Alfeus Hamundja
THE Namibia Population and Housing Census 2023 was indeed a proud moment in the history of our country. Covid-19 forced the census project to be conducted two years behind schedule.
The Namibian census project took place from 18 September 2023 to 03 November 2023.
Census is defined as the total process of conducting, compiling, evaluating, analysing, and publishing or disseminating demographic, economic, social, and housing data pertaining, at a specific time to all persons in a country or in a well-demarcated part of a country.
After my six-month Unicef/ Mi n i s t ry of He a l th and Social Services contract as an expanded programme on immunisation support officer came to an end in 2023, I got an opportunity to serve as an enumerator in Oshikango constituency of the Ohangwena region.
I not i c ed that many people now und e r s t and that the census is not about counting people, but it is also about socio-economic indicators required for development planning.
A census provides crucial data for the government, organisations and researchers. In my eyes, it was a successful project. It was an important milestone in the country's growth and development.
There were many challenges including delays in the payment of salaries, but despite all the challenges faced during and after the enumeration period, we were able to finish our work within the targeted time. Allow me to thank our government, the only government I can call my government.
I also thank the Namibia Statistics Agency (NSA) for allowing us to serve our fellow citizens. I am now looking forward to the opportunities that NSA will provide in the near future.
I am informed that they have a memorandum of understanding with Electoral Commission of Namibia (ECN). It is wonderful.
Simultaneously, I am looking forward to the reconciliation field visit from 1 February to 14 April 2024.
Furthermore, I can't wait for the preliminary results, and later the final results, which will cement the information we collected.
NSA informed the nation that the census data will be available this year.
There is no doubt in my mind that Namibia met its specific objectives during this important project, which represents a pivotal initiative.
The census data will expose d e f i c i e ncies and not abl e achievements. It will help planners and decision-makers to deploy our resources more productively.
I would also like to humbly request to NSA not to repeat the mistake come 2033.
The delay in the payment of salaries in 2023 was clear vandalism of Namibian labour laws and the Constitution. Our government, particularly the legislature, must also understand why the very long overdue Basic Income Grant must be implemented without delay.
I am referring to Article 95 of the Namibian Constitution, which ensures that the unemployed, the incapacitated, the diligent and the disadvantaged are accorded such social benefits and amenities as are determined by parliament.
Former American president John F Kennedy once said: “If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.”
The 2023 census exposes all deficiencies on social-demographic information on the population, literacy and education, economic activities, labour force, difficulties in performing activities and albinism, IT, fertility, children survival and mortality, housing conditions and housing characteristic.
Statistician general Alex Shimuafeni once said:“The census result as an enabler, plays a big role in uplifting communities' developmental shares in terms of schools, hospitals, clinics, roads and public works as it helps the government to decide how to distribute funds and allocate resources across society”.
* Alfeus Hamundja is an enumerator and unemployed nurse.