In a critical development for the nation's data-gathering efforts, the National Statistics Agency (NSA) is facing formidable challenges as it undertakes a comprehensive population and housing census.
In a recent update on the year's enumeration efforts, Deputy Statistician General of the NSA, Ottilie Mwazi, and Population and Housing Census Manager, Ndapandula Ndikwetepo, provided insights into the progress and challenges faced by the agency.
"The progress has been good so far regarding the census enumeration. Regions are doing well. There are also those who are not really up to where we want them to be. But so far, good," said Mwazi.
On the other hand, Ndikwetepo emphasised the challenges encountered by the NSA, particularly enumerators' difficulties in accessing farms due to locked gates and resistance from some farmers.
"So far, we have encountered challenges here and there, but most of them were able to navigate through them. But what is critical is the aspect of farm gates being locked. So we are not having access to enumerate some of the farm areas, or maybe our public is not willing to talk to the enumerator, for instance. To open up for the interviews and the actual enumerations. That challenge of refusal is coming through March, and it can be attributed to the fact that people are not well aware of the importance of the exercise."
Vice President Nangolo Mbumba urged the public not to withhold information from enumerators, saying the information is vital for the country's upcoming election process.
"It is the responsibility of all of us to obey the laws and regulations of our country and our constitution. These are demanded every 10 years; we must be counted and know how many we are in this territory of Namibia. If we do not know what we are going to do, We have elections coming up next year. How are you going to carry out an election if you do not even know how many people we are having?"
He further pointed out that the country's progress depends on the public's active participation in the census exercise and their willingness to welcome enumerators.
"If we are true citizens in this country, if we belong here, if we want peace in our country, if we want development to take place in Namibia, let us cooperate with the enumerators. Let us open our doors to our farms, villages, and houses."
Mwazi emphasised that the census's purpose extends beyond merely counting the population; it also involves collecting data that is crucial for the government's planning and resource allocation efforts.