ZIMSTAT’s economic census training underway
Mbekezeli Ncube
The Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) has launched a training workshop for mappers for the country’s first-ever Economic Census to be held in 2026.
An economic census is a comprehensive survey that gathers detailed information on all economic activities undertaken by various economic units in the country. The census is conducted every five years to track changes and dynamics in economic activities over time.
The training, which began on Monday (June 24th) and ending on June 28th is taking place at various locations across the country, including Hillside Teachers’ College in Bulawayo, Mkoba Teachers’ College in Gweru, Belvedere Teachers’ College in Harare, Mutare Teachers’ College, and Chinhoyi University of Technology.
The training is led by the ZIMSTAT census technical team, and the mapping exercise is being carried out by a group of young people recruited by the agency. These youths were selected based on databases from the National Employment Council and the Public Service Commission, which list qualified job seekers.
According to ZIMSTAT’s acting Director General, Aluwisio Mukavhi, the census aims to provide comprehensive baseline statistics on the size and structure of Zimbabwe’s economy. “Statistics play a vital role in every part of our lives. Policy-makers, governments, business owners and individuals use statistics at different levels for a variety of reasons. Hence, it is of utmost importance for us as the official provider of statistics to provide timely and accurate statistics. Responding to this need, the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZIMSTAT) is scheduled to undertake the first ever Economic Census (EC) in Zimbabwe. The data collected will enable the government, private sector, research institutions, academia, and other stakeholders to understand the country’s economic landscape, facilitating evidence-based policy formulation, decision-making, and strategic planning,” said Mukavhi.
Mukavhi emphasized the importance of timely and accurate statistics, noting that the census results will inform the development of National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). He encouraged active participation in the training to ensure a good understanding of the task ahead.
“I urge all of us to approach this workshop with an open mind, ready to absorb knowledge, share experiences, and engage in fruitful discussions. The challenges we face require collaborative efforts, team-work, dedication and active participation. This will surely contribute to the success of this project,” he said
The Economic Census is scheduled to run from July 2025 to the end of 2026.
The census of large and medium establishments will begin in April 2026, with 2025 as the reference year for the data collection.
The census will gather a range of information, including Cost of raw materials, Employment figures by sex, Establishment background, information, Salaries and wages, Gross fixed capital formation, Income, Inventories, Expenditure, Turnover, Main kind econimic activity among others.
This data will provide valuable insights into the country’s economic landscape, enabling informed decision-making and strategic planning in the public and private sectors.
