‘…It’s most successful census of all’

PRIME Minister Kasssim Majaliwa has described the sixth National Population and Housing Census (NPHC) 2022 as the most successful census exercise to be conducted in history, thanks to use of technology and enabling infrastructure.

The Premier, who was also the National Chairperson of Census Steering Committee, made the revelation at the Jamhuri Stadium in Dodoma on Monday, during the launch of results of first volume of NPHC 2022, which was graced by President Samia Suluhu Hassan.

“With the turnout of 99.99 per cent of all people in households counted countrywide, this was the most successful census to be conducted ever,” Mr Majaliwa declared.

Apart from the use of technology, the success story of the exercise is attributed to guidance given by President Samia as well as President and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council of Zanzibar, Dr Hussein Mwinyi, the PM revealed.

Mr Majaliwa also cited massive public awareness campaigns conducted by various stakeholders as among factors which created eagerness among Tanzanians to take part in the exercise.

The NPHC whose results were launched yesterday were conducted in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar between August 23 and 29, this year. Results announced by President Samia revealed that the country population stands at 61,741,120 people of which, 59,851,347 live in Tanzania Mainland, while Zanzibar has 1,889,773 people.

According to Mr Majaliwa, the exercise was also made possible after execution of the national residential address and postcode system whose implementation had reached 95 per cent as of May, this year.

“Census is a very demanding and expensive exercise but all countries worldwide undertake the same to enable them to put in place proper development plans for their people.

“The launch of the results of NPHC today paves the way for disseminating the data and aligning them to national policy and programmes for implementation,” he explained.

Speaking earlier, the National Census Commissioner, Ms Anne Makinda, global standards require census to be conducted in three stages for it to be efficient.

The retired Speaker of the National Assembly mentioned the stages as preparations, the actual counting as well as analysing and disseminating the acquired data for more actions.

“We also analyse challenges which were encountered during the just concluded exercise so that they can be avoided in the future and thus make the process more efficient,” the senior citizen explained.

Ms Makinda noted further that the launch of the first volume of NPHC was just a fraction of results of about 100 questionnaires which were asked by census enumerators.

“More results will be released as per the agreed calendar since the government has put in place special guidelines for dissemination and utilisation of results of the census,” Ms Makinda elaborated.

She hailed the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) in Tanzania Mainland and Office of the Chief Government Statistician (OCGS) in Zanzibar as treasured institutions for development of Tanzania.

“Credibility of these institutions is known worldwide and they have highly qualified experts who are also recognized globally,” she declared.

For his part, Zanzibar’s Second Vice-President, Mr Hemed Suleiman Abdulla, said the results of the census will be a benchmark for not only the government and local stakeholders but also international organisations.

Mr Abdulla, who was also the Co-Chairperson of the National Census Steering Committee, hailed politicians, religious leaders, government officials and all Tanzanians for actively participating in the exercise and making it a success.