that 99 per cent of the population was currently informed of the forthcoming exercise compared to 96 per cent in June, this year.
More than just a head count, the census provides a snapshot of Tanzania – people living in the country by age, sex and geographic location – as well as other key socioeconomic characteristics.
The census remains the primary source of data for the government – both at the national and local level – that informs development policies, plans and programmes and determines resource allocation.
The data collected also plays a prominent role in providing the demographic surveillance necessary for monitoring and evaluating the Sustainable Development Goals, which place the highest priority on leaving no one behind and serving the furthest behind first.
