Namibia’s Statistician-General, Alex Shimuafeni, has urged the public to take note of 24 September, which falls on the upcoming Sunday, as it has been designated as the census reference night for the 2023 Population and Housing Census in Namibia.
Shimuafeni explained to Nampa that the census reference night serves as the pivotal point for all census inquiries.
‘Everyone who spent the night in the country on 24 September will be included in the count, irrespective of whether you are Namibian or a foreigner. Therefore, when we compile the population data, we can discern the number of foreign residents within it,’ he said.
He emphasised the purpose of the reference night, which is to prevent double-counting, and urged Namibians to spend the night in the locations where they wish to be counted. ‘You should keep in mind who spent the night in your residence on 24 September, and please ensure you sleep where you intend to be counted,’ he added.
This year’s census marks the fourth post-independence population and housing census, with the previous enumeration conducted in 2011. Namibia conducted its inaugural and second censuses in 1991 and 2001, respectively.
The NSA has enlisted a workforce of 13 000 personnel to carry out the census activities, with many of them dispatched on Monday to compile a list of households. The enumeration phase, which spans a two-week period, commences on 25 September.
‘From 18 September to 24 September, we refer to this period as the listing of households. Starting from 25 September to 06 October, this is what we term the actual enumeration. We also allocate an additional week as a mop-up period to accommodate individuals who were not present during the earlier phases,’ Shimuafeni clarified.
Furthermore, from 13 October to 03 November, a post-enumeration survey will be conducted to ensure the quality and accuracy of the collected data.
The fourth national census was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to insufficient resources. It was also deferred last year because it was not allocated funds in the national budget.
Source: The Namibian Press Agency