Over 400 youths have been shortlisted and are currently undergoing training for the National Census of Population and Housing in Chinsali District of Muchinga Province.
Chinsali District Commissioner Samson Muchemwa who is also District Census Committee Chairperson says so far a total of 419 which includes Zonal Coordinators and IT personnel are currently attending a 10- day training at Kenneth Kaunda Secondary School.
Mr Muchemwa said the lined up procedures were followed in the recruitment process and those being trained together with the facilitators are so far doing well saying his office has not received any complaints.
The District Commissioner further appealed to the media to ensure sensitization on this year’s National Census of Population and Housing
is heightened adding that residents should be informed on what is on the ground.
And Mr Muchemwa has said Government has for the first time in Zambian history empowered the young people who are not in formal employment by engaging them as enumerators and supervisors.
“This exercise is essential in the census implementation process as it will help government with information at all levels of administration such as district and constituency level,” he said.
He further urged participates to ensure they participate fully as they have a huge task ahead of them.
The DC also appealed to residents in Chinsali to ensure they welcome the enumerators once they are in the field to collect data which will be helpful to government and the nation at large.
And speaking in separate interviews, some youths thanked government for engaging them in the 2022 National Census of Population and Housing.
Patience Mvula has assured government that she will utilise the opportunity by making sure that she implements what she is currently learning while in the field.
“So far the training is going on very well and we will use what we are being taught here to carry out our duties effectively once in the field, ” Ms. Mvula.
And Steward Musonda, a 25 -year -old youth has thanked government for recruiting him to be part of the enumerators.
Musonda said life has not been easy since he completed his Grade 12 in 2020 adding that to date he has not collected his results despite getting good results because he has outstanding bills at school to be cleared .
“I will use this money to collect my Grade 12 results and whatever will remain, I will start up a business,” he said.
The two youths have since thanked government for giving them such an opportunity saying government should continue empowering the young people as it will help improve their living standards.
Government issued a statutory Instrument (No. 92 of 2021) to gazette the period of August 18 to September 14, 2022 as official dates for the country to undertake the National Census of Population and Housing.
The Zambia Statistics Agency is mandated to conduct National Census of Population and Housing every ten years as per Statistics Act No. 13 of 2018.